Seeing things differently
From the initial walkthrough with our acquisition team to our engineers ensuring every building runs smoothly to the personalization each team member gives every tenant—we see and do things others don’t. And through experience, teamwork and creative vision, we create what others can’t. This is what it means to be Ameritus.
Our relationships and expertise in the Midwest real estate market bring more upside.
Invest with UsMeet our team.
Jeb Scherb
Partner
Jeb Scherb
Managing Partner
Jeb founded Ameritus, LLC in 1999 and is a Partner. He’s helped grow the company from a boutique services provider to an investment sponsor for institutional and high-net worth real estate investors. He manages our acquisition, development and implementation business of plans including leasing, capital projects and property operations.
Jeb has over 25 years of commercial real estate experience, starting his career with Frain Camins & Swartchild (which eventually became CBRE). Today, with a focus on office and industrial transactions in the Chicago and the Upper Midwest markets, Jeb has arranged over $1 Billion in leasing and investment transactions.
He’s also the co-founder of Young Office Brokers Association, and past recipient of the Frank Mahoney Award for Excellence in Brokerage. Jeb is a proud graduate of St. Lawrence University, holds the CCIM designation and is an Illinois licensed real estate broker.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Bringing the history, character and architectural personality of a building to the surface to create an exciting environment where people and ideas can flourish.”
Benjamin Nummy
Partner
Benjamin Nummy
Managing Partner
Ben is an Ameritus, LLC Partner. He leads our acquisition activities, investment management, and is our point of contact for firm’s equity and lending partners. Internally, he oversees all capital markets transactions, fund administration and investor reporting.
Ben brings over 25-years of institutional real estate experience to our organization. He’s held various senior level investment positions at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Morgan Stanley, and a boutique Chicago based private equity firm. Throughout his career, Ben has invested over $2,500M of capital in debt, mezzanine and equity structures throughout the United States and in all commercial property types.
He’s a graduate of Syracuse University and serves on its Chicago Council. He earned his MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and holds the CCIM designation.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Recognizing value where others don’t and finding solutions to complex investments by utilizing the firm’s collective base of knowledge and creativity.”
Bob Budington
Partner
Bob Budington
Partner
Bob is an Ameritus, LLC Partner and leads our tenant representation business. He oversees all third party leasing activity of our Ameritus-sponsored investments.
Bob brings over 25-years of commercial real estate experience and a diverse skillset with a background in asset management, leasing, property acquisitions and dispositions. He’s negotiated leases in excess of $500M in value, assisted in acquisitions and dispositions of $500M in assets, and also implemented marketing and leasing programs for over 5 million square feet of office and industrial buildings.
Prior to joining us, Bob held positions with Jones Lang LaSalle, Golub & Company, Colliers International and Avison Young. He is an Illinois licensed real estate broker and a graduate of Cornell University.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Creating the relationships with my clients and investors that allow us to solve their real estate challenges. Helping my colleagues grow their professional and personal lives while building a successful company. And most of all, my kids.”
John Trueman
Asset Management
John Trueman
Vice President
John brings 30 years of business acumen to Ameritus through a career in commercial real estate and entrepreneurship within the service industry. His past experience includes the development of student housing throughout Europe. He is responsible for the firm’s construction management businesses and oversees its residential capital projects. John has a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“An engaging work environment that fosters collaboration and results in outcomes which our clients value. ”
Kristian Naoumov
Asset Management
Kristian Naoumov
Property Manager
Kristian is responsible for the day-to-day operations of commercial assets at Ameritus. Primarily focused on 121 W. Wacker, he oversees the management, security and maintenance staff for the building. He has a degree in Finance from Roosevelt University with a Finance degree. Kristian is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“I love being challenged by complex problems. ”
Scott Sessa
Asset Management
Scott Sessa
Managing Director and Principal
Scott is our primary agency leasing representative for the firm’s CBD office portfolio. He has successfully marketed some of our most successful projects such as 205 West Wacker, 213 West Institute Place and 549 West Randolph. He is also spearheading the business development of our third-party services activities.
Scott previously leased the 4.2 million square foot Merchandise Mart and was a senior representative in the Agency Leasing department for CBRE. He attended Ferris State College and studied Criminal Justice.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Making connections among my firm, my clients, and tenants. I enjoy the process of negotiating a deal that provides a tenant a new home.”
Kim Henley
Asset Management
Kim Henley
Senior Property Manager
Kim is our Senior Property Manager focusing on our urban office portfolio. She achieved her RPA and FMA designations as the 2017 BOMA Full Designation scholarship recipient. Kim’s efforts were paramount to Ameritus being awarded a 2018 TOBY Award for Best Renovated Building. She is LEED GA certified and a Licensed Broker in Illinois.
Prior to joining us, Kim worked in promotional marketing and sports marketing. Kim earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Illinois State University.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“My co-workers. Nothing at Ameritus is done by a single person. Because each puzzle piece is needed to finish the project. It is important to show up, every day! And jelly beans. I love jelly beans.”
Justin Ohrmundt
Asset Management
Justin Ohrmundt
Managing Director and Principal
An architect by training, Justin leads Ameritus’s residential portfolio activities focusing on acquisitions, value add improvements, and property operations. Prior to joining Ameritus, Justin co-founded and operated the Stadt Group, a multi-family investment and management company. He was also a managing partner and CEO of Oxsys Construction , a design, build and development firm specializing in multifamily construction.
Justin also served as the COO at Hawthorne Development and Hawthorne Homes , where he headed US multifamily development and operations, managing a staff of 200+ people and a portfolio of 4,000+ apartments. He also was a project manager at the Proteus Group , where he was responsible for the design and development of medical and multifamily development projects nationally.
Justin is a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“The ability to change somebody’s life through real estate, whether it’s at their place of work or where they live. Opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle so we can lessen our impact today and reduce our footprint tomorrow. ”
John Jablonski
Asset Management
John Jablonski
Property Manager
John is a Licensed Real Estate Broker with over 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate management and brokerage.
Prior to joining us, John achieved the CCIM designation while working in industrial brokerage at Darwin Realty. He has also worked in the financial services industry assisting advisors through the Allstate Insurance Bank Channel.
John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from DePaul University.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Providing a work environment in which tenants can feel safe, motivated, and productive.”
Graham Riley
Asset Management
Graham Riley
Managing Director and Principal
Graham is a Managing Director and Principal of Ameritus. He leads our Denver office where he seeks investment opportunities. He brings a wealth of expertise with over $1B of transactional real estate experience in his 20 years of working for both institutional and entrepreneurial investor platforms.
Graham has held senior level positions at Pacifica Capital, McWhinney, and Real Capital Solutions which gave him exposure to a wide range of markets nationally. Additionally, he served as the Denver Regional Director for First Industrial Realty Trust.
Graham is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Real Estate Program, holds the CCIM designation, and is a licensed Colorado real estate broker.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“I wake up every morning with a drive to find our next good real estate investment, even when it sometimes feels like looking for a needle in the haystack. I enjoy spending time outdoors skiing with my family.”
Imelda Vera
Asset Management
Imelda Vera
Property Manager
Having more than 10 years of experience in customer service has allowed me to get creative in finding solutions for our clients and their needs. Prior to Ameritus, I worked as a hospitality specialist for CBRE, which brought me the knowledge to be successful in my role as a Property Manager.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing you have helped someone.”
Clemente Dorado
Accounting & Administration
Clemente Dorado
Property Accountant
Clem serves as a property accountant at Ameritus focusing on residential assets. He is a graduate of Lewis University with a bachelors of Accounting degree. Prior to Ameritus, Clem was an accounts payable manager for a large wholesale grocery company on the East Coast.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Opportunities to better myself and my community. There is always something new to learn from the people you meet.”
Kathy Walsh
Accounting & Administration
Kathy Walsh
Property Administrator
I was a Chicago Police Officer for 8 years, leaving to raise four children, and becoming a Domestic Family Manager for 14 years. When they moved onto young adulthood, I too progressed to dedicating over a dozen years operating as Facilities Manager for a global sports data collection company. Graduating from local operations to decommissioning satellite offices nationwide and highlighting in the relocation of a suburban office to a Class A property in downtown Chicago, leading the $20M Construction Project from white box to high-end showcase floors, aiding in The Outstanding Building of the Year for Renovated Buildings award. My role in Property Management seemed like a natural transition.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“To always go for MORE! More distance on a golf drive, more friends, more knowledge, more networking, more satisfaction…you get the picture. Live to work, yes. But work to live MORE!”
Steven Ross
Accounting & Administration
Steven Ross
Vice President
Steve is the Vice President of Finance at Ameritus. He’s responsible for investor communications and financial reporting to Ameritus’ lenders and equity partners. He has over 30-years of experience in senior accounting and finance roles at various real estate, investment, and private equity firms.
Steve started his career with a major national public accounting firm, and has worked at organizations including Kemper Financial Services, GTCR, and Valor Equity Partners. Steven is a Certified Public Accountant and earned his degree in Accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“Working with a great group of people who treat each other with respect. I’m also driven by doing interesting and challenging tasks. Finally, being an accountant at heart, there’s nothing better than when the right side equals the left!”
Joanne Doll
Accounting & Administration
Joanne Doll
Vice President
Joanne is our controller. She handles all bookkeeping, banking, and lease administration, as well as assisting with financial reporting to our investors and lenders.
Her experience spans over a 30-year career in the Chicago real estate community, beginning with a developer of suburban office buildings. Joanne has held positions with Manulife Real Estate and Frain Camins & Swartchild before becoming the first employee of Ameritus, LLC. Joanne is an Illinois licensed real estate broker.
WHAT DRIVES YOU
“After 20 plus years with Ameritus, their success is my top priority. I put in whatever it takes to help us attain our goals. I have a very personal relationship with my job and I always try to exceed expectations.”
Ivette Medina
Accounting & Administration
Ivette Medina
Property Accountant
Ivette is responsible for accounts receivable and accounts payable for the properties in our portfilio. Previous to Ameritus, she was employed in residential property management where she gained significant accounting experience. She graduated with an Accounting degree from Northeastern Illinois University.