Industry Veteran Jack Van Berkel Joins Christenson Advisors as Partner/Managing Principal

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Christenson Advisors announced today that industry veteran Jack Van Berkel has joined the firm as a partner and managing principal. Based in the firm's Newport Beach office, he will play a key role in building Christenson's brand as a full service real estate consulting company. 

Van Berkel brings a decade of commercial real estate experience that includes leadership positions at both Grubb & Ellis Company and CB Richard Ellis.

"We are thrilled to have Jack join Christenson Advisors," said Kevin Christenson, founder and managing principal of CA. "His extensive experience and relationships across the real estate world will add tremendous value to our company."

Van Berkel joins CA from Grubb & Ellis Company, where he was executive vice president, chief operating officer and president, Real Estate Services since 2007. During that period, he oversaw the expansion of the firm's real estate services capabilities, including the formation of Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services, which in less than two years has grown to become one of the industry's leading full service appraisal firms. During his tenure, he also was responsible for the recruitment of more than 250 senior brokerage professionals into the organization.

Earlier, Van Berkel spent more than four years at CB Richard Ellis as senior vice president, Human Resources. He was instrumental in the successful integration of Insignia Financial Group and Trammell Crow into CB Richard Ellis' organization. Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis, Van Berkel held senior global human resource, operations and sales positions with First Data Corporation, Gateway Corporation and Western Digital.

"I am excited to draw from my experience at two of the world's largest real estate services companies to help better serve Christenson's expanding client base," said Van Berkel. "I have deep respect for Kevin and all of the CA professionals, having relied on them in my previous roles.  I've been impressed with the firm's growth over the last four years and am looking forward to playing an integral role in its future success."

About Christenson Advisors
Christenson Advisors is a full service real estate consultancy firm which provides customized, hands-on executive recruiting, compensation consulting, financial advisory and management consulting services to the global real estate industry. The Company was founded in early 2008 and is headquartered in Chicago with satellite offices in Dallas, Los Angeles and New York.  CA is a recognized leader in providing creative, strong, and enduring solutions to public and private real estate organizations in an ever-changing market. 

Additionally, CA Funds Group, Inc., a sister company of CA, is an SEC registered broker-dealer focused exclusively on providing capital raising and related advisory services to the global real estate industry.

For more information, go to www.christensonadvisors.com.

SOURCE Christenson Advisors, LLC