The people behind our excellence

Brad LaRue is the Chief Executive Officer of United Growth (UG), where he leads the firm's overall strategy, investment management, and capital formation efforts. With over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate development, acquisitions, and asset management, Brad oversees all aspects of UG's operations and chairs both the Investment Committee and Limited Partner Advisory Board (LPAB).

United Growth focuses exclusively on necessity-based retail real estate, investing in and developing shopping centers anchored by essential goods and services that serve as the backbone of everyday community life. Under Brad's leadership, UG has built a reputation for disciplined underwriting, hands-on project execution, and long-term partnership with institutional and private investors.

Earlier in his career, Brad specialized in retail, mixed-use, office, and multifamily projects while holding senior positions with two prominent institutional real estate investment advisors, a publicly traded REIT, and several private entrepreneurial development firms. Across these roles, he has been involved in the development and management of more than 10 million square feet of retail, 2 million square feet of office, and over 1,000 residential units in markets nationwide.

Brad holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California (USC), where he completed the Real Property Development and Management Program within the Marshall School of Business. He is a licensed California real estate broker and has been a guest speaker at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, IMN, BizNow, and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) where he has been a member for over 25 years.

With more than fifteen years of real estate investment experience, Matt is Head of Portfolio Management, Capital Markets, Investor Relations, and Operations for United Growth and is a member of the Investment Committee. He is responsible for the management and performance of the Fund, financings, and client communications.

Prior to joining United Growth, Matt was a Principal at Accord Group Holdings, where he was responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and evaluating investments on behalf of the firm's co-investment fund, as well as advising emerging and established real estate private equity sponsors on strategic capital markets transactions. Previously, Matt worked in Capital Markets and Acquisitions for Chambers Street Properties, and as part of the real estate acquisitions team for a large private family office. Matt began his career in the Real Estate and Lodging Investment Banking Group at Citi. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Nate Derrick is an associate on the portfolio management and investor relations teams at United Growth, where he is responsible for valuations, fund performance, investor reporting, and the operational aspects of United Growth's investment vehicles. He manages closings on the firm's dispositions, contributes to capital allocation and investment strategy, and supports fundraising and investor relations for its private equity funds and joint venture offerings.

Nate has published research in the Journal of Property Investment & Finance and the Journal of Institutional Investing in Infrastructure. He previously interned at Greensparc and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. (IREI). Nate earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics from Saint Mary's College of California. He is an active member of ULI (Urban Land Institute).

Chad is the Senior Vice President of the Transaction Team for United Growth. With twenty-one years of experience, Chad is responsible for acquisitions and capital markets. Prior to joining United Growth, Chad was Managing Director at Madison Marquette, where he oversaw West Coast acquisitions, business development and project management with a focus on value-add and development retail/mixed use opportunities. Previously, Chad was Vice President of investments at Fowler Property Acquisitions, responsible for acquisitions and asset management of the commercial portfolio. He started his career in real estate investment banking at Bank of America Securities.

Chad holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business and a BA in economics from University of California, Berkeley. He is an active member with ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and the ULI (Urban Land Institute).

Ronnie is a member of the Accounting and Finance Team at United Growth. Ronnie is responsible for coordination and preparation of monthly construction draws with various lenders. Working closely with the Controller, Ronnie collaborates in maintaining the timely and accurate accounting obligations of United Growth and its assets. Prior to joining United Growth, Ronnie worked in various prestigious accounting and finance positions with the Philippines Government and the Office of the Presidential Protocol over a 20 year span.

Ronnie earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at San Juan de Letran College, Manila, Philippines.

Maree is a seasoned Executive Administrator with over 10 years of experience driving operational excellence and executive support across dynamic organizations. Currently at United Growth, she partners closely with the CEO to ensure seamless day-to-day operations, efficient workplace management, Human Resources operations, and project management.

Her background includes providing high-level executive support and project management at global logistics companies like Federal Express (FedEx), JAS Worldwide, and DB Schenker, where she thrived in fast-paced, international environments supporting senior leadership and managing critical office functions.

A passionate traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Maree brings the same energy and curiosity from exploring new cultures and hiking trails to her professional role, fueling innovation and connection wherever she goes.

Sara Hansen Wilson is a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in San Francisco, California. Sara has substantial, nationwide experience representing landlords and tenants in regional shopping centers, mixed use properties, street and outparcel retail locations. She also represents clients in the acquisition and disposition of real property, both lenders and borrowers in real estate loan transactions, and investors in joint ventures. She is a member of the ICSC Law Conference Planning Committee and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Sara is a graduate of Williams College and University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.

