Jan Goldsmith to Step Down; Jessica Smith Appointed President, Effective August 17, 2026

BISWIRE/Aug. 24, 2026 — Zeller announced that Jan Goldsmith will step down as President of Zeller Development Corporation and Jessica Smith, currently Senior Vice President, has been appointed President, effective August 17, 2026.

Goldsmith joined Zeller in 1989 and has led development, redevelopment and construction across the company’s national portfolio. During her tenure, she helped define Zeller’s rigorous and creative approach to repositioning office properties and directed some of the most complex, high-impact projects in the company’s history. These include the comprehensive redevelopment of The Wrigley Building, the integration of Apple’s global flagship store at 401 North Michigan Avenue, and major repositioning initiatives at Capital Center in Indianapolis, 100 Peachtree and Resurgens Plaza in Atlanta.

Goldsmith also oversaw governmental agreements involving landmark designations, property tax incentives, federal historic tax credits and the reconstruction of city-owned public spaces. She will remain with Zeller through the end of 2026 to support the leadership transition and will subsequently continue working with the company in an independent consulting capacity.

“Jan’s impact on Zeller is difficult to overstate,” said Chris Baker, CEO of Zeller. “She helped define the rigorous and creative approach to repositioning office properties that remains central to our work today. Her vision, technical expertise and commitment to quality have shaped our portfolio, our people and our company. Jessica has grown within Zeller over the past 25 years and is exceptionally well prepared to build upon that foundation and lead Zeller Development Corporation into its next chapter.”

Jessica Smith joined Zeller in 2001 as a Building Manager and advanced through positions including Property Manager, General Manager, Assistant Vice President, Vice President and Senior Vice President. Her responsibilities expanded from property management into tenant improvement and capital expenditure work before she moved into construction full time.

In Indianapolis, Jessica has played a central role in repositioning Zeller’s assets and developing the company’s acquisition and due diligence process for the market. She has led more than $17 million in tenant improvement projects and an additional $10 million in capital work. As President, Smith will lead Zeller’s development and construction platform, including preconstruction, permitting, governmental approvals, budgeting and construction execution.

“Jessica has earned this opportunity through years of thoughtful leadership, technical expertise and an exceptional commitment to our people and partners,” said Goldsmith. “I am proud to see her take on this role and confident in the future of Zeller Development Corporation under her leadership.”

About Zeller

Zeller is a vertically integrated commercial real estate investment and development firm that has offered investors exceptional expertise, innovation and insight to value for more than 35 years. Zeller strategically selects properties for value creation, repositioning and reintroduction into their markets while providing a full spectrum of real estate services, including development, leasing, management and construction. Headquartered in Chicago, Zeller owns and operates a national portfolio of nearly 10.2 million square feet valued at $2.9 billion. For more information, visit zeller.us or follow Zeller on LinkedIn.

Zeller Contact:

Sam Zeller, COO
312.229.8840
szeller@zeller.us