Farbman Group Adds Six New Team Members Across Family Of Organizations

Farbman Group, a leading full-service commercial real estate firm, today announced the addition of six new team members to its family of organizations. Spanning three states, the firm’s growth includes new additions in its home state, including Kristen Howton and Mike Freed, who join Farbman Group, as well as Doug Gurnee, who joins Apex Mechanical Solutions. Beyond the Mitten State, Farbman Group’s expansion continues through Charlie Portis, who joins the firm’s Chicago office, as well as Julio Velazquez and Peggy Dunfee, who will expand the firm’s presence in Cleveland.

“Our goal is to bring hardworking, customer-oriented professionals both to Farbman Group and across our family of organizations,” said Andrew V. Farbman, CEO of Farbman Group. “These individuals bring a diverse range of strengths and experience to their respective teams. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they make—not only within their teams, but across the communities they serve every day.”

Kristen Howton joins Farbman Group as a property manager. Bringing over 27 years of real estate experience in the multi-family housing industry, Howton most recently served as a regional property manager overseeing multi-state property portfolios. She has a proven track record in operational excellence, financial performance, leasing strategies and team leadership.

Mike Freed joins Farbman Group as a maintenance technician at Oakland Commons. Freed brings over 15 years of facilities maintenance experience, with expertise in boilers, chillers, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and general building systems. He holds an EPA Universal certification, 1st Class Refrigeration Operator certifications and is a UAW Journeyman.

Doug Gurnee joins Apex Mechanical Solutions, Farbman Group’s resident heating and cooling organization, as an HVAC technician. Gurnee brings extensive expertise in HVAC systems, mechanical contracting and field service to the firm. He is licensed as a Michigan Mechanical Contractor and holds an EPA Universal Certification.

Charlie Portis joins Farbman Group of Chicago as vice president. Portis brings 40 years of experience in office brokerage and development, including leasing and developing 650,000 square feet of speculative suburban office space across several Chicago suburbs.

Julio Velazquez joins Farbman Group as a lead engineer for Cleveland East Properties. Velazquez has over 25 years of experience in facilities and maintenance management, specializing in HVAC, electrical systems, plumbing and general building maintenance. He most recently served as Director of Engineering, where he was responsible for the repair of mechanical and electrical systems, maintenance schedules and more.

Peggy Dunfee joins Farbman Group as a property manager for Cleveland East Properties. Dunfee brings more than 20 years of commercial property and project management experience. Throughout her career, she has excelled at leading teams, managing construction projects and ensuring properties operate efficiently and effectively.

For more information on Farbman Group, including current job openings, please visit www.farbman.com.

About Farbman Group:
Founded in 1976 and celebrating 50 years in business, Farbman Group is a leading full-service commercial real estate firm handling all facets of real estate transactions, from property management and leasing to acquisition and disposition. Farbman Group manages more than 25 million square feet of office, retail, multi-family, and industrial space throughout the Midwest. For more information, please visit www.farbman.com.