Development Team
SCOTT GREENSPAN
VICE PRESIDENT, AJ KHAIR CONTRACTORS, INC.
Scott Greenspan joined A.J. Khair in 2006. During his time with the company, he has worked on all facets of the real estate development process, including acquisitions, design, entitlement, financing, and construction of the company's projects. As Vice President, Scott is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company. Prior to joining A.J. Khair, Scott worked for H.B. Parkco Construction and the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. His prior experience included work on the construction of over 1,000 multi- family units and managing land-use issues within Los Angeles County. Scott received his Bachelor of Science degree in urban planning from the University of Southern California and is a licensed California real estate broker. He also remains active in the Los Angeles area Urban Land Institute.
PAUL MCMANUS
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, AJ KHAIR CONTRACTORS, INC.
Paul McManus joined A.J. Khair in 2018 as a senior project manager. Paul oversees the pre-development and construction of projects to ensure that they progress on schedule and within budget. Paul has worked on many high-profile projects, especially in the hospitality sector. As a vice president and senior project manager for contractors and developers, Paul brings organizational and management experience that can be leveraged to benefit every project. Paul received his bachelor's degree from Occidental College and completed graduate work in Environmental Planning at San Francisco State University. Additionally, Paul is (LEED-AP.)
GENE FONG
EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT, AXIS/GFA
Gene Fong, Principal Architect at AXIS/GFA Architecture
Design, received a Bachelor of Architecture degree, graduating with high honors, from the School of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Later, Gene served as guest lecturer at the same university, mentoring students in the day-to-day practical applications of running an architectural practice. Prior to the 2017 AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design merger, Gene was the founding Principal Architect at Gene Fong Associates, having operated GFA for over 20 years and establishing it as one of California’s most practiced hotel and multi-family residential architectural design firms.
He is a registered architect in the State of California, the State of Arizona and the State of Hawaii. He is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.
Gene has been the lead architect in designing many landmark projects including: Courtyard Marriott Santa Monica, Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, LaPeer Hotel, Aloft El Segundo Hotel, Bernardus Lodge Boutique Hotel, and Virgin Hotel San Francisco, as well as many others.
SPENCER B. KALLICK
PARTNER, ALLEN MATKINS
Spencer B. Kallick transacts land use entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for large scale development projects, employing an astute combination of legal, policy, and practical knowledge. His experience entitling all real estate products is matched only by his long-standing city, county, and state relationships.
A former assistant city attorney handling land use matters for a number of California cities, including Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, South El Monte, and Indio, Spencer’s shared understanding of the process gives him an advantage when advocating on behalf of his clients’ projects. Problems get resolved faster, and entitlements go smoother when all parties speak the same language and understand each other’s point of view.
IRA HANDELMAN
PRESIDENT, HANDELMAN CONSULTING, INC.
Ira D. Handelman has provided public affairs, government relations, community outreach, entitlement, public education and affordable housing services to California and Los Angeles area public and private sector clients for the past 40 years. He has represented major commercial, residential, retail and industrial projects and is considered an expert in community outreach programs for real estate development projects. He has also worked with numerous cities and counties throughout California on development projects and public education campaigns.
Mr. Handelman has formed and managed several companies that provided a wide range of government relations, community outreach and real estate services. He has worked on projects ranging from a 350,000 sq. ft. big box retail, office and restaurant development, a 539-unit mixed use apartment/retail and hotel project, a 1,000,000 sq. ft. mixed use housing and retail project and a 600,000 sq. ft. shopping center.
Mr. Handelman received his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in history from Rutgers University. He also did graduate work at the Columbia University School of Social Work.
He is active in a variety of civic and community organizations, including the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA).
STEVEN KENT
DESIGN ARCHITECT, STEVEN KENT ARCHITECTS
As a top Malibu architect for over 20 years, Steven Kent has established a reputation for designing high-end minimalist modern architecture. He creates warm and livable environments characterized by dramatic volumes and seamless flow of space. His commercial and residential architectural design portfolio includes projects in the Los Angeles area such as Brentwood, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Malibu.
Steven Kent received a Masters of Architecture from U.C.
Berkeley and studied undergraduate architecture at the University of Michigan. Before starting his own practice, Steven Kent Architects, he worked with Frank Gehry on the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum project in Bilbao Spain.
MARK E. LEHMAN
LAW OFFICES OF MARK E. LEHMAN
Mark E. Lehman is a prominent West Hollywood business, land use and real estate attorney with a sub-specialty in permitting and land use, restaurant, bar and nightclub law, sales and acquisition. He is also a principal and in-house legal counsel for Love Serve Remember, LLC the parent company of Gracias Madre, Café Gratitude and Gratitude, a pre-eminent 100% organic vegan restaurant group with locations in West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Newport Beach and San Diego. Love Serve Remember has its headquarters on the Sunset Strip and Mark’s offices are also located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, and he is a homeowner who has resided and worked in West Hollywood for over 36 years. Mark joined the Board of Directors of the West Hollywood Chamber in the early 1980’s, served 4 years as Chamber President/Chairman of the Board and many additional years on the Chamber’s Executive Committee, several of those years as Vice President of Governmental Affairs. He also served as past Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.