River Rock News

RiverRock Bolsters Management Team, GlobeSt.com

April 20, 2008

RiverRock Real Estate Group Names Steve Core Chief Operating Officer

April 16, 2008

SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif. (April 16, 2008) RiverRock Real Estate Group, a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm, has named Steve Core chief operating officer. Based out of RiverRock’s South Coast Metro headquarters, Core will oversee management, construction, training, property transitions and will lead RiverRock’s continued efforts in green practices.

“As executive managing director at RiverRock Steve has been an integral part of our growing operation, strategically involved in our Northern California and Coachella Valley joint ventures. He is an asset to the company and this new role signifies an important step in our growth,” said John Combs, principal, RiverRock Real Estate Group.

Prior to joining RiverRock, Core served as director of property management for Insignia/ESG, where he worked with Combs for 9 years. At Insignia/ESG, he oversaw property management operations for office, industrial and retail portfolios ranging from 7 to 21 million square feet. Core represented Insignia/ESG on high profile accounts including Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, Archon Group, LaSalle Partners, Pacific Mutual, Property Reserve, Inc., The RREEF Funds and The Irvine Company. Additionally, he served as national account executive on the California Public Employee Retirement System and Meridian Industrial Trust accounts.

Previously, Core was group manager for the industrial division of Prentiss Properties in Los Angeles, where he led management operations and marketing efforts for a sixmillion square foot industrial portfolio.

Core holds the Certified Property Manager designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management and holds a California Real Estate License.

About RiverRock Real Estate Group

RiverRock Real Estate Group, Inc. is a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm specializing in commercial, industrial and retail management. Headquartered in South Coast Metro, Calif., RiverRock’s office locations include Walnut Creek, Woodland Hills, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, Costa Mesa, and the Greater Desert Area. The firm currently manages a West Coast portfolio totaling more than 8.5 million square feet of space.

RiverRock Real Estate Group was founded in August 2003 by John Combs, a leading figure in the property management industry in California and nationally as the former head of Insignia ESG's property services division. RiverRock Real Estate Group has established a breakthrough property management model based on innovative, client-focused standards for operational efficiency, customer service, fee structure, outsourcing, personnel and training that increases the ability of building managers to positively impact the value of a real estate asset. The branded service platform includes joint ventures operating as Diablo RiverRock, Inc. and Wilson Johnson RiverRock.

RiverRock Real Estate Group Names Ken Kruis Chief Financial Officer

April 16, 2008

Kruis brings more than 15 years of experience in financial management with a proven
track record in both large property accounting platform and corporate accounting.

SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif. (April 16, 2008) RiverRock Real Estate Group, a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm, has named Ken Kruis chief financial officer. Operating from RiverRock’s South Coast Metro headquarters, Kruis will be responsible for RiverRock’s corporate and joint venture accounting and overall financial management.

“As director of accounting at RiverRock for the past 3 years, Ken established a property accounting department that is recognized by our clients and partners as a highly valuable service. Ken is an asset to the company and this new role signifies an important step in our growth,” said John Combs, principal, RiverRock Real Estate Group.

Prior to joining RiverRock, Kruis was assistant controller at Western National Group. In this position, he was responsible for monthly financial reporting of a $130 million real estate portfolio, comprised of more than 90 projects totaling 174 buildings.

Previously, Kruis served as assistant controller for Donahue Schriber, a national property management firm and, prior to that, was a senior accountant for Insignia/ESG where he worked with Steve Core, chief operating officer, RiverRock Real Estate Group, and Combs. At Insignia/ESG, he was responsible for preparing monthly investor reports and financial statements for The Irvine Company (TIC), a multi-million dollar owner and developer of more than 130 commercial properties. Kruis was also an accountant for the USAF.

Kruis received a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Pepperdine University in California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in real estate finance from California State University, Fullerton.

About RiverRock Real Estate Group

RiverRock Real Estate Group, Inc. is a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm specializing in commercial, industrial and retail management. Headquartered in South Coast Metro, Calif., RiverRock’s office locations include Walnut Creek, Woodland Hills, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, Costa Mesa, and the Greater Desert Area. The firm currently manages a West Coast portfolio totaling more than 8.5 million square feet of space.

RiverRock Real Estate Group was founded in August 2003 by John Combs, a leading figure in the property management industry in California and nationally as the former head of Insignia ESG's property services division. RiverRock Real Estate Group has established a breakthrough property management model based on innovative, client-focused standards for operational efficiency, customer service, fee structure, outsourcing, personnel and training that increases the ability of building managers to positively impact the value of a real estate asset. The branded service platform includes joint ventures operating as Diablo RiverRock, Inc. and Wilson Johnson RiverRock.

