Our Professionals
Essex agents average ten years of real estate experience and come from a variety of real estate backgrounds including law, accounting, finance, appraisal, and property management. This breadth of knowledge and experience benefits our clients by providing the necessary tools to anticipate and solve problems, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful transaction.
Associates
Kate Varde
Associate
Kate Varde joined as an Associate in the spring of 2007 and concentrates primarily on asset valuation, detailed transaction analysis, monitoring neighborhood trends, and business development.
Prior to joining Essex, Kate was a Foreign Exchange Trader at the Gelber Group, a proprietary firm, where she was responsible for analyzing and interpreting rapidly changing market conditions. Kate also played professional softball for the Chicago Bandits. A native Chicagoan, Kate knows the city and greater surburban areas well.
Away from work, Kate enjoys playing basketball and softball. She also coaches a youth softball team in the Trevian Girls Softball Association.
Kate graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Psychology.
back to top
Michael P. Tetrick
Associate
Mike Tetrick joined Essex in January 2008 as an Associate, concentrating primarily on business development, asset valuations and multi-family brokerage throughout Chicago. Mike believes "it's not how far you go in life that matters most, but what you leave behind" and he applies this kind-hearted philosophy to every aspect of his private life, personal relationships and business practices.
Prior to joining Essex, he spent twenty years as a military fighter pilot (flying the A-7, F-5, A-10 and F-16) and continues his aviation career as a Captain with American Airlines. Mike began his real estate career in 2005 as a multi-family acquisitions analyst with Dimensions Management and is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Illinois.
Mike received a BS/BS degree from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and continues his education on a dialy basis. Mike resides in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood with his wife, Gianna - a lifetime Chicagoan, who he met through their mutual involvement with the Make-A-Wish foundation. His two adult children, Ryan and Renee, live and work in Chicago.
back to top
Jason Fishleder
Associate
Jason Fishleder joined Essex as an Associate in the summer of 2008 and concentrates primarily on asset valuation and transaction analysis, as well as business management and development.
Prior to joining Essex, Jason worked as a Real Estate Analyst in both Underwriting and Originations at Bridger Commercial Funding, a Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities conduit lender.
Away from work, Jason enjoys spending time with friends, as well as working out and playing various sports such as tennis, basketball and golf.
Jason received a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, majoring in Economics and minoring in Spanish, and is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the State of Illinois.
back to top
Jordan Gottlieb
Associate
Jordan Gottlieb joined Essex Realty Group in 2008 and focuses on representing buyers and sellers of commercial investment real estate throughout Chicagoland.
Prior to joining Essex, Jordan acted as a broker for residential unit sales throughout Chicago. He has been working in real estate since 2003 when he joined Terrapin Properties.
Jordan is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, receiving his Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in May of 2007. He worked as an attorney in Insurance Defense litigation until February 2008.
Outside of the workplace, Jordan is a part-time tennis professional at the East Bank Club and lives in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Jordan is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Illinois. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Champaign in 2004.
back to top
Ted Stratman
Associate
Ted Stratman joined Essex Realty Group as an Associate in the fall of 2009 and concentrates primarily on asset valuation, client development, and transactional analysis. His responsibilities include assisting in the preparation of the underwriting and valuation of multi-family investment opportunities as well as monitoring current market and neighborhood trends.
Prior to joining Essex, Ted worked at U.S. Bank in the Commercial Real Estate lending division assisting in the underwriting of commerical real estate developments and analysis of credit markets.
Away from work, Ted enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as playing various sports such as baseball, tennis, and golf.
Ted graduated from Marquette University with degrees in Finance and Commercial Real Estate.
back to top
Brian Hartman
Associate
Brian Hartman joined Essex Realty Group, Inc. as an Associate in the winter of 2009 where he concentrates primarily on marketing and asset valuations.
Prior to joining Essex, Brian worked at Monroe Capital, LLC where his primary responsibilities included cash flow analysis and business development.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys playing guitar, piano, golf, and softball.
Brian graduated from the University of Denver in 2009 with a major in finance and a minor in accounting.
back to top