Seasoned Real Estate Executive with over 25 years of diverse experience in the industry with a background in construction, real estate development, and Property Management. Mike has been with RIDC for over 4 and a half years as the Senior Vice President of Real Estate. Prior to RIDC, Mike spent 6 years at real estate developer Merus (formerly Al. Neyer). Mike also spent 6 years at JLL, leading Project and Development Services. He also worked for Piatt and Oxford Development earlier in his career. Prior to his Real Estate career, Mike spent 6 and ½ years on Active duty as a Naval Officer after graduating from Vanderbilt University.

Christi Saunders Christofano is a senior project manager with the design and construction team at Tishman Speyer. Christi currently works as a development manager on the University of Pittsburgh Bioforge project and is a member of the Tishman Speyer development team for the entire 178 acre site of Hazelwood Green. She wields a passion for three fields that unite at Hazelwood Green – design, construction, and sustainability. Christi has a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree from Penn State University and a Master’s of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering in Sustainability and Green Design from the University of Pittsburgh. She then went on to work in the field of construction for over 10 years to gain hands on experience with the built environment. She worked at Mascaro Construction as an on-site construction project manager in a multitude of sectors – commercial, industrial, institutional, and recreational. Her diverse background led to her success on construction projects in the past and has propelled her forward in her current design and construction role at Tishman Speyer. Christi is excited to contribute in the realization of the vision of Hazelwood Green - “a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive new model for urban development.”

Jason Stewart leads JLL's Agency Leasing team in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Mr. Stewart has a primary focus on office leasing and development in Pittsburgh's Central Business District, its urban research corridors, and the region's suburban submarkets. Mr.Stewart joined the firm in 2011 following a 16-year career at Grubb &Ellis Company. His experience in representing the local holdings of a diverse mix of developers and investors has been widely recognized by industry associations. Six of Mr. Stewart's agency leasing assignments have received the NAIOP Speculative Office Building of the Year award, which recognizes successful leasing execution for the region's ground-up developments, and Mr.Stewart's Pittsburgh International Business Park won NAIOP's Best New Business Park, which was awarded for only the third time in the Chapter's history. In recent years, seven of Mr. Stewart's office transactions received SIOR awards for the largest by sale or lease volume in their respective categories. Mr. Stewart has also played an active role in the sale transactions of his leasing assignments, including K&L Gates Center, Peoples Center, DelMonte Center, SAP Center, and EQT Center.

John Buechli has been in the construction and development industry for over 18 years. John brings a deep understanding of the building process from the general contractor, construction manager, and developer perspectives. John holds a degree in Civil Engineering and has built a career rooted in a strong work ethic, love for problem-solving, and technical expertise. Throughout his career, John has successfully led a wide range of projects—from complex ground-up construction to large-scale multi-phased renovations—overseeing every phase from pre-construction planning and budgeting to final delivery. His background allows him to bridge the gap between construction execution and real estate requirements, offering a unique advantage in aligning project goals with long-term developer objectives. Whether managing contractors in the field or collaborating with architects, owners, and tenants, John is known for an engaged leadership style, strong communication skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results. John enjoys connecting with individuals and organizations within the communities that his projects serve and benefit. Currently, John serves as the Senior Construction Manager at RIDC, a leader of economic development in the SW PA region. In his position at RIDC, he has been involved in major projects including RIDC Mill 19, Rebuild Manufacturing, Motional, and Intervala. Prior to joining RIDC, John held positions as Project Manager and Project Engineer at Massaro Corporation. He lives in Fox Chapel with his wife, Jessica, their son, Henry (8), and daughter, Dylan (4).