RiverRock Expands into Palm Desert, California Real Estate Journal

March 31, 2008

RiverRock Real Estate Group Grows Management Portfolio as Part of a Joint Venture with Wilson Johnson Commercial; Move Adds Coachella Valley to Firm’s California Portfolio

February 19, 2008

Joint Venture Increases Firm’s Property Diversity, Adds 500,000 Square Feet, and Brings Total Management and Leasing Portfolio to 8.5 Million Square Feet of Space

SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif. (February 19, 2008) RiverRock Real Estate Group, a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm, has announced the formation of a joint venture with Wilson Johnson Commercial to be known as Wilson Johnson RiverRock. Wilson Johnson Commercial is a Coachella Valley-based commercial real estate firm providing services in leasing, property management, development and financing. The joint venture, operating from its main Palm Desert office located at 45445 Portola Avenue, will be the only Accredited Management Organization (AMO) based in Palm Desert. The area serviced will include La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Palm Desert and Palm Springs.

The agreement increases RiverRock’s total management and leasing portfolio and expands its geographic reach into a new Southern California market, the Coachella Valley. In the Greater Desert area, Wilson Johnson RiverRock will handle management of more than 500,000 square feet of commercial properties. Brian Strahl, a respected member of the Coachella Valley real estate community, has been named to run the management practice in the region.

"We want to set the standard for the premier real estate management company in the Desert. Scott Wilson and Matt Johnson are recognized leaders in the Coachella Valley. Their clients will now gain the advantages of working with a nationally recognized management company. Clients and owners will benefit when the best unite bringing new options and opportunities to the market with a proven track record and infrastructure,” said John Combs, principal, RiverRock Real Estate Group.

“We have strategically decided to expand our property management offerings at the request of our clients,” said Scott Wilson, founding partner, Wilson Johnson Commercial. “We believe combining our platform for management with RiverRock Real Estate Group will bring a new level of management expertise to the Coachella Valley.”

Brian Strahl is a seven-year local resident of Palm Springs. Prior to joining Wilson Johnson RiverRock he was very active in the local real estate community. Strahl is a member of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board, responsible for making recommendations to the city council for local historic designations. Prior to moving to Palm Springs, he lived in San Francisco where he worked for a San Francisco-based law firm.
The joint venture announcement follows RiverRock’s August 2007 formation of a joint venture with Alamo, Calif.-based retail investment and development firm Alamo Group and Dudum Investments. This joint venture, known as Diablo RiverRock Inc., handles management and leasing for approximately 1.5 million square feet of retail and restaurant properties located throughout Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and Nevada.

“Since establishing RiverRock, I’ve sought to create a premier service organization that delivers a well-trained, client-centric level of management services. Through strategic joint ventures, we’ve more quickly expanded our service brand into new markets, following both our client base and bringing a new level of service to our partner’s clients,” added Combs.

RiverRock now operates 11 offices and manages approximately 8.5 million square feet of space located throughout the Western United States.

About RiverRock Real Estate Group
RiverRock Real Estate Group, Inc. is a West Coast-based commercial real estate management and leasing firm specializing in commercial, industrial and retail management. Headquartered in South Coast Metro, Calif., RiverRock’s office locations include Walnut Creek, Woodland Hills, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, Costa Mesa, and the Greater Desert Area. The firm currently manages a West Coast portfolio totaling more than 8.5 million square feet of space.

RiverRock Real Estate Group was founded in August 2003 by John Combs, a leading figure in the property management industry in California and nationally as the former head of Insignia ESG's property services division. RiverRock Real Estate Group has established a breakthrough property management model based on innovative, client-focused standards for operational efficiency, customer service, fee structure, outsourcing, personnel and training that increases the ability of building managers to positively impact the value of a real estate asset. The branded service platform includes joint ventures operating as Diablo RiverRock, Inc. and Wilson Johnson RiverRock.

About Wilson Johnson Commercial

Wilson Johnson is the Coachella Valley’s premier commercial real estate firm. Their comprehensive services include buying, selling, leasing, property management, development, and financing. The firm was founded in March 2000 by Scott R. Wilson and Matthew V. Johnson; two real estate professionals with deep roots in Coachella Valley’s unique market. From the outset, they have found success on a foundation of integrity, trust, loyalty and an unparalleled commitment to customer service. Wilson Johnson offers expertise in a range of property types including industrial, retail, office, medical, multi-unit apartment, and land.

Beyond the Business Card, California Real Estate Journal

February 19, 2008