James Lighthizer is the Founder and Managing Partner of Chesapeake Real Estate Group, LLC (CREG), a leading full-service commercial real estate investment and development firm headquartered in the Baltimore-Washington region. Since founding the firm in 2004, Mr. Lighthizer has led CREG through the acquisition, development, and asset management of more than 45 properties totaling over 8 million square feet of industrial, office, self-storage, and retail space across the Mid-Atlantic. Under his leadership, CREG has built a reputation for executing a disciplined investment strategy focused on value-add, build-to-core, and speculative development opportunities.

Mr. Lighthizer brings more than 37 years of experience in commercial real estate. Prior to founding CREG, he spent 16 years at CBRE, where he rose to the rank of Senior Vice President and Partner and was consistently among the firm's top producers nationally. During his tenure, he advised institutional clients such as RREEF, Ohio Teachers, Invesco, Opus, First Industrial, and LaSalle Advisors. He was also a recognized leader within CBRE’s National Global Logistics Practice Group, representing major occupiers across the country.

At CREG, Mr. Lighthizer has spearheaded some of the region’s most significant industrial transactions. Notable highlights include acquiring and developing Brandon Woods 3, a 1 million square foot ecommerce project occupied by Amazon and Best Buy. Port 95 Logistics, a 1 million square foot development at the Port, converting a 600,000 sf Unilever manufacturing facility. Baltimore Crossroads @95, a 240-acre business park with 1.5 million square feet of planned development. His brokerage business from CBRE carried over with his representing General Motors in the $33 million sale of its 182-acre Baltimore Van Assembly Plant to Duke Realty and he also played a pivotal role in GM’s acquisition of land in White Marsh, Maryland, for its 800,000 square-foot Allison Transmission Plant.

Throughout CREG’s history, Mr. Lighthizer has forged strategic capital partnerships with premier institutions including The Carlyle Group, USAA, Prudential Real Estate Investors, EverWest Investors, TA Advisors, Atapco Properties, and others. These relationships have been instrumental in growing the firm’s portfolio and expanding its presence along the I-95 and I-81 corridors in Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia.

Mr. Lighthizer holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount St. Mary’s College (Class of 1988) and completed formal sales and corporate service training with CBRE/USC. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he is a graduate of Gilmour Academy.

Mr. Williamson has been with St. John Properties since 1993. He supervises the Leasing, Marketing and Interior Design Departments and oversees all of the Baltimore area leasing of the St. John Properties portfolio. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore. Mr. Williamson serves on the Board of Directors of the BWI Business Partnership, The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, The National Association of Industrial and Office Parks and The Edward St. John Foundation.

Adam Kleeman has more than 18 years of experience providing audit, accounting and consulting services in the commercial and multi-family real estate industries. Based in CohnReznick's Baltimore office, he has extensive experience working with investors, developers, owners and management companies of various sizes and complexities. This experience includes audits of publicly-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and Community Development Entities (CDEs).

Most recently, Adam has focused his efforts on servicing clients that utilize New Markets, historic and low-income housing tax credits to subsidize the financing of real estate projects. He has also managed engagements as the external auditor for publicly traded companies and reported on internal controls over financial reporting as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

Education: B.A. – Government and Politics, University of Maryland.