Acquisition Advisory and Due Diligence
Development Management
Project Team Selection, Design, and Contractor Management
Cost Estimating, Budget Development and Value Engineering
Capital Investment Oversight and Cost Management
Pre-Construction and Construction Management
Schedule Management
Chief Executive Officer
Waikiki Paulino has led large-scale commercial real estate projects since 1998, bringing expertise in high-rise development, repositioning assets during market downturns, and guiding investor wealth building. With degrees in Structural Engineering, Architectural Studies, and Construction…
Business Executive Coordinator
John Paul Basa excels in enhancing project efficiency and systematic management at CRE. With a focus on cost reporting, scheduling, and process improvement, John Paul ensures consistent, error-free project execution…
Senior Project Manager
With over 30 years of experience, Alan Meyer is a master negotiator and cost assessment expert. He oversees preconstruction, estimating, and procurement, ensuring maximum returns for investors. Alan’s expertise spans Core Plus, Value-Add, and Opportunistic projects…
PhD, MBA, Strategic Partner
Organizational Leadership and
Change Management
Patrick Farran, PhD, MBA, brings over 25 years of experience as a senior organizational leader and consultant, specializing in change management, systems/process improvement, culture transformation, and employee engagement across various industries. His expertise spans professional services, government, healthcare, education, non-profits, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, high-tech, and energy sectors. Patrick’s deep understanding of organizational dynamics and strategic change aligns perfectly with our focus on commercial real estate development and project management services.
As a strategic partner, Patrick enhances our ability to guide clients through complex organizational challenges inherent in commercial real estate projects. His experience in culture transformation and employee engagement ensures that our clients’ teams are aligned and motivated, leading to smoother project execution and higher overall success rates. Patrick’s insights into change management and systems improvement further optimize project workflows and outcomes, adding significant value to our clients’ investments.
Patrick’s academic background in Values-Driven Leadership, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainability aligns with our commitment to ethical business practices and sustainable development in the commercial real estate sector. His research and expertise in these areas help us integrate responsible and impactful strategies into our clients’ projects, contributing to long-term success and positive community impact.
Strategic Partner- Architecture
and Design
Guy Thornton brings over 40 years of diverse architectural and design experience to our team, specializing in quality design detailing, problem-solving, and design team coordination. Born and raised in London, England, Guy completed his architectural training at the University of Sheffield, earning both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Architecture.
Registered as an Architect in both the State of Colorado and the United Kingdom, he also holds NCARB certification. Over his illustrious career, Guy has contributed to numerous prestigious projects, including the renovations of the Gramercy Park Hotel and Madison Square Garden projects in NYC.
With a multidisciplinary design approach, Guy’s expertise spans hospitality, historic renovation, restaurant, retail, corporate, and residential projects. His firm, Guy Thornton Design, established over 25 years ago, is rooted in creating value through quality design solutions that emphasize practicality and budget sensitivity. His design approach is characterized by vision, originality, simplicity and the power of the unexpected, resulting in enduring, engaging, and intriguing solutions. There is a clear awareness of design as an investment.
Guy Thornton’s methodical and thorough working approach ensures successful execution, making him an invaluable asset in achieving our client’s design and development goals. His extensive experience and unique design philosophy align perfectly with our commitment to excellence and innovation in every project.
To provide the highest level of service, we collaborate with industry-leading experts in deal analysis, design value engineering, constructability reviews, sustainable architecture, community engagement, and government incentive procurement. These strategic partnerships allow us to offer specialized support, addressing every aspect of your project with the expertise needed to overcome obstacles and achieve success
Our distinctive approach to real estate development and construction management empowers us to handle exceptionally complex projects, consistently delivering results that surpass expectations and create enduring value for our clients.
Waikiki Paulino has led the development and construction of large scale commercial real estate projects for investors since 1998. He graduated from New York City Technical College with a degree in Structural Engineering and Architectural Studies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Pratt Institute. He has also completed real estate masters’ courses at New York University. Mr. Paulino worked for several New York City based union and non-union CM firms such as F.J. Sciame Construction Co., Sordoni Construction and Tishman Construction / AECOM where he managed select high-profile projects as a senior manager in various markets. His extensive experience in multi-family, office and hotel high-rise development as well as retail, education and museum new construction and restoration facilitates deal negotiations for owners. He successfully helped owners reposition assets during the market crash in 2008 and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mr. Paulino’s analytical background in engineering combined with his tolerance for high stress, high profile management at a fast pace has proven to be a solid foundation for opportunity evaluation, investment control and project team leadership. Mr. Paulino is committed to and motivated by helping solidify the investor’s purpose for wealth building, community enhancement, generational improvement, and legacy perpetuation.
Clients: Hines Development, Sterling Equities, Starwood Capital, Tribeca Associates, Ian Schrager Company, GFP Real Estate, Sorgente Group of America, ABS Partners Real Estate, Assa Properties, Google, Jack Reznick & Sons, Toll Brothers City Living, MRA, New York Public Library, The New York Botanical Garden, and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Alan Meyer has provided value to Commercial Real Estate Investors, Institutions, Fortune 500 Companies, and Tenants for over 30 years. As an expert negotiator and cost assessment leader, Alan oversees all major project preconstruction, estimating and procurement efforts to mitigate investor’s risk and maximize their investment returns. Alan’s professional experience extends throughout the Northeast market. He serves investors by providing support on Core Plus, Value-Add and Opportunistic projects. He develops accurate conceptual and schematic estimates for both hard and soft costs, analyzes and confirms project budgets, creates project schedules, value engineers design and material selections to reap maximum project costs savings, negotiates general contractor GMP and lump sum proposals, provides redline reviews on all construction documents as well as on tenant lease work letters and remains engaged during the construction phase to provide strategic project course correction when needed.
Clients: Accordia Realty Ventures, Alessi Hotel, Alliance, Alpine Development, AM Best, Amazon, American Dream, Argus Ellison, Avision Young, Barclays, Brookfield Properties, Catalyst Capital, Cedar Realty Trust, Center City Partners, Collier’s, Columbia University, Cornell University, Cornerstone, Culver Properties, Forbes Design Group, Forrest City Ratner, GVK Capital, Hilton Cardinale, Kushner, Largo Land Development, Legion Investment, Lennar, Madison St. Capital, NattoPharma, North American Properties, NRIA, Pfizer , Regency, Sarana Development, Saxony Development, Seton Hall University, Spartan Properties, Stamford Church, Thor Equities, Toll Brothers City Living, Urban Edge, Winn Development
John Paul Basa has demonstrated his commitment to excellence throughout his career, making him an excellent fit to represent CRE’s clients across multiple sectors. John Paul’s experience extends beyond task completion. He has proven to be skilled at analyzing and enhancing organizational project processes. John Paul oversees CRE’s systematic approach to project management. His ability to systematize CRE’s project cost reporting and project schedule tracking creates significant efficiency for the client’s benefit. Mr. Basa enables CRE’s team to ensure consistency, mitigate errors, and expedite services rendered to CRE’s clients as part of CRE’s many deliverables. He also supports our budgeting, estimating, bidding, and procurement team. John Paul’s dedication to serving private investors, families and executive leaders in the commercial real estate space allows his administrative gifts to thrive resulting in smooth, efficient growth for all.