Office: 858-759-0544
Cell: 858-922-2092
lgatto@meritageretail.com

Lori A. Gatto, Founding Member

Ms. Gatto has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate investment and development in projects valued in excess of $7B. Specific expertise includes Land Acquisition, Development, Redevelopment, Finance, Project Acquisition, Dispositions, Asset Management and Partnership Management.

Prior to the formation of Meritage Retail Investment Advisors, LLC she spent twenty one years with The Macerich Company, a publicly traded (NYSE) real estate investment trust that acquires, owns, redevelops, develops, manages and leases regional and community shopping centers throughout the United States. Macerich is one of the country’s largest owners, operators and developers of major retail properties to a peak of 72 properties and 76 million square feet and a market capitalization of $7B.  She also served as a Representative of Real Estate Production and Development with The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in their San Francisco office.   In this role she was focused on the placement of capital in debt and equity investments for all commercial product types.

Ms. Gatto initially joined Macerich with a focus on project acquisitions, financing, development, asset management, and partnership management.  Based on success in these areas she was promoted to Senior Vice President of Asset Management where she was successful in building the department from start up, driving value maximization efforts for the company during a period of rapid growth.  After the Macerich acquisition of The Westcor Company Ms. Gatto became Senior Vice President of Development and assumed responsibility for the pursuit and execution of strategic retail and mixed-use development opportunities in Arizona. During her tenure the company grew from 10 centers with 8 million sq. ft. under management to a peak of 72 centers with 76 million sq. ft. and a market capitalization of over $7B.

A brief summary of her accomplishments include:

• Development: Project leader responsible for the development of regional and community shopping centers and mixed use projects valued in excess of $1.5B.
• Leadership/Management: Developed and led multiple cross functional teams including a value creation team for a redevelopment project valued in excess of $700 million.
• Asset Management: Organized, developed and directed asset management group from start up to a team currently in excess of 20 people providing high level strategic services to internal and external stakeholders on portfolios valued in excess of $4B.
• Acquisitions/Dispositions: Responsible for the identification, due diligence, documentation and closing of over 30 investments including regional shopping centers, office, industrial, apartments and land valued over $1.2B.
• Financing: Directly responsible for the underwriting, placement and closing of over $300mm of commercial and tax increment financing transactions.
• Negotiation: Extensive experience with partnership structuring, documentation, city development   agreements, major leases, ground leases, joint venture agreements, purchase and sale agreements, financing documentation and management agreements
• Partnership Skills: Demonstrated track record as leader of successful investment partnerships. Worked directly with executive teams at major institutional investors, development and land investment companies on diverse and complex projects.

Education

• B.S. Finance University of Southern California; MBA Real Estate Finance Golden Gate University

Professional Affiliations

• ICSC
• Licensed California Real Estate Broker