Kevin heads the development department managing the entitlements and construction. Kevin has over 12 years of real estate investment and development experience. He began his career focusing on multi-family acquisitions in the East Bay and transitioned to real estate development at East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) and later Veritas Investments focusing on vertical mixed use developments and repurposing underutilized spaces within existing structures. At these companies, Kevin has worked across $3+ Billion of assets managing design, development, and financing.

Kevin is a licensed CCRM and studied at UC Berkeley where he led the Undergraduate Real Estate Club. During his spare time, he plays soccer and volunteers with the Cherry Blossom Committee organizing the Cherry Blossom Festival each year in Japantown in San Francisco, CA.

Hoda is the founder of Leading Edge. She has more than 20 years of experience working with corporate executives. She is known for her expertise in the facilitation of individual and organizational strategic planning. Her honest, thoughtful and focused approach has successfully helped a variety of companies improve their leadership capacity and transform their organizational effectiveness. She collaborates with clients to help them build effective strategies in order to increase innovation, transform the organization's culture, and maximize the bottom line. Hoda is active in assisting organizations through periods of rapid growth, transition and/or crisis.

Chris, Managing Director, is head of joint venture partnerships for United Growth and a member of the Investment Committee and the Advisory Board.

With thirty-one years of experience, Chris is responsible for developing assets held in joint ventures and the transaction strategies of the Fund. Chris is a managing partner of CP Partners, a CRE investment brokerage company. His experience encompasses transacting $4 billion involving 800 retail property investments, raising capital, investor services, institutional portfolio transactions, identifying best-of-breed retail developers for develop-to-core property, and structuring forward commitments.

Chris holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont. He is active with the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers).

Jared Lux is Director of Retail Leasing and Asset Management at United Growth Capital Management. With nearly a decade of commercial real estate experience, Jared oversees the full deal lifecycle for the firm's retail portfolio, including leasing, underwriting, valuations, development guidance, tenant coordination, and dispositions.

Before joining United Growth Capital Management, Jared was a Senior Associate at Carmel Partners, where he executed over 135,000 square feet of leases generating $120 million in value and managed property operating budgets and quarterly reforecasts across 420,000 square feet of retail spanning 28 assets. His transaction experience spans Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C., Denver, and the Bay Area, with tenants including Wells Fargo, Chipotle, Nike, Solidcore, and Sandbox VR. Previously, Jared served as an Associate at CenterCal Properties, leasing and merchandising redevelopment projects across the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, and began his career at Bond Retail, underwriting and repositioning retail assets in Berkeley and other West Coast markets.

Jared holds a degree in Environmental Economics with a minor in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, where he graduated with Dean's Honors, and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker and active member of ICSC and ULI.

Marcos is a Senior Associate on the transactions team, where he supports the underwriting, due diligence, and closing of new investments across United Growth's necessity-based retail portfolio. He builds financial models and joint venture structures, runs return and sensitivity analyses for Investment Committee review, and helps execute business plans and investor reporting on existing assets.

Marcos brings more than six years of commercial real estate experience across acquisitions, asset management, and institutional investment sales. Before joining United Growth, he was an Associate at Rockwood Capital, where he led underwriting, research, and due diligence for new investments and managed quarterly valuations and property business plans across an office and multifamily portfolio. Prior to Rockwood, Marcos spent three and a half years on the institutional investment sales team at Cushman & Wakefield in San Francisco, underwriting office, industrial, life science, retail, and mixed-use transactions.

Marcos earned a B.A. in Applied Mathematics with a concentration in Statistics from the University of California, Berkeley. He holds a California real estate salesperson license, is a fluent Spanish speaker, and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Berkeley Real Estate Alumni Association (BREAA).

Jack is a member of the transactions team, responsible for sourcing, evaluating and closing investment opportunities for United Growth's stressed strategy. Jack has more than nine years of experience in commercial real estate and is a Partner of CP Partners, a San Francisco based CRE investment brokerage company.

His experience encompasses transacting $1 billion involving more than 200 retail property investments with a focus on sourcing opportunities for 1031 buyers, underwriting investments, and overseeing due diligence review and closings.

Jack received a bachelor's degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley. He is an active member of ICSC.

Eterna is United Growth's corporate Controller responsible for the firm's accounting functions. She ensures the timely and accurate accounting for all of the company's entities in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. She is responsible for the company's accounting policies and procedures and is the primary liaison with its various CPAs.

Prior to joining United Growth, Eterna worked as a senior accountant at Charles Schwab for 13 years. She has over 20 years of accounting experience in a diversified group of companies.

