The role of the real estate developer begins with a vision - seeing a piece of property and imagining a new use for the land. Once the vision is established, the developer is transformed into a manager of a thousand different projects culminating with the eventual realization of the original dream for a higher and better use for a property.

The Lake Oliver development team is comprised of individuals with diverse real estate development experience and a passionate connection to the land that will become Lake Oliver. The team has strong leadership and a shared vision to develop the property using the most progressive concepts in sustainable design and construction. The development team is responsible for setting the overall direction of the project and assembling the roster of experts to bring the vision to life.

Donna Smithey is CEO of Lake Oliver LLC. She has a diverse background with over 30 years in real estate related professional experience. During her career Donna's work in real estate development has included small and large condominium buildings, land development and building programs, several thousand units of affordable housing in both new construction and rehab, public finance, master planning projects, seniors housing for both rental and ownership, commercial development, client representation for sale or purchase of property, cooperative housing, facility development and program planning. Donna is the third generation of her family to be in the building business.

Jerry Kurtenbach is a CPA and attorney residing in Oak Park and at the property in Chatsworth. As the lead organizer and promoter of the development, Jerry built the original financial model for the project, retained the engineering firm, retained the land planning firm, researched the TIF eligibility of the project and structured the TIF agreement, and otherwise has served as the most ardent champion and advocate for the development. His background includes corporate financial and organizational management. Jerry earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado and his law degree from Georgetown University.

Scott Kammeraad is a principal of Homescape Design Group of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Homescape is a residential architectural design company marketing a library of house plans to builders and developers nationwide. Scott is also associated with True North, a commercial architecture, construction and development firm in Grand Rapids. True North is acclaimed for its expertise in sustainable design and Brownfield redevelopment. Scott has marketed information products for more than 20 years. Since 2000 his focus has been the homebuilding industry. Scott is a LEED Accredited Professional and earned his BS and MBA degrees from the University of Virginia.

With a background in business administration and construction, Dennis has been intimately involved in all aspects of the project. As construction manager for an office and commercial development firm in Chicago, he brings years of practical experience to the project. He is involved in reviewing all aspects of construction management and budgets, and is advising the company on home building aspects.

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URS is one of the world’s leading engineering firms specializing in geological engineering, dam construction, and hydrology. Mr. Walberg is one of the country’s leading geotechnical engineers. His expertise includes geotechnical engineering, slope stability, dams and dam safety, levee design, and risk analysis. He was a civil/geotechnical engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for over 35 years supervising areas that included dam safety. He has led the engineering work for the dam design, and has assisted in preparing the dam permit.

Bob Russell is president of Russell and Associates, the lead engineering firm for Lake Oliver. He is responsible for the dam permitting, excavation computations, soil studies, sewer and water engineering and road engineering. Andrews began as a small solid waste management consulting firm but has expanded to a full service, multi-disciplinary organization. They are now one of the Midwest’s most recognized engineering consulting firms, providing a comprehensive range of engineering and environmental services to a variety of local, state and national entities.

V3 has the expertise to help its clients realize their infrastructure and land-related goals. V3 achieves a coordinated, results-based focus for its clients project by offering a range of practice areas that include entitlement and project consulting; land development, survey and mapping; water resource, environmental, ecological and wetland consulting; transportation design and management; and municipal and construction services. V3 has been recognized numerous times as a Zweig Letter Top 100 Hot Firm, and also is listed as one of the top civil engineering firms to work for by Civil Engineering News Magazine. The company has offices in Illinois, Indiana, Colorado and Arizona.

Rick Harrison is widely recognized for his innovative land development design philosophies. Rick invented the concept of Coving and BayHomes, both of which are demonstrated in the land plan for Lake Oliver. Coving is a design method in which streets flow in graceful arcs. The front-yard setbacks of the homesites vary with the curvature of the roadway. Sidewalks and walking trails are laid out independent of the streets, separating vehicular and pedestrian traffic. RHSD land plans are acclaimed for their sensitivity to views, shared access to community amenities, pedestrian safety, and infrastructure efficiency.

Established in 1982, the Lannert Group is a nationally recognized, award winning, planning, landscape architecture, and community consulting firm based in Geneva, Illinois. Boasting nearly 100 years of combined experience, Lannert enjoys an excellent reputation for combining technical expertise with artistic vision, creating plans that improve the community and enhance the environment.

The essence of Lannert's corporate philosophy is striving to be equally responsive to aesthetics and land stewardship, while creating environments that are unique and sustainable. A combination of planning, originality and attention to detail enables us to create plans that are creative, attractive, yet pragmatic.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Homescape specializes in the design of pragmatic yet stylish homes and cottages. The company has published more than 250 house plans which are presented through the Homescape's website in several collections: Family Homes, BayHomes, Cottage Homes, Porch Homes, Connected Homes and Custom Homes. Homescape also offers custom design services to tailor its plans or create new designs specific to a site and/or a client's special needs.

As a design/build firm, True North provides full architectural and construction management services to corporate clients and developers throughout the US. True North's clients appreciate the company's objective advice and transparent business practices. Formed in 1994, True North has designed hundreds of building types including office buildings, industrial buildings, restaurants, clubhouses, single and multi-family homes, medical facilities, shopping centers, worship facilities, gas stations and convenience stores. True North's construction division has built many of the structures designed by the architectural division. The company has a strong commitment to sustainable design and construction and employs several LEED Accredited Professionals.

Tom Jacob is the most prolific promoter of Tax Increment Financing as an economic development tool in Illinois. Jacob's firm has worked closely with the developers and the town of Chatsworth to negotiate and document the Predevelopment Agreement that will govern how the tax increment is shared among the town, school district, and developer to compensate for necessary investments in infrastructure within the development district. Jacob & Associates is located in Bloomington, IL.

David Staub is an experienced business attorney practicing primarily in the areas of corporate law, corporate finance, technology law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, tax law and commercial finance. David counsels his clients on a wide variety of legal issues including private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, strategic business relationships and other financing methods. He represents clients on a variety of business agreements including software development contracts, licensing agreements and other technology matters; sales agency and other distribution issues; and employment issues and executive compensation arrangements.

Specializing in land development, real estate transactions, leases, and business formation, Dan Drew has provided ongoing legal counsel to Lake Oliver, LLC. Drew PC is based in Oak Brook, IL.

Strategy Planning Associates is an urban planning and real estate development consulting firm located in Schaumburg, Illinois. Strategy Planning Associates formed and incorporated in 1989 and has been successfully expanding since.

SPA consults on issues of growth and development. They focus their research on the economic and demographic trends which determine it. They analyze these forces in the context of communities affected. They create studies, recommendations, and analytical models that are readily understood and accepted throughout the region. SPA's market study for Lake Oliver has provided great insight for the development team and its investment partners and underwriters.

New Home Star markets and sells new residential construction for builders, developers, and financial institutions. From the early planning of a new project to the selling of close-out units, NHS possesses an expertise in all facets of new residential development sales and marketing. Whether working with your existing sales team or providing a full-outsource solution, New Home Star provides unmatched expertise to keep our clients on the leading edge of successful strategies.