Partners for Life

Lucas Liu is a Director at Whitman Peterson, where he actively manages the firm’s rental housing, operating company, Core+, and international investment platforms. Lucas has been involved across the full investment lifecycle – from sourcing and underwriting through asset management and disposition.

Education

Lucas joined the firm in 2019 after graduating with distinction from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where he earned a B.S. with a concentration in Finance and a minor in real estate.

Prior Firms

Jones Lang LaSalle, Intercontinental Hotel Group, and Marriott International (all through internships)

Personal Interests

Outside of work, Lucas is an enthusiastic but humbled golfer and enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and eating his way through wherever he lands.

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

What I truly value about Whitman Peterson is the culture and the people. It is a place where collaboration is genuine, relationships are built for the long term, and leadership empowers each member of the team to take real ownership of their work. For me, this combination is rare in any business.

Barry is a Research and Strategy Senior Associate at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the team in 2023, Barry was a REITS Equity Research Associate at Mizuho Group in New York, covering the residential sector. Prior to Mizuho, Barry was a Research and Data Science Analyst at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, providing data-driven research for internal underwritings and forecasts. Barry is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and holds a double-major B.S./B.A. in Finance and Economics, with a minor in Computer Science. Barry grew up in Canada and on an oil compound in Saudi Arabia.

Education

Washington University in St. Louis, London School of Economics, Milton Academy

Prior Firms

JPMorgan, Mizuho

Personal Interests

Tennis, Snowboarding, Golf, Scuba Diving, Painting, Piano, Chess

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

Hands down the people!

Austin is a Senior Associate on the Whitman Peterson Investment team. Austin grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) prior to joining Whitman Peterson in 2021. Over his 5 years with the team, Austin has helped to build the firm’s Industrial, Student Housing, and Active Adult platforms, in addition to growing the company’s Operating Company platform.

Prior Firms

James Capital Advisors (internship), Maher Commercial Realty (internship), AEW (internship)

Education

University of California, Los Angeles – BA Business Economics

Personal Interests

World Travel, Fitness/Running/Nutrition, Coin Collecting, Trying new restaurants, Fitness Recovery (cold plunge and sauna), Avid Reader (Personal Development, Sci-Fi, Creative Fiction)

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love Whitman Peterson because we are a tight-knit, adventurous, kind, diverse, hardworking, and fun team that focuses daily on building and supporting strong fundamental relationships with our partners. Our partnerships offer us the opportunity to collaborate and grow alongside the greatest minds in the industry.

Piers is a member of the investment team at Whitman Peterