Our Team
Leadership
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JM Schapiro
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Committee Member
JM Schapiro
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Committee MemberJM joined CRC in 1991 and was responsible for financing, leasing, and development of all property types. From 1995 to 1998, he was the Vice President of Real Estate for Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. JM returned to CRC in 1998 as the CEO. He heads the executive management team and oversees long term and strategic planning for the company. JM has a B.A. from Bucknell University and an M.S. in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University. JM was named a regional winner in 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
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David Donato
Chief Operating Officer
Executive Committee Member
David Donato
Chief Operating Officer
Executive Committee MemberDavid’s ability to adapt to trends and exceed expectations has allowed him to thrive in this highly competitive industry. With a demonstrable history of success in directing capital improvement, property leasing, and portfolio management initiatives, he is poised to continue to add value to CRC. But his greatest success has been his ability to build talented teams, design process improvements, and drive results for investors. Some of David’s key accomplishments include active participation in the equity raise of multiple funds, managing the real estate portfolio through the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid downturn, modernizing the management of the multifamily division via an emphasis on metrics, developing strong shopping center tenant relationships, and building an engaged team of professionals that consistently exceeds expectations.
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Haley Donato
Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Finance
Executive Committee Member
Haley Donato
Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Finance
Executive Committee MemberHaley currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Finance. In her role, Haley directs the company’s asset management, disposition, and debt teams for both multifamily and retail. During her tenure at CRC, Haley has built and grown the teams that cover those core functions and in more recent years Haley has taken on oversight of CRC’s data science and business analytics platform and the firm’s insurance programs. Haley sits on CRC’s Investment Committee and Executive Committee. She is always eager to learn new aspects of the business and to teach and cultivate those on her team.
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Crystal Frey
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Shared Services
Executive Committee Member
Crystal Frey
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Shared Services
Executive Committee MemberCrystal’s unique ability to relate to people in all areas within and outside of the organization allows her to make a real impact on culture, engagement and team cohesion. As the SVP of Human Resources and Shared Services, Crystal is responsible for team recruitment, retention, engagement, development and benefits. She also works closely with the IT and Marketing teams to maximize CRC’s brand and technological posture. Her involvement in the Society for Human Resource Management’s Advocacy Team and Executive Network advocating for public policy enables Crystal to keep her finger on the pulse of emerging workplace trends.
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Stephanie Shack
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Executive Committee Member
Stephanie Shack
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Executive Committee MemberWith a history of success and extensive background in commercial real estate, finance and equity funds, Stephanie joined CRC in 2023. Her legal insight and judgment provide the foundation for her responsibilities coordinating all legal work for CRC. Her inter-personal skills and ability to communicate at all levels are talents she puts to good use in her role as supervisor of CRC’s internal legal department, outside counsel and corporate legal compliance. She brings with her experience gained as senior vice president and general counsel for Enterprise Community Partners, a national non-profit that invests in and advocates for the preservation and production of quality affordable housing. Prior to Enterprise, she was senior vice president and associate general counsel with Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT), a publicly traded real estate investment trust, where she provided expertise and honed her skills in real estate development, acquisitions and dispositions of commercial office properties, among other high-level responsibilities. Earlier in her career, she held positions at DLA Piper and with U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. Dougherty.
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Lauren Wayne, CPA
Senior Vice President, Accounting & Investor Reporting
Executive Committee Member
Lauren Wayne, CPA
Senior Vice President, Accounting & Investor Reporting
Executive Committee MemberAs Senior Vice President, Accounting & Investor Reporting, Lauren oversees all management and operations of the accounting department including cash management, financial functions, accounts payable, external reporting, and strategic planning. Additional responsibilities include external investor reporting and distributions, compliance with operating agreements, and audits. Prior to joining CRC, Lauren worked at Sterling Partners and PricewaterhouseCoopers and has extensive experience in accounting and reporting for private equity funds.
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John Luetkemeyer
Co-Chairman, Advisory Board
John Luetkemeyer
Co-Chairman, Advisory Board
Jack joined Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) in 1979 after serving as a former Treasurer of the City of Baltimore and commercial banker for Equitable Trust Company. Jack was responsible for the start of CRC’s Commercial Division and the CR Restaurant Division. Jack has served as a Chairman of the Commissioners of Finance of the City of Baltimore. After serving as a Trustee for several local private schools, Jack is currently a Trustee of McDonogh School and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. He is a Director and President of Rollins–Luetkemeyer Foundation. Jack is a graduate of Williams College and has an M.B.A. from New York University.
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J. Mark Schapiro
Co-Chairman, Advisory Board
J. Mark Schapiro
Co-Chairman, Advisory Board
One of the pioneers in Baltimore’s urban development, J. Mark Schapiro is the son of Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) founder, Marvin S. Schapiro. Mark’s career with CRC began in 1964. Mark has overseen CRC’s multifamily acquisition and development program and actively managed the theater division before it was sold in 1988. Mark has served on numerous mayoral task forces and committees, as a Trustee for the Baltimore Museum of Art, on the Board of Sinai Hospital, and was President of the Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore from 1994-1996. Mark is a graduate of Baltimore City College and has a law degree from the University of Baltimore.
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Lawrence Rief
Partner
Lawrence Rief
Partner
Lawrence joined Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) in 1985. He specializes in the creative redevelopment of existing buildings, land development, and new construction. Lawrence has revitalized over 60 buildings ranging in size from 33,000 to 650,000 square feet during his 40-year career in commercial real estate.
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Josh Dinstein
Senior Vice President, Acquisitions
Josh Dinstein
Senior Vice President, Acquisitions
Josh leads the national Acquisition Team at CRC and focuses his attention on the growth of the real estate portfolio. Prior to joining CRC, Josh served as Managing Director at Garrison Investment Group, where he oversaw real estate strategy, investments, development, leasing, management and disposition. Earlier he was a Portfolio Manager in the Special Situations Group at Kimco Realty Corporation, where he was responsible for distressed investing.
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Ari Abramson
Vice President, Acquisitions
Ari Abramson
Vice President, Acquisitions
As the Vice President of Acquisitions, Ari leads CRC’s multifamily acquisitions team through the sourcing, evaluating, and closing of acquisitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the US. Currently, Ari is investing on behalf of the Core Multifamily Fund, LP, an open-ended fund, and Fund V, a value-add closed-ended fund. Prior to joining CRC, Ari worked at Alex Brown Realty as an Acquisitions Officer with a focus on joint venture investments throughout the Southeast. In addition, Ari held investment banking and real estate development positions for Stifel Nicolaus, Townsend Capital, and Legg Mason.
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J. Blake Dickinson
Vice President, Anchor and Development Leasing
J. Blake Dickinson
Vice President, Anchor and Development Leasing
Blake joined Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) in 2008 as a Leasing Coordinator. In his current role of Senior Leasing Manager, Blake directs leasing activities at retail and office properties located throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. This involves developing and implementing tailored marketing strategies, analyzing the merits of potential transactions, and negotiating new leases, renewals, and assignments with local, regional, and national tenants. In addition, Blake also is responsible for coaching and managing multiple members of the commercial leasing team. An active participant in Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) and NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Blake has completed a diverse set of commercial leases with experience ranging from retail pad sites to full-service office space. Blake received a B.A. from Dickinson College in 2008 and a M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland in 2015.
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Scott Hamlin
Vice President, Multifamily
Scott Hamlin
Vice President, Multifamily
In his role, Scott helps drive the creation and implementation of strategic initiatives throughout the Multifamily Division; this includes overseeing the Multifamily Operations, Lease Administration, Construction, Marketing, Training, and Compliance teams. Scott and these teams have been a critical piece of the continued growth of CRC into new markets. Prior to joining CRC, Scott worked in various on-site and corporate roles for The Bozzuto Group, The Dolben Company, and Harbor Group.
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Kristina O’Keefe
Vice President, Commercial Division
Kristina O’Keefe
Vice President, Commercial Division
Kristina leads the commercial division for CRC which includes leasing and property management. She started her career at CB Richard Ellis servicing retail shopping center owners and moved to Continental in 2009. Kristina first started in a direct leasing role and has moved through a few different positions on the commercial leasing side during her time at Continental. She is a natural problem solver, and that ability has led to hundreds of completed leases in many different retail shopping center product types and added tremendous value to the commercial portfolio over the years.
