Press Releases
JOSE QUESADA, LISA ROTH AND JARED LAZARUS JOIN CANYON-JOHNSON URBAN FUND
New hires will expand the existing "dream team" of Canyon-Johnson professionals
LOS ANGELES (November 1, 2006) - The Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds (CJUF) announced the hiring of three new professionals. Jose Quesada and Lisa Roth have joined the company as Vice President and Jared Lazarus has joined Canyon-Johnson as an Associate.
At Canyon-Johnson, Mr. Quesada identifies and oversees potential new investment opportunities as well as provides oversight of existing investments, primarily focusing on the West Coast and South Florida. Ms. Roth is responsible for the asset management of investments in the Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds' portfolio and Canyon's senior loans and mezzanine investments. Mr. Lazarus underwrites the acquisition of existing and to-be-developed real estate throughout the United States.
"Together Jose, Lisa and Jared will build our capacity to meet our double bottom line: achieving significant financial returns while making a positive impact on the urban communities in which we invest," said Bobby Turner, CJUF's Managing Partner.
Added Earvin "Magic" Johnson, CJUF Managing Director "These new team members bring new depth to the already highly talented Canyon-Johnson team. Their experience in real estate investing will strengthen Canyon's ability to make strategic acquisitions in urban markets throughout the country."
Prior to joining Canyon, Mr. Quesada underwrote and executed approximately $1 billion in developments and acquisitions for CIM Group's urban investment funds. Prior to CIM Group, Mr. Quesada was with Goldman Sachs' Investment Banking Group and the Walt Disney Company's finance division. Mr. Quesada is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. in Economics) and Stanford University Graduate School of Business (M.B.A.).
Prior to joining Canyon, Ms. Roth focused on asset management, acquisitions and dispositions, and corporate strategy at Macerich, a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT). Prior to Macerich, Ms. Roth was a Vice President at Builders Equity Source sourcing, structuring, and executing mezzanine transactions and an acquisitions associate at Equity Group Investments. Ms. Roth is a graduate of the University of Michigan (Bachelor of Business Administration) and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management (M.B.A.).
Mr. Lazarus was most recently an analyst for DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, the real estate private equity division of Credit Suisse. While at Credit Suisse, Mr. Lazarus underwrote investment and development opportunities across all real estate sectors, in addition to performing asset management and disposition analysis on existing investments. Mr. Lazarus is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Economics).
About Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds
The Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds (CJUF) are the country's largest private real estate funds focused on the development of urban properties in underserved neighborhoods. A joint venture between Canyon Capital Realty Advisors and Earvin "Magic" Johnson's Johnson Development Corporation, the funds were formed to identify, enhance and capture value through the development and redevelopment of real estate in densely populated, ethnically diverse urban communities. The Funds' objectives are to seek current income and capital appreciation and, in addition to meeting investment goals, the funds are committed to providing for and fostering economic opportunities for the residents of the urban neighborhoods in which CJUF invests. With nearly $1 billion in committed equity capital, the funds are positioned to facilitate more than $4 billion in development and revitalization in major U.S. metropolitan areas. For more information, visit www.cjuf.com.
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Media Contact:
Heather Herndon
310-689-7538
heather@sugermangroup.com
www.sugermangroup.com
