Investment Team

As President of Milan Capital Management, Chris Nichelson is responsible for developing and insuring successful execution of the company’s ownership and management strategies. He serves as the firm’s overall asset manager and is ultimately responsible for all functions of the company including acquisition, debt and equity relations, and development/redevelopment planning.

In June 2001, Mr. Nichelson joined Milan as the firm’s General Manager to oversee the management of the residential portfolio and to help the company explore opportunities in the commercial sector. Within the first five years, he tripled the size of the commercial portfolio, adding more than one million square feet of office and retail.

Mr. Nichelson has over fifteen years of experience in real estate development, investment, and management, having served as Asset and Property Management Director for a local community development corporation and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in California.

As Director of Acquisitions for Milan Capital, Landon Wright is primarily responsible for acquisitions, due diligence, equity and debt structures, and assists in the asset management for Milan’s portfolio.

With over 10 years experience in commercial real estate, including seven years as a commercial broker with Marcus & Millichap specializing in the sale of office and industrial properties, Mr. Wright utilizes practical market knowledge and critical underwriting standards to provide assessments on the financial and physical condition of the assets under Milan’s acquisition consideration. In addition to sourcing and evaluating investments to increase the size of the company’s portfolio, Mr. Wright also provides guidance in project management for Milan’s development and redevelopment projects.

Prior to joining Milan, Mr. Wright represented a wide spectrum of investors and owners including lenders during the REO markets of the ‘90s, pension funds advisors, development syndications, and high net worth individuals in the purchase and sale of commercial real estate throughout Southern California. Since joining Milan, Mr. Wright has facilitated the acquisition of numerous commercial assets as well as several hundred acres of land while directing the renovations and ground up development of commercial improvements to add value to Milan’s portfolio.

As Director of Planning and Development for Milan, Bret Bernard is responsible for the environmental review, planning and building entitlements, and the processing and coordination for Milan’s land acquisitions and development projects. He also assists with due diligence review of potential acquisitions and oversees the development management for the company.

Mr. Bernard brings over 18 years of experience in the public sector, most of this tenure spent as the Planning and Building Safety Director for several cities in Southern California. This experience is complimented by several additional years in economic development, including two years as the Director of Economic Development for Downtown Los Angeles.

For the ensuing eight years, he was a Senior Vice President for several real estate development companies; and, before joining Milan he was the Chief Operating Officer for a land development and engineering consortium.

Mr. Bernard has significant experience working in planning and project management throughout California, with additional land development experience in other states and overseas. While quite varied, his projects have included many coastal, mixed-use, recreational and adaptive re-use projects in addition to single-family and commercial master planned communities.

John Redfield serves as a financial analyst for Milan Capital and is primarily responsible for the financial valuations for acquisitions, development, property and asset management, and disposition strategies. John also provides assistance during the due diligence process of Milan’s acquisitions.

Receiving his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Southern California, John majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate Finance. While attending USC, he worked with the Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services group, participated in the Marshall School of Business International Real Estate Competition, and was a member of the Trojan Real Estate Association (TREA).

Since joining Milan, John has assisted in the valuation and due diligence of several assets under acquisition consideration including Milan’s recent purchase of Orange Financial Center, a 312,000 square foot office complex in Orange County. His underwriting and analytical skills have been a valuable component of Milan’s decision-making in asset managment.

Tanya Patton joined Milan Capital Management in 2005 as an Administrative Assistant and quickly advanced into management serving in several capacities. She has a proven track record as a Property Manager handling multiple retail and office properties, and has been an integral team member in the Acquisitions & Development division of the company. With her broad knowledge in all areas of operations at Milan Capital Management, she currently serves with Chris Nichelson in the overall asset management of the company's portfolio.

Tanya has been successful in the development of such properties as 888 Disneyland Drive in Anaheim where she aided Milan in the complete renovation of a 100,000 square foot office building while increasing occupancy from 0% to 98% in fewer than three years.

Tanya is very well organized and has an impeccable eye for detail. She is diligent in her processes and has the ability to effectively manage projects from conception, implementation to accurate completion.