Page 42 - RE-NJ

40 MAY 2026
redevelopment project we undertake
on your behalf.”
RIDGECUT MAKES
FOUR NEW HIRES AS
PORTFOLIO GROWS
Ridgecut Road is bolstering its
team, announcing several new hires
to support its growing portfolio of
industrial outdoor storage and low-
coverage assets in and around New
Jersey.
The firm in mid-April said its recent
additions include
Bhavik Rana,
who manages
acquisitions,
investment
underwriting and
due diligence,
while Steve
Venuto has joined
Bhavik Rana
the company to
spearhead construction. Kevin Reilly,
meantime, leads asset management,
while Nicolette Matazarro recently
joined to focus on accounting.
“We are excited to continue Ridgecut’s
growth trajectory and cement ourselves
as a leading industrial operator in the
region,” said Scott Shalek, a principal
at the firm. “We are fortunate to bring
on an incredible and talented team who
embody Ridgecut’s values and ethos —
character never takes a vacation! We
have grown this business organically,
brick by brick, by working hard and
doing right by our partners, tenants,
consultants and taking care of our
properties.”
According to a news release, Rana is
focused on the sourcing, underwriting
and execution of industrial outdoor
storage and ground-up development
opportunities for Ridgecut Road’s
platform. He supports the full
acquisition lifecycle, including
financial modeling, due diligence, and
transaction execution, working closely
with brokers, operators and capital
partners to evaluate opportunities,
structure investments and drive
disciplined investment decisions across
the firm’s growing portfolio.
Previously, Bhav was a member of
JLL’s Northeast industrial real estate
advisory group.
Venuto, for his part, oversees all
construction and development
execution for Ridgecut Road’s
industrial and logistics portfolio,
leading projects from initial
underwriting and due diligence through
completion and stabilization, the news
release said. He plays a key role in
aligning construction strategy with the
firm’s investment
objectives,
focusing on
cost efficiency,
schedule
certainty and
value creation
across each
asset.
Steve Venuto
The firm added
that Venuto brings a fully integrated
perspective to development, with
experience spanning the ownership,
preconstruction and field execution
sides of the business. He is responsible
for driving procurement strategy,
managing design teams and general
contractors and implementing
disciplined project controls that
enhance performance and mitigate
risk across Ridgecut’s growing pipeline
throughout the tristate area.
In his role, Reilly is responsible for
the firm’s asset management vertical,
including portfolio management,
partner, lender and investor relations,
as well as leasing, capital markets and
disposition strategy, the news release
said. He partners closely with the
accounting and
construction
teams to execute
business plans
and deliver
strong risk-
adjusted returns
for Ridgecut and
its investors, the
Kevin Reilly
firm said, adding
that he works with partners, tenants,
lenders and brokers to ensure efficient
execution and operational excellence
across its portfolio of investments.
Prior to joining Ridgecut, Reilly was a
member of the asset management team
at Brookfield Properties.
Matazarro, who joined the firm
most recently, is responsible for
accounting across its entire portfolio.
She is focused on realizing property-
level efficiencies, implementing
technological improvements and
managing
monthly
reporting, as well
as interfacing
with tenants,
partners and
lenders while
working
to ensure
Nicolette Matazarro
accountability
on investment, asset management and
construction initiatives.
Prior to joining Ridgecut, Matazarro
was a member of B&D Holdings’
accounting team.
“We look forward to continuing our
growth alongside the awesome team
of seasoned professionals who take
pride in the work they do each and
every day,” said Eric Shalek, a principal
at Ridgecut Road. “We are proud of
the Ridgecut team, respect the passion
everyone brings to their craft and are
excited about what we will accomplish
together. Ridgecut’s brand and
reputation precedes itself throughout
the market — people in the business
know we get stuff done and we do it
the right way.”
BRACH JOINS
WALTERS
ARCHITECTURE
Walters has hired Fred Brach,
bolstering the team responsible for
designing its affordable housing
communities throughout the region.
According to a news release, Brach
joins the Haddonfield-based unit with
25 years of experience in architecture,
planning and design. He also brings a
longstanding relationship with Walters,
having contributed to the design and
completion of nearly 20 communities
for the firm, and currently leads design
efforts on Walters projects underway
in Cranbury and Hamilton.
“Brach’s depth of experience in
sustainable design will enhance our
growing affordable housing portfolio,”
said Joe Del Duca, partner and director
of affordable housing for Walters.
“Our team takes
great pride in
developing
high-quality
communities
that not only
meet rigorous
construction
standards but
Fred Brach
also reflect
our long-term commitment to
environmental stewardship.”
Walters, whose corporate team is based
in Barnegat, is a real estate owner,
developer and property manager
focused on both income-restricted and
market-rate housing, premium custom
homes, retail centers and office build-
ings. The firm and its three divisions
— Walters Homes, Walters Architecture
LLC and Walters Apartments — are
active throughout New Jersey.
“One of the most rewarding aspects
of my work is turning even the most
challenging sites into successful
developments,” Brach said. “Designing
to LEED standards pushes us beyond
traditional development practices,
requiring a holistic approach where
materials, systems and construction
techniques work together to
lower energy use and minimize
environmental impact.”
WILKES ELEVATED TO
PRINCIPAL AT WARE
MALCOMB
Ware Malcomb has promoted Ed
Wilkes to principal, a move that
highlights his role in building its civil
engineering practice in New Jerey
and across the East Coast.
Wilkes, who joined the firm in
September 2019, leads teams of
engineers based in Newark and seven
other offices,
according to a
news release. He
has also been
instrumental
in growing
the practice
throughout
the Northeast
Ed Wilkes
and beyond,
Ware Malcomb said, noting that he
built the Newark and New York civil
teams from the ground up and was a
driving force behind the launch of the
Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Miami
teams.
“Ed’s strong business judgment
and decisive leadership continue to
elevate team performance and project
delivery,” said Tom Jansen, a regional
vice president with the firm. “His
dedication to building strong teams,
expanding our market presence and
advancing our civil practice has made
him an invaluable leader within Ware
Malcomb.”
According to the firm, Wilkes also
contributes actively to Ware Malcomb’s
Civil Advisory Team, where he helps
shape practice-wide standards, strategy
and innovation for clients in the in-
dustrial, office, film studio, restaurant,
multifamily and health care sectors,
the news release said. His expertise in-
cludes site feasibility studies, conceptu-
al planning and site layout, grading and
drainage design, hydraulic and hydro-
logic modeling, erosion and sediment
control design, utility design, regulatory
permitting and construction oversight,
while he has served as an expert and
appeared on behalf of clients before
planning and zoning boards, as well
as regulatory agencies throughout the
Northeast. RE