W. Robert Kohorst is the founder of Everest Properties. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia from January 2018 through January 2021. In 1991, Mr. Kohorst co-founded KH Financial, Inc. (the predecessor to Everest), which engaged in the acquisition of general partner interests, real estate companies and related assets. From 1984 through 1990 he was the President of the Private Placement Group for Public Storage, Inc., a national U.S. real estate syndicator. In 1990, Mr. Kohorst became the Chief Executive Officer and principal of two businesses, Tiger Shark Golf, Inc., a golf equipment manufacturer, and Masquerade International, Inc., a manufacturer of Halloween costumes. Mr. Kohorst holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Dayton. Mr. Kohorst now acts as an advisor to Everest.
Brian Hanel is the CEO of Everest Properties. Mr. Hanel joined Everest in 2010 and has consulted for the Company since 1998. From 2006 to 2010 Mr. Hanel served as Senior Vice President of Finance for Foxdales Properties, and prior to 2006 served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Business Development for Avail-TVN, Senior Vice President, Business Development for Magna Entertainment, and Senior Vice President and CFO for HomeSpace. Mr. Hanel holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Pomona College.
Matt Kohorst is the Executive Vice President of Everest Properties. Mr. Kohorst joined Everest in 2014. Prior to joining Everest, he worked for Alliant Insurance, Inc. as a Program Administrator for their Owner/Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs for the Construction Services Group. Mr. Kohorst was a three year baseball letterman for the University of Kansas, and was First Team Academic All Big XII in 2012. Mr. Kohorst earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Management and Leadership from the University of Kansas in 2012.
Erik O. Valderhaug is the General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Everest. Mr. Valderhaug joined Everest in 2008. From 2004 to 2008, he was the in-house legal counsel to Realty Income, a publicly traded real estate investment trust. Prior to 2004, he worked at prominent law firms in San Diego and Newport Beach representing clients in real estate acquisition, disposition, development, ownership, leasing and entity formation. Mr. Valderhaug holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school he was an Editor of the Law Review.
Jorge Cuevas is the Chief Financial Officer for Everest. Mr. Cuevas joined Everest in 1997. Prior to joining Everest, Mr. Cuevas worked his way through school as a staff accountant with F&L Enterprises, a family owned company, from 1992 through 1996. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he joined Health Systems International, a Fortune 500 Company from 1996 through 1997. Mr. Cuevas earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from the University of Southern California in 1995.
Kevin Kohorst is the Vice President of Everest Properties. Mr. Kohorst joined Everest in 2012. Prior to joining Everest, he worked for Inter-Con Security as an Operations Manager for their California operation. He has also worked as an Account Manager for Equator Financial Solutions which provided software for financial institutions to manage their REO portfolios and as a Police Officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Mr. Kohorst earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Danford M. Baker is the Senior Vice President of Everest and the President of Everest Realty Management, LLC. Mr. Baker joined Everest in 2002. He served for three years in the U.S. Army where he was an armed helicopter platoon leader and executive officer during the Vietnam War. Mr. Baker spent 17 years as President and Chairman of Cannell & Chaffin, his family-owned national architectural planning, design and furnishings business. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Baker was a principal in construction businesses in California. He then became a provider of New Energy Ventures, the largest retail energy service provider in the United States. Mr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Literature from Claremont McKenna College, and is a California Licensed Real Estate Broker.
Andrew Plotnick is the Senior Vice President of Everest, Asset Management. Mr. Plotnick joined Everest in 2010. He has worked in various capacities in the commercial real-estate industry since 1988, and has asset managed over $1.5 Billion of commercial real estate properties and closed over $300 Million in commercial real estate loans. Prior to joining Everest, Mr. Plotnick worked for American Realty Advisors, Winn Residential, Legg Mason and City National Bank. He also oversaw the renovation and sell-out of a 468 unit condominium conversion for Golub & Company and ING Realty Partners, and evaluated investment opportunities for a Chicago-based developer. Mr. Plotnick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Tulane University.
Stacey McClain is a Senior Vice President of Everest and the President of Everest Storage. Ms. McClain joined Everest in 1997. Prior to joining Everest Ms. McClain was a Junior Research Analyst and communications director for a Los Angeles based hedge fund. Ms. McClain holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University Northridge.
Han Kim is the Vice President of Everest. Mr. Kim joined Everest in 2019. Prior to joining Everest, Mr. Kim served as Director of Project Management at Hunt Capital Partners, the tax credit syndication division of Hunt Companies, where he underwrote, structured and closed debt and equity investments in tax credit properties. He also held various positions in the multifamily industry. Mr. Kim holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California. He is a California licensed real estate broker.