OUR TEAM
Jay Kerner
CEOJay is the CEO of U.S. Realty Partners, a commercial real estate operating and advisory firm specializing in high-quality retail properties across the western United States. With over 35 years of experience, he brings deep expertise in the acquisition, development, leasing, and management of retail, multifamily, office, and mixed-use assets.
Jay’s career includes leadership roles at highly respected institutional and entrepreneurial commercial real estate firms. He was formerly Regional Director of Capital and Counties, U.S.A., where he was responsible for a 2.5 million square foot portfolio spanning retail, office, and residential properties. In addition to overseeing acquisitions, dispositions, and operations, Jay played a pivotal role in the company’s $600+ million sale to Equity One (NYSE: EQY) in 2011. Prior to that, he served as Senior Director of Acquisitions for Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), a premier public REIT with over 19 million square feet of mixed-use and retail assets in major U.S. markets.
Jay also spent more than a decade as President of Kerner Management and Investments, a regional shopping center development and operations firm. Over his career, he has been directly involved in more than $2 billion in commercial real estate transactions.
He is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Business & Economics and holds multiple professional designations: California Real Estate Broker, licensed California General Contractor, and FINRA-registered representative with Series 7, 24, 27, 63, and 79 licenses. Jay is an active International Council of Shopping Centers member and a past industry speaker. He is also the author of Chasing Yield: An Individual Investor’s Guide to Passive Commercial Real Estate Investments.
Tina Colacino
PRESIDENTTina leads asset management and the execution of strategic business plans across the U.S. Realty Partners portfolio. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial and retail real estate, she brings deep expertise in investment strategy, development, and operational performance.
Tina previously served as Development Manager for Starbucks Corporation in Northern California, where she played a key role in site selection and expansion. Prior to that, she was Investment Manager at Grosvenor International, a global real estate investment firm. Her diverse background also includes positions with Boston Market, Cushman & Wakefield, and Cushman Realty Corporation, spanning roles in development, leasing, and portfolio strategy.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts with highest honors from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Stanford University.
Wes Reef
ASSET MANAGERWes provides strategic oversight and drives performance across a portion of U.S. Realty Partners’ retail shopping center portfolio. A seasoned real estate professional with almost 20 years of experience, Wes brings a comprehensive background in acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing, and full-cycle asset and property management.
Prior to joining U.S. Realty Partners, Wes served for nearly a decade as an Asset Manager at J.G. Management Company, a privately held commercial real estate investment and asset management firm, where he was instrumental in optimizing asset value and portfolio returns.
Wes holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Sharon Sterling
ASSET MANAGERSharon is responsible for executing business plans for Lahaina Cannery and Gateway Shopping Centers in Maui, Hawaii, bringing over 25 years of experience in the acquisition, management, and strategic enhancement of commercial and retail real estate.
Prior to joining U.S. Realty Partners, Sharon served as Senior Vice President at Grosvenor, a London-based global property firm, where she managed a diverse West Coast portfolio and directed the North American Sustainability Program. Her career spans leadership roles at top-tier public and private equity real estate firms, including Invesco Real Estate, Heitman, and Archon Group—a Goldman Sachs affiliate—where she worked across institutional, value-add, and pension fund assets.
Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Justin Kerner
ASSET AND ANALYTICS MANAGERJustin Kerner serves as Asset and Analytics Manager at U.S. Realty Partners, where he supports executing asset management strategies across the firm’s portfolio. He specializes in financial modeling, underwriting, and investment analysis, with responsibilities spanning Argus modeling, project-level analytics, and the coordination of due diligence for acquisitions, dispositions, and capital initiatives.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Loyola Marymount University and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Louis Sergi
DIRECTOR OF LEASINGLouis leads leasing operations at U.S. Realty Partners, leveraging over a decade of experience in commercial leasing and property management. A licensed real estate professional, he is driven by a results-oriented focus on maximizing occupancy, enhancing asset performance, and creating long-term value.
Louis brings deep expertise in strategic leasing, tenant acquisition, market positioning, and lease negotiation. He oversees the full leasing lifecycle—from sourcing and securing tenants to drafting and executing new leases. Known for his market insight and proactive style, Louis plays a critical role in elevating the performance of the firm’s retail properties.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola Marymount University.
Susana Jagodzinski
DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTIONSusana is a licensed real estate professional and LEED-accredited expert with over 20 years of experience in development and construction. She has successfully led the planning, management, and execution of more than 12 million square feet of commercial projects across multiple asset classes, including retail, multifamily, office, and mixed-use.
Susana has held senior leadership roles with top-tier developers, including serving as Vice President of Development at Alliant Strategic Development and CCA Acquisition Company. Prior to joining U.S. Realty Partners, she led cross-functional teams of 10+ professionals at Brixmor Property Group, overseeing ground-up and renovation retail projects for national and regional tenants.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Master of Science in Construction Management and Real Estate Development from Drexel University.
Mike Wright
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – HAWAIIMike is the Managing Principal of Wright Hawaii Commercial Real Estate Advisors LLC, a boutique consulting and investment firm specializing in real estate development and advisory services across the Hawaiian Islands. He leads development and planning management efforts for U.S. Realty Partners’ Hawaii property, bringing strategic insight and deep market knowledge to the role.
With 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Mike is a recognized industry leader with expertise spanning development, planning, structured finance, acquisitions, investments, marketing, and sales. During his 13-year tenure as Executive Vice President at A&B Properties Inc.—a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin (NYSE: ALEX)—he was directly involved in over $1 billion in commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Joe Foreman
SENIOR ADVISORJoe is the Chief Executive Officer of The Bond Street Capital Companies, Inc., a commercial mortgage brokerage firm. A licensed attorney admitted to the California Bar in 1979, Forman quickly transitioned to a business career, joining one of top commercial real estate investment banking firms in Los Angeles. Over the decades, he has built a reputation as a trusted advisor and capital markets expert, structuring debt and equity solutions across all major property types.
In 2001, Forman founded Bond Street Capital, initially launching a CMBS direct lending platform before expanding into a nationwide firm with 28 affiliated offices. Today, the company focuses exclusively on representing borrowers, sourcing capital for assets including hospitality, multifamily, industrial, retail, and self-storage.
Forman has personally originated over $3 billion in commercial real estate financings. He currently advises a select group of clients whose portfolios exceed $2 billion in assets, providing strategic capital markets guidance built on more than 30 years of industry experience.
Jeffrey Marcus, ESQ
OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSELJeff’s legal scope of work includes U.S. Realty Partners’ shopping center acquisitions and dispositions, financing, leasing, and general legal matters. He has worked with U.S. Realty Partners for over 15 years.
Mr. Marcus has been a commercial real estate transactional attorney for over 35 years and previously litigated real estate disputes.
Mr. Marcus is a former corporate attorney with CBRE, Inc., until he founded the Law Offices of Jeffrey L. Marcus, APC in 2004.
Kirsten Baisner
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTKirsten serves as Executive Assistant at U.S. Realty Partners, Inc., where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the leadership team and ensuring seamless day-to-day operations. With a background in commercial real estate investment management and a keen eye for organization, she helps keep critical projects moving forward with precision and efficiency.
She brings industry experience and a solid grasp of the full real estate lifecycle – from deal flow and investor relations to transaction processing and team coordination. She is known for her proactive, solutions-oriented approach and her ability to manage competing priorities without missing a detail.
Before joining U.S. Realty Partners, Kirsten supported senior real estate executives across Los Angeles, contributing to acquisitions, asset management, and operations for a diverse portfolio of property types.