Brian M. Stolar - Founder, President, and CEO

THE TEAM

The Pinnacle team is an extraordinary group of specialists with backgrounds from diverse industries. They bring a wide range of experience, disciplines, and talents that has Pinnacle leading the way with concepts, technology, and operations. From identifying prime properties and developing the best construction techniques, to researching consumer trends and pioneering technology for the home. These are the special skills that produce the unrivaled excellence for which Pinnacle has gained a reputation over the years.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Brian M. Stolar is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of The Pinnacle Companies and he has led the upscale builder/developer’s growth from a start-up in 1984 to its present position with 50 full-time professionals operating in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Connecticut. Brian’s steadfast focus on technology, design, quality, and cost control has greatly contributed to the company’s continued expansion in the marketplace. 

As a co-founder of The Briad Group, Brian was responsible for growing this organization into one of the largest restaurant and hotel developers and operators in the industry. The $125 million company’s operation includes Wendys, Friday’s, and On The Border restaurants as well as Marriott Hotels in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, employing over three thousand employees.

Brian also founded Builder Revenue, Inc., a consortium that provides builders and developers with the opportunity to capture revenues from service providers by offering customers real estate services. Additionally, Builder Revenue offers business-to-business products that generate significant revenues, as well as increased efficiencies and cost savings for consortium members.

 

Thomas A. Berkenkamp is Chief Operating Officer. He is an integral member of the executive team and acts as a central team player working with the CEO and the heads of the three operating divisions. He oversees the operations function with respect to all investments and private holdings to ensure that investment objectives are met and returns are maximized. With 24 years of real estate experience, Berkenkamp has expertise in the acquisition and disposition of properties and mortgage loans, the repositioning of properties, loan work-outs, finance, construction, and asset management. His experience includes most property types on a national basis.

Berkenkamp came to Pinnacle from Credit Lyonnais where he served as Director and Head of Real Estate Syndications. Prior to joining Credit Lyonnais, he served in senior positions for a number of prestigious institutions and firms including Emmes Capital, ORIX USA Corporation, Eastdil Realty, and Continental Illinois National Bank.

 

Mary Boorman is Senior Vice President-Marketing and Strategic Planning for The Pinnacle Companies, with over 21 years of experience in sales, marketing, product research, and development for masterplanned communities throughout the East Coast. Her strategic and analytical skills focus on product development, price segmentation, and creative branding to drive revenues and unit absorption. Boorman has a track record for implementing successful “turn around” programs at distressed properties and has worked with investment partners that include Blackstone, William Simons, and DKM. She has led the sales and marketing operations at the following high profile properties:

Boorman currently oversees marketing operations generating $100,000,000 in sales revenues. A proactive participant in the building industry, Boorman has served for many years on various sales and marketing councils, has helped provide promotional support for the industry’s platform on state planning policy and is a frequent speaker at both national and state builders’ conventions. Recognized by her industry peers, she has been awarded “Sales and Marketing Director of the Year” at the national level in 1994 and by New Jersey in 1996. Prior to joining Pinnacle Communities, Boorman was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Gale, Wentworth and Dillon.

 

Howard S. Irwin is President of Pinnacle CM Company and a Principal of The Pinnacle Companies. Pinnacle CM is the construction management subsidiary of Pinnacle Communities and is responsible for all of our construction activities. For more than 17 years, Howard has directed the development and construction of over 2,000 homes, including apartment buildings, mid-rise condominium buildings, luxury single-family homes, and townhomes in the tri-state area. He was responsible for the following highly successful communities:

Irwin collaborates with architects, engineers, and allied professionals and has overall responsibility for purchasing and contract management, site and infrastructure planning, and execution, architectural liaison, budget and cost control, scheduling, material and equipment procurement, and subcontractor and construction supervision. His stringent project management style makes quality control and customer service a top priority for all of his staff.

 

Michael I. Cantor is President of Pinnacle CustomSM and a Principal in The Pinnacle Companies. For the past 16 years, Mr. Cantor has directed the development and construction of a number of high-profile, luxury single-family and townhome communities throughout Bergen and Morris Counties, including Bear’s Nest at Park Ridge, New Jersey, the most upscale suburban townhome community in the tri-state area, and The Reserve at Hawk Pointe. The Pinnacle Custom Division, winner of best custom home in the state for the last 4 years, currently includes Round Hill at Saddle River, Governor Hill in Livingston, The Gables at Warren and Hop Brook Estates in Holmdel. Mr. Cantor oversees the technical evaluation of potential development opportunities, site plan and architectural product development, construction budget development, set up and supervision of on-site construction processes, product pricing, building product specification, quality control, and customer service.

 

Martin P. Gold is Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Development. He is an essential member of the executive team.  He is responsible for site selection, land acquisition, market and feasibility analysis, project development and site design, as well as, environmental and regulatory approvals. Mr. Gold works closely with the other members of Pinnacle’s executive team to ensure that the company has the opportunity to develop unique properties in the region’s most desirable and prestigious communities.

Mr. Gold began his career as an urban planner with the New Jersey Division of State and Regional Planning, where he was involved in a variety of land use and environmental regulatory programs. He then spent 13 years with Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc., and held positions of increasing responsibility ranging from Projects Manager to Director of Residential Development. During his tenure at Hartz, Mr. Gold was responsible for the forward planning of several thousand residential units. Mr. Gold has also worked for LCOR Incorporated, a major national developer, where he was involved in the asset management of several complex residential communities. Most recently, Mr. Gold has provided real estate advisory, consulting, and brokerage services for institutional and privately owned commercial and residential projects.

Mr. Gold brings a diverse skill set to Pinnacle Communities and is instrumental in the development process, from the inception of a project to the completion.

 

Deborah L. Bertino is Vice President of Sales for Pinnacle Limited. She began her career with Pinnacle Communities as a Sales Associate/Sales Manager and due to her outstanding achievements, was promoted to her present position. Over her 10-year career with Pinnacle, Ms. Bertino has had sales in excess of $200,000,000, consisting of luxury single-family homes and upscale townhome communities. Ms. Bertino’s strengths lay in her knowledge of real estate development, analysis of sales and business conditions, and her ability to identify consumer preferences and recognize market trends. She has also developed sales procedures and practices for community sales centers and is instrumental in recruiting, training, and supervising all sales and option design personnel.

 

Charles Applebaum serves as Pinnacle’s General Counsel. Mr. Applebaum brings more than 25 years experience to Pinnacle.  He manages the company’s legal affairs including, among other things, drafting and negotiating agreements, coordinating due diligence investigations, managing the approval process and handling all legal issues arising from the acquisition and development of the many properties under Pinnacle’s control.

Mr. Applebaum came to Pinnacle from Kara Homes where he was General Counsel for four years. He was responsible for the management of an 11 person legal department consisting of five lawyers, two paralegals, two closers and two administrative assistants. He was previously General Counsel to M. Alfieri Co., Inc. which is a privately-held commercial real estate owner, developer and manager active in New Jersey. Prior to that he was with the firm of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith, Ravin Davis & Himmel for 15 years during which he was a partner for the last 10.

His expertise in real property, land use and environmental law along with his strong organizational, managerial and litigation experience is a significant asset to the Pinnacle Team.