John Gordon, broker and owner of Gordon Commercial Real Estate Services, has concentrated his real estate endeavors in and around Berkeley for 30 years. He is most active in Berkeley’s commercial areas including Downtown, Telegraph, Solano, College and San Pablo Avenues, as well as throughout West Berkeley. He also focuses on Oakland and Emeryville properties close to the Berkeley border. John has a strong expertise working with owners in a consultative fashion to create the best overall plan for a property and then recruit the best tenant mix for the available spaces. In his work, John pays careful attention to the character of the site and pulls from successful urban design examples from around the world. John is familiar with all aspects of the real estate transaction including development potential, construction, zoning, financing, and both ownership and tenant challenges. His strong analytical experience has assisted in evaluating and structuring various types of commercial real estate transactions. John’s experience includes working with city agencies, Trust departments and REO departments of major lending institutions. He has frequent interaction with the Berkeley City Council, Planning Commission, Zoning Adjustment Board, Landmark Preservation Commission, and Planning and Building Departments. He currently sits on the Board of the Telegraph Business Improvement District, and has been an active member of the Downtown Berkeley Association, including holding leadership positions. John was a member of the City of Berkeley Haas Pavilion Task Force and worked with the mayor to comment on the University of California’s planned expansion of Harmon Gym and Edward’s Field. He was also a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on the planning of the Downtown Arts District. John's license number is # 00789365.
Ito Ripsteen joined Gordon Commercial in 2001 and immediately set out to learn the area’s commercial districts block by block. He has developed a solid record of transactions in Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville that includes hundreds of commercial leases and sales for his clients. In 2006 Ito was named a “Power Broker” by CoStar Group, recognizing him as “ranked among East/Bay Oakland’s Top Brokers” based on 2006 retail leasing transaction volume. Additionally, Ito owns and redevelops Berkeley retail, office, and residential buildings, so he deeply understands his clients’ needs firsthand. He has a great understanding of the local zoning and land use planning process, a key component to closing transactions. His strong relationship with local city officials, architects, contractors, and trade professionals is one of the other huge advantages he brings to his clients. Ito lives in West Berkeley. He is active in the Downtown Berkeley Association where he is currently on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Ito is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and The Urban Land Institute (ULI). Ito’s license number is # 01339534.
Lori Rosenthal joined Gordon Commercial in 2003 as the marketing arm of the company. She has 30 years of marketing experience in the Bay Area including 20 years in the high tech field and 10 years as a marketing specialist for companies ranging in size from the University of California to small startups and non-profits. Lori oversees all marketing materials developed for Gordon Commercial including property brochures, online listings, website content, direct marketing and advertising materials, and press releases. Additionally, Lori maintains and communicates with an ever-growing data base of brokers and potential tenants as well as city officials, property owners and special interest groups.
Kevin Gordon joined Gordon Commercial in 2010, fresh from nine years in management at Pixar Animation Studios. He is no stranger to real estate, having been involved with various elements throughout his life in support of family property holdings, including apartment renovation, property management support, and his own home ownership. The transition to working in real estate has been exciting for Kevin and he enjoys putting his background in project management and leadership, including strong communication, organization and planning skills, to work on behalf of clients.
Kevin is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Alameda Occidental College
