Meet The Team
With a collective experience of over 100 years, the principals at b7 Properties are experts in property acquisition, construction, management, refinancing, and dispositions. Our property portfolio, consisting of active and sold deals, exceeds $250 million. Our successful track record includes effectively managing properties ranging from as few as six units to as many as 164 units.
Founder & CEO
Tom Bendheim
Tom is the Founder and CEO of b7 Properties, a real estate development and investment company focused on income-producing multi-family value-add and single-family developments. His company currently owns 15 multi-family investment properties with ~ 1,000 units in nine states. He has successfully sold six properties averaging internal rates of return (IRRs) in excess of 20%. Previously, Tom held senior executive positions with consumer/retail companies including PepsiCo, Dooney & Bourke, and CVS Caremark, and earlier in his career was a strategic business consultant with Bain & Company and McKinsey & Company. He received a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Tufts University, an M.A. from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Dan Esterkin
Dan previously worked for over a decade at Beacon Communities, a nationally recognized leader and innovator in the multi-family housing industry. Dan started in the accounting department as an intern, working his way up to the accounting supervisor. He then transferred to the management team as a financial manager, where he oversaw the finances for Beacon’s diverse portfolio of assets and was responsible for meeting or exceeding the financial goals of owners, investors, and stakeholders. Dan attended Bentley University and Colorado State University, where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Dan is currently pursuing his MBA at the Isenberg School of Management at The University of Massachusetts- Amherst and expects to graduate in 2024.
Regional Manager & CRO
Zak Danz
Zak began his post-graduate career in private equity serving as a Financial Analyst for Kayne Anderson. During his time in school, he spent time as a Financial Intern for a nonprofit. He graduated from Connecticut College, Cum Laude, while also earning ITA All-Academic Team honors as a member of the Men’s Tennis Team. He earned his B.A. in Economics while double minoring in Applied Statistics and Finance. Zak has spent the last 2+ years managing the b7 portfolio.
Project Manager
Mike Ross
Michael's career in real estate and construction management began shortly after college at a boutique real estate development firm. This was followed by the founding of a company specializing in the deconstruction of old tobacco barns and repurposing the wood for builders and developers. After successfully exiting this venture, Michael transitioned into consulting and later assumed an executive role in operations for a privately held importing and manufacturing company. In this position, he simultaneously managed multiple complex cross-functional projects both nationally and internationally, showcasing his versatility and leadership skills. Michael's extensive experience in project management is a cornerstone of his current role at b7 Properties. He holds a finance degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Regional Partner
Pete Jannetta
Pete has been involved in all aspects of b7's acquisition and repositioning of the Atwood in Pittsburgh, PA. He has over 35 years of experience in client relationship management, business development, and sales with firms including IBM, Citibank, UBS, and Calyon Group. Additionally, he has owned, operated, and sold a commercial services business, Enviro-Master Services. Pete has a BA in History from Davidson College, an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, and an MA in International Studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.
Regional Partner
Pamela Franklin
Pam brings over 35 years of business and real estate experience to b7 Properties. She started her career on Wall Street as a commodities broker at Gelderman Securities and Thompson McKinnon, eventually specializing in institutional oil trading at EF Hutton. Pam later transitioned into real estate and landscape design. She has sold properties as a real estate agent for over 25 years while also acquiring, renovating, and flipping single-family homes on both the East and West coasts. She currently resides in Fairfield County, CT. Pam graduated from Hartwick College and earned her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Economics.
Regional Partner
Rob Israel
Rob started his real-estate career in 1987, buying and managing properties in Texas and Colorado and has continued to be an active real-estate investor and developer over the last 28 years. He is the founder of several companies, including Doc Popcorn, a company he built to over 100 units and sold. Rob earned a B.A. from Union College and graduated from Harvard Business School’s Owners, President, and Managers Program (OPM). He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization / World Presidents Organization, and taught entrepreneurship at Colorado University.
General Contractor
Juan Hiraldo
Based in Cincinnati, Juan began his career in real estate 12 years ago, initially managing his father-in-law's portfolio of over 50 properties in Oklahoma. Building on this experience, he began making strategic property investments of his own. Juan has since developed a thriving real estate portfolio of both long and short-term rentals in Covington, KY. He rehabbed his properties with his team of dedicated contractors and expanded into renovating private homes, commercial buildings, and apartments. Juan's commitment to quality and timely work, combined with efficient budget management, has earned him a track record of satisfied customers and a stellar reputation. Juan graduated from the Universidade da Coruña in Spain.
General Contractor
Steve Crawford
Since 2014, Steve has been partnering with b7 and has renovated 175 apartments and common areas at five properties. He has been active in New England-area construction for over 30 years. He has built fifteen new homes, eight of which he developed, and has completed a large number of additions and renovations in the greater Boston and Providence areas. Steve has also worked in the commercial sector, where his focus was office renovations and build-outs. Steve has a broad, long-serving, and well-qualified team of subcontractors, and he and his team have a reputation for consistently coming in on budget and on or ahead of schedule on projects.
General Contractor
Fran Driscoll
Fran has been a partner with b7 Properties since 2019, leading the renovation efforts of 133 apartments at two different properties. He is currently working on a third: a 164-apartment complex outside of Pittsburgh. Fran, a native of White Oak, PA, primarily worked out of Monroeville, PA, for 30 years as a project manager with Oxford Development and also spent 10 years as an operations manager with Davidson Hotels and Resort. He simultaneously owned and operated Bella Construction, Inc., in which he led new home construction efforts for 35 homes. In addition, he has completed 50+ commercial projects, from restaurants to retail properties.