Eterna holds a degree from Araullo University, Philippines, a B.S. in Accounting. She is a licensed CPA and a member of CTEC (California Tax Education Council).

Zeb, Managing Director, is head of transactions for United Growth and a member of the Investment Committee.

With more than twenty-one years of experience, Zeb is responsible for acquisitions and dispositions of the Fund. Zeb is a Managing Partner of CP Partners, a CRE investment brokerage company. His experience encompasses transacting $3 billion involving more than 700 retail property investments, institutional portfolio transactions, sourcing national merchant developers, and directing teams for due diligence, financings and closings.

Zeb holds a B.A. from Hamilton College in New York. He is active with the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers).

Mark is the head of asset management for United Growth's portfolio of development and value-add properties. He is responsible for developing and implementing property business plans including but not limited to overseeing capital improvements, transactions, financial reporting, property management, and overall strategy.

Prior to joining United Growth, Mark held multiple roles within the commercial real estate industry including financial analyst, investment broker, acquisitions & dispositions lead, and asset manager.

Mark has an MBA in Finance & Economics from Boston University and a BA in Political Science from University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Justin is an Associate with the Transactions Team for United Growth. He is responsible for underwriting/sourcing new development deals, assisting with due diligence efforts, and managing lender requirements and reporting under existing loans. Prior to joining United Growth, Justin was a property analyst at Blue Rise Ventures, where he worked on asset management and investor reporting, focusing on life science properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Justin graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Business Administration and concentration in Finance. He is an active member of ULI (Urban Land Institute) and ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers). In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, hiking, and reading.

Claudia Cai is a seasoned marketing and investment executive with extensive experience across multiple industries, including automotive, real estate, media, and e-commerce. She is fluent in Mandarin, Japanese, English, and German and holds an EMBA from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, with academic credentials from Beijing Normal University, Bonn University, and Valencia College.

Currently, she is a partner at Mason Capital and Trustegic Family Office, focusing on venture investments and strategic growth initiatives. Prior to her investment role, she served as CMO across multiple sectors, including car rental, media and entertainment, and advertising, and was the Founder & CEO of a successful e-commerce company.

Earlier in her career, she served marketing and sales strategy for Fortune 500 brands such as Jeep, Mitsubishi, PetroChina, and Siemens, as well as top Chinese real estate firms. Her expertise spans market strategy, sales planning, and cross-cultural business development.

With a strong background in marketing, business innovation, and global strategy, Claudia continues to drive growth and transformation across industries.

Mr. Chi has more than 20 years of experience in real estate fund management and investment globally. He joined Warburg Pincus' portfolio company, KaiLong in 2016 and is responsible for equity capital markets and outbound investment. Prior to joining KaiLong, Mr. Chi was the Senior Director of Tishman Speyer's Equity Capital Markets group where he focused on outbound investments and RMB fund raising. Prior to that, Mr. Chi was at Partners Group where he led the Greater China private real estate portfolio and was responsible for both fund and direct investments as well as portfolio management for Asia. Mr. Chi began his career in the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Bank AG focusing on public listings and mergers & acquisitions.

Mr. Chi holds a B.A. in Business Economics and Chinese from UCLA, and an MBA from Haas School of Business at Berkeley.

As Senior Advisor at United Growth, Jeff has more than 30 years of experience and oversees United Growth's retail equity business, including the implementation of individual client strategies and portfolio management.

Jeff continues his Board level role at HLA Ventures overseeing the investment origination and execution of value-add and opportunistic transactions in all product types. He also is an advisor to the Glencrest Group assisting the company with its private equity platform.

Prior to forming HLA, Jeff co-founded PB&J Acquisitions, an investment management firm focused on the acquisition of value-added commercial real estate in major markets located in Northern California. While there, he spearheaded the fundraising for more than 1.8M SF of commercial properties from investors which have included Investcorp, Center Squared Capital Management, Washington Capital Management, and high-net-worth families and individuals.

In 1998, Jeff joined Rawson, Blum & Company and became a named partner in 2000. While at RBL, Jeff placed approximately $150M through the formation of joint venture relationships with many of the nation's most prestigious financial institutions including Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI), Regency Centers (NYSE: REG), CalPERS, Lubert Adler, and Perlmark Realty Corporation (formerly Transwestern Investment Corporation) as well as fundraising from high-net-worth individuals and families.

Mr. Leon earned his BA degree with honors from Northwestern University in 1982 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1985. Mr. Leon is an Alumni Council member and former Trustee of Town School for Boys in San Francisco, an Alumni Admission Council representative for Northwestern University, and sits on the Planning Committee of ICSC. Jeff lives with his four children in Ross, CA.