Creating enduring value via 
Strategic Action

Randall Reel has twenty-five years of hands-on experience in real estate including acquisitions, entitlements, design oversight, development and project oversight. His focus in primarily on urban in-fill and high-rise multifamily development, as well as mixed-use retail, creative office, and single-family development. Mr. Reel’s urban mixed-use multifamily projects have ranged from 50 to 500 units with a significant retail or creative office component and involve obtaining challenging entitlement approvals. Utilizing his acquisitions and entitlements expertise, Mr. Reel has contributed significantly to the creation of more than $1 billion of project value for development partners and institutional investors.

Randall was previously a partner with LaTerra Development where he was responsible for origination, entitlement and design development for several projects which range from 50 to 540 units and totaled over $600 million of total project cost. The projects are in excellent locations in the Los Angeles area, including two projects in Santa Monica, two in Los Feliz, one in West Hollywood, and one in Burbank. Four of these projects are currently under construction and two are entitled.

Prior to LaTerra, Mr. Reel was Director of Acquisitions at Carmel Partners, a vertically integrated private-equity mixed-use multifamily development company with major projects in transit-oriented locations from West Los Angeles to Downtown LA. Some of the projects include: 595 units – Linea at Pico and Sepulveda, 1,200 units – Cumulus at Jefferson and La Cienega Metro. Prior to Carmel, Mr. Reel was a senior director and partner with Molasky Pacific, a private real estate development group based in Las Vegas. While a partner with Molasky Pacific, Mr. Reel sourced, entitled and/or built over 2,500 units and over 500,000 square feet of creative office and commercial space. Including more than 1,000 units of multifamily vertical construction.

Earlier in his career Randall worked in the advisory groups at Ernst & Young, Arthur Anderson and George Smith Partners, where he developed extensive experience advising clients on loan restructurings, single asset and portfolio workouts, asset repositionings, re-capitalizations, operations, and management.

Jason Paul is a senior asset, property, and operations management executive with over sixteen years of experience in management, leadership, and strategic planning. He has documented success in turning around troubled and underperforming assets, with extensive expertise in adopting and implementing new technologies to centralize resources, positively impacting both corporate and property-level NOI.

From its inception in 2018, Jason led Arch Asset Management, a subsidiary of Arch Companies focused on asset management for Arch Companies and third-party real estate owners. He was involved in developing and executing each asset’s business plan post-closing. Jason built the corporate and property level teams from 3 to over 60 employees, directed the management of a 40-property, $1 billion portfolio comprising 5,300 apartments, $40 million in capital improvement programs and over 600,000 square feet of commercial space across seven states. He was responsible for all annual operating budgets and asset-specific business plans.

From 2010 to 2018, Jason was a partner at Sugar Hill Capital Partners, serving as CEO of their property management company, New Holland Residences, and Executive Director of their design and construction management company, New Amsterdam Design Associates. He built a team from 3 to 35 members for all aspects of operations, directed leasing, legal, and maintenance teams, implemented management software and ancillary solutions, and led a team of 10 designers and architects to create a premium in-house renovation plan and brand.

Jason holds a BA in Psychology from Hunter College, and began his real estate career in a property management role at G-Way Management, LLC, specializing in multi-family and mixed-use residential properties.

Michelle Miller has extensive transactional and underwriting experience navigating complex deal structures, restructuring capital stacks, and managing negotiations. She also plays an active role in asset management to maximize returns through business plan optimization. Michelle’s comprehensive expertise includes due diligence, financial analysis, and strategic planning, making her a valuable asset in any investment scenario.

Prior to joining BlackRidge, Michelle was a Partner at Arch Companies focusing on acquisitions and investment management of distressed assets. At Arch Companies, she was an integral member of the founding executive team and helped grow the company's portfolio to approximately $1 billion. Her role involved overseeing property acquisitions and managing a team of professionals dedicated to asset performance. Michelle also spent her early career at Greystone Development and HSBC.

Michelle is an alumnus of The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (MBA) and Washington University in St. Louis (BA). Her academic background has equipped her with advanced knowledge in real estate, finance, and strategic management.

Paul Gradeff is a principal of Allied Urban and co-founder of HighBridge Development and brings comprehensive expertise to the real estate sector with a 35-year career including banking, appraisal, asset management, investment, and development. His methodical investment strategies have effectively weathered various market cycles, delivering robust returns for investors and strategic guidance for clients.

As the leading force behind HighBridge Properties for over 20 years, Mr. Gradeff was the chief real estate advisor for family offices and investors, overseeing a portfolio worth over $100 million. He has led the development of five student housing communities since 2008, introducing more than 2,200 beds to the off-campus student housing market in five states.

Prior to forming HighBridge, Paul was a Vice President of Investment and Asset Management at WinShip Properties in Sacramento, CA. Mr. Gradeff managed a $150 million portfolio and played a pivotal role in corporate restructuring, securing $127 million in funding for acquisitions and operations. His role at WinShip also included financial forecasting, evaluating strategic directions, and reporting to the board and corporate investors.

At GE Capital Investment Advisors, as an Investment Officer, he concentrated on acquiring core real estate assets for pension fund clients, handling transactions worth over $500 million, and negotiating intricate equity and debt structures.

During the financial upheaval of the early 1990s at PNC Bank, he was key in establishing a division for risk management and overseeing bank-owned properties, managing loan workouts for a $268 million portfolio, aiding in loan sales pricing, and contributing to due diligence processes in bank acquisitions. Starting his career at Delta Associates, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. Gradeff performed market feasibility studies and appraisal valuations for various commercial real estate projects.

An alumnus of the University of South Carolina, Mr. Gradeff earned a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating on real estate and finance. A licensed real estate broker and developer in California, he is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Guardsmen of San Francisco.

Brett C. Callaghan is a principal of Allied Urban and co-founder of HighBridge Development and brings three decades of in-depth construction and development experience, with a specialized focus on multifamily housing throughout the United States. His expertise spans various construction disciplines, including surveying, civil and structural engineering, value engineering, and project management.

In his leadership at HighBridge Development, Brett has overseen the completion of numerous projects, including five student housing communities and over 55 tax-credit housing units in collaboration with Progress Builders. His skillful management ensures that each project is executed effectively, meeting both financial targets and operational goals.

Brett Callaghan’s tenure in the construction industry is marked by his acute understanding of engineering principles, stringent cost control, and effective project collaboration. Brett excels at bridging the gap between investors, owners, and construction trades. His ability to comprehend complex construction details and convey them clearly ensures all parties can make well-informed decisions.

His early career included service in the United States Air Force as a Technical Sergeant, where he received recognition for his outstanding performance and dedication. This period honed his skills in training and quality control, which have benefitted his civilian-career endeavors.

Prior to establishing HighBridge Properties and Progress Builders, Brett held key positions at renowned firms such as Toll Brothers and Griffon Associates, where his contributions were acknowledged through multiple accolades, including employee of the year awards. His foundational education in Aircraft Structural Engineering was obtained from the Community College of the Air Force.

Brandon Becker has six years of experience in real estate acquisitions, financing and development. He was previously with LaTerra Development where he assisted with acquisition, financing and approval of 10 mixed-use multifamily development projects with a total development cost of $850 million and underwrote over 400 multifamily, office, retail and industrial development sites during his time at LaTerra Development. Mr. Becker now oversees acquisitions, financing, underwriting, project management and asset management.

Mr. Becker is a Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”). He graduated from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (“Cal Poly SLO”) with a B.S. in Economics concentrating in Finance.