Dave Kirzinger

Chairman

Dave Kirzinger founded RISE Properties in 2012 and is now Chairman, based in Victoria, British Columbia. Dave often says: “we are apartment people that started a Fund, and apartments are the get rich slow investment.” Under Dave’s leadership, RISE has been guided by a clear set of corporate values, maintains alignment with investors and has grown to a portfolio of 37 assets and $2.9 Billion under management in Seattle & Portland. Dave has enjoyed a 30+ year distinguished career in real estate acquisitions, development, and management of multi-family rental properties through a variety of market cycles. Dave began his career with Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) in 1989; TCR was founded in 1948 and is one of the oldest and largest real estate developers and investors in the USA. From 1992 to 1997, Dave was at Intrawest in Vancouver, and then the Belkorp Family Office, heading up the US apartment business that included assets in Seattle & Portland. In 1997, Dave joined AvalonBay, a publicly traded REIT that invests in apartments; in this role, Dave oversaw operations in both Seattle and Southern California. In 2004 Dave became the Seattle-based operating partner with MOSAIC homes (headquartered in Vancouver, BC) overseeing all Pacific Northwest activity. In 2012, Dave founded RISE with the help of his Mosaic partners. The first units of the RISE REIT for Canadian investors were sold in March 2012. In January 2022, Barrett Sigmund was promoted to the CEO of RISE as part of an established succession plan, while Dave remains Chairman of RISE, where he leads the governance (including compliance, ESG, valuations) and strategic planning of RISE with both the Trust & Operating Boards. Dave holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia (1980) and an MBA from Stanford University (1989). Dave played in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders & the Toronto Argonauts over the years 1978 to 1986.

Barrett Sigmund

Principal, CEO

Barrett Sigmund joined RISE Properties in 2017 and is Chief Executive Officer based in Seattle, WA. RISE and affiliated companies have over 500 employees in Canada, and in the States of Washington and Oregon. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Barrett leads a North American staff team of 20 professionals in acquisition, investment & asset management, renovations, compliance, finance, and sales & marketing. Barrett is a senior member of the investment team, and brings 20+ years of experience in acquisitions, renovations, risk management and dispositions. He is a deeply entrenched apartment market specialist in Pacific Northwest multi-family real estate, and sources many off-market deals not seen by broader market participants. Barrett has built large and successful joint venture partnerships with global institutions while at RISE. Prior to joining the Firm, Barrett was Senior Director of Investments at Security Properties from 2014 – 2017. Barrett holds a BA in Economics and Communication from Allegheny University (2002), an MBA from the University of Washington (2008) and a Certificate in Real Estate (2004) from the University of Washington. Barrett has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, is an avid skier and golfer, and enjoys outdoor adventure with his wife and young son.

Kari Anderson

Founder, Vice President, Thrive

Kari has the unique ability to attract, inspire, and retain the best and brightest people in the multifamily industry. Her genuine passion for mentoring and assisting her team members to grow in their roles can be seen in Thrive’s on-site team's performance. Kari began her property management career in 1986 with Trammell Crow Residential Services (TCRS), where she was responsible for training and property marketing for all assets in Washington and Oregon. In 1994, she joined Equity Residential, where she oversaw 15,000 apartments in the PNW as area vice president. In this capacity, Kari supervised over 300 employees, including five regional managers. In 2006, Kari joined Investco Management Services (IMS), where she was responsible for the development and implementation of marketing and management plans, including the annual budget process for the apartment portfolio. Kari is the founding president of the Washington chapter of the National Apartment Association and is currently a member on the board. Kari is a licensed Washington state real estate broker.

Rose Blankers

President, CEO, Thrive

In her role as president, Rose Blankers is Thrive’s chief of culture, people, and vision. These three pillars are the foundation of Thrive, and Rose ensures these elements are balanced and integrated with their counterparts, so the company is operating at its highest potential. Rose embodies the qualities of a servant leader—setting the company’s vision and goals, but then working hard to make sure they are both reflective of what Thrive’s dedicated associates want to see in a company, as well as delivering great results to clients. Rose developed her leadership over the last two decades, during which time she worked her way up within the property management industry, holding roles in accounting, finance, and operations. Her ability to connect with clients and staff alike, while demonstrating her financial acumen, has been key to Thrive’s growth; under Rose’s leadership, the firm has grown rapidly and sustainably to where it is today. Education: Seattle University, Bachelor's in Finance; Seattle University, Master of Business Administration

Gary Bender

President, Thrive Developments

The successful redevelopment of any apartment community begins with a great vision to position the asset as a unique offering in the marketplace while optimizing a client’s investment objectives. With a keen ability to see the possibility in every community, Gary oversees project renovations and our capital projects team. With a degree in construction management and more than 17 years of multifamily experience, his projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with the unique approach that makes our communities truly thrive. Gary has overseen award-winning renovations including Washington Multifamily Housing Association’s “Renovated Community of the Year.”

April Syria

Chief Operating Officer, Thrive

With more than more than 20 years’ experience in the multifamily industry, April oversees Thrive’s robust apartment portfolio and leads the firm’s regional management team and “Thriving” onsite associates. Her innovative and inclusive leadership style underlies her ability to execute the firm’s growth strategy, forging strong relationships with clients while creating a culture of internal opportunity for staff committed to success. April’s tireless pursuit of excellence has strengthened Thrive’s portfolio performance metrics, and her energetic approach to building and mentoring teams has proven to be an invaluable asset to Thrive’s company culture.

Austin Kuhns

Chief Financial Officer

Austin Kuhns joined RISE in 2014 and is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO), responsible for Accounting, Finance, Compliance and Risk Management. During his time at RISE, Mr. Kuhns has negotiated over $2.5 billion in debt financing on both the corporate and asset levels working with the acquisition and asset management teams. Attending quarterly Board meetings, Mr. Kuhns is the principal liaison on governance, reporting, confidentiality & conflict of interest guidelines. Prior to RISE, Mr. Kuhns was an Auditor at KPMG (2009-2011) working with real estate related businesses. In 2011, he joined the Pacific Car & Foundry Company (PACCAR) as Manager of Corporate Consolidations, responsible for managing the external reporting to investors in a Fortune 500 Company. Mr. Kuhns holds a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) from the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business (2009), a BA in Business, Accounting and Finance from Western Washington University (2008) and is a licensed CPA in Washington State.

Beau Madsen

Chief Investment Officer

As Chief Investment Officer, Beau primarily leads fund investment strategy, asset selection, and acquisition processes for RISE. With an extensive background in capital and deal sourcing, transaction structuring, asset management, renovations, and capital markets, Beau also contributes to corporate and operational strategy. Prior to joining RISE in 2018, he worked with RISE CEO Barrett Sigmund as an Investment Manager at Security Properties where he invested in multifamily across the US. Over the course of his career, Beau has led the capitalization of over $2 billion USD of real estate investment. Beau graduated from the University of Washington with majors in Finance and Accounting, holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Washington. Beau serves as a Board member on the City of Spokane Employees' Retirement System defined benefit pension plan and is the Treasurer of his local CFA Society.

Jason Murray

Director of Investments

Jason Murray joined RISE Properties in 2014 and is Chief Operating Officer & Director of Investments. Jason oversees the firm's Asset Management Team, ESG strategy & initiatives, redevelopment, and disposition activities. Reporting to the CEO, Jason’s Asset Management Team members are the link between RISE & Thrive, and oversee the implementation of business plans, renovations and operations for each acquired asset. The Asset Management team are effectively stewards of acquired assets and track the progress of outcomes relative to the goals outlined in the underwriting process. Jason has been involved in over $1 billion in acquisitions and dispositions; his experience in multi-family investment/asset management has been built across functional areas at RISE in acquisitions and investments. Prior to joining RISE, Jason spent 3 years as a leasing manager and onsite community manager at Thrive (2012 – 2014), after working in property and management with tenants at Bentall Capital (2008 – 2010). Jason holds a BA in Economics from the University of Washington in Seattle (2007).

Robert Kaler

Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting

Robert Kaler joined RISE in 2016 and is Corporate Controller. Robert brings 14 years of accounting and finance experience to his role at RISE, and oversees all Trust and Management Co. accounting, reporting, back-office processing, recordkeeping, and system operations. Robert works closely with Asset Management Team Members to ensure accurate and insightful financial recordkeeping. Robert has been instrumental in improving systems and processes to facilitate growth and is constantly looking for ways to implement further improvements and best practices. Robert joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York (2012 – 2015) after three years of various internships, working with alternative investment clients in real estate investment funds. Robert earned a Master of Accounting Degree (2012) from Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Brigham Young University (Idaho). Robert is a licensed CPA in Washington state.

Matt Berg

Senior Asset Manager

Matt Berg joined RISE in 2014 and is an Investment Manager on the Asset Management Team. Reporting to Jason Murray, Matt is the link between RISE & Thrive overseeing the execution of business plans for assets that include operations, renovation, capital planning, reporting and relations with partners on any joint ventured properties. Investment & Asset Managers on the Asset Management Team travel frequently to visit with Thrive Regional and Community Site Managers, and work closely with Thrive’s renovation and construction teams. Matt is uniquely suited to this role as he has held many roles within RISE (Investor Relations, Investment Analyst) after a year working at Thrive. Matt is the Investment Manager for all joint ventured assets with AEGON and Park Properties in Seattle, WA. Matt has been involved with sourcing and closing over $750 million new acquisitions opportunities and dispositions and plays a lead role in Asset Management & Redevelopment. Prior to joining RISE, Matt had various roles in accounting and healthcare benefits management (2011 – 2014). Matt has a BS Degree in Accounting from Central Washington University (2012).

Karl Haisch

Senior Asset Manager

Karl Haisch joined RISE in 2023 as Senior Asset Manager. The asset management team is the link between RISE (ownership) and Thrive (property management), overseeing the execution of business plans for assets that include operations, renovation, capital planning, reporting, and relations with partners on joint venture projects. Asset managers make decisions on behalf of ownership by interpreting data through reports and gathered while visiting assets with Thrive’s Regional and Community Site Managers. He also works closely with Thrive’s renovation team giving guidance to improve the asset and to maximize returns. Karl comes to RISE with many years of multi-family experience, both in the Pacific Northwest and nationally, with a focus on real estate strategy and value maximization. Karl earned a BA in Finance from the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business (2009). He is a CP3 Certified Credit Compliance Professional, holds a Washington State Real Estate Broker’s License, and a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate from the University of Washington.

Leadership

Experienced, aligned management

Canadian office