John Gordon, broker and owner of Gordon Commercial Real Estate Services, has extensive experience developing and marketing Berkeley Commercial Properties. Approximately 95% of the transactions completed during his 28 years as a real estate professional have been exclusively representing owners in the leasing and sale of their properties. In the last two years alone, he has brokered over 75 sale and lease transactions mostly within a one-mile radius of the University of California at Berkeley with a transaction value of over $125 million.

John’s knowledge of Berkeley is unequaled. He has concentrated his real estate endeavors on the area in and around downtown Berkeley for close to 30 years. He has brokered over 150 sale and lease transactions on Shattuck Avenue. He is familiar with every building on the street and also with all aspects of the deal including users, development potential, zoning, financing, and ownership challenges. John’s strong analytical experience has assisted in evaluating and structuring commercial real estate transactions. Experience includes working with city agencies, Trust departments and REO departments of major lending institutions. John’s expertise in evaluating, purchasing, owning and renovating properties in Berkeley ensures that the owners he represents achieve maximum returns.

John is an active member of the Downtown Berkeley Association, a non-profit group dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Berkeley. The DBA has been a strong advocate for the anti-panhandling laws, the changes in the streetscape and for the selection of Berkeley as a Main Street USA designee. John sits on the Board of the TBID (Telegraph Business Improvement District), another non-profit organization working to improve the business climate on the south side of UC Berkeley. John was a member of the City of Berkeley Haas Pavilion Task Force and worked with the mayor to comment on the University of California’s planned expansion of Harmon Gym and Edward’s Field and also a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on the planning of the Downtown Arts District.

John Gordon opened his own commercial real estate services company in June 1995 with an eye to concentrating his efforts in his own community. He is a Berkeley resident and has extensive experience in the process of working with the City of Berkeley, both as a representative of his clients and as an active Berkeley commercial property owner. For the previous fifteen years he was with Grubb & Ellis Commercial Brokerage, where he achieved the title of Senior Marketing Consultant, a title held by less than 10% of the 3,000 commercial brokers. During his tenure there he was the top East Bay Investment Salesperson for five of those years and the leading salesperson in the Oakland office for 1991 and 1992. Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis he served seven years in Certified Public Accounting specializing in business accounting and planning, and income tax with a special expertise in real estate issues. This strong analytical experience has assisted in evaluating and structuring commercial real estate transactions. Experience includes working with city agencies, Trust departments and REO departments of major lending institutions. John can be reached by phone at (510) 704-1800 or by email at john@gordoncommercial.com.

Ito Ripsteen joined Gordon Commercial in 2001. Since his arrival onto the Berkeley commercial real estate scene, Ito has diligently studied its unique business and political climate, and knows Berkeley’s commercial districts block by block. Over the last several years, he has successfully and prudently negotiated hundreds of commercial leases and sales for his clients. In the last two years alone, Ito brokered deals worth over $130,000,000, a remarkable number considering the deals all took place within the Berkeley market. In 2006 Ito was named a “Power Broker” by CoStar Group, recognizing him as “ranked among East/Bay Oakland’s Top Brokers” based on 2006 retail leasing transaction volume.

Ito is active in the Downtown Berkeley Association where he is currently on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and is the Chair of the Economic Development Committee. Ito is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and The Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Additionally, Ito owns and redevelops Berkeley retail, office, and residential buildings, so he deeply understands his clients’ needs firsthand. He has a great understanding of Berkeley’s zoning and land use planning process, a key component to closing deals. His strong relationship with local city officials, architects, contractors, and trade professionals is one of the other huge advantages he brings to his clients. Contact Ito today at (510) 524-4410 or by email at ito@gordoncommercial.com.

Lori Rosenthal joined Gordon Commercial in 2003 to lead the company's marketing activities. She has 25 years of Marketing experience in the Bay Area including 20 years in the high tech field and 5 years as a freelance marketing specialist for companies ranging in size from the University of California to small startups and non-profits. Lori can be reached by phone at (510) 524-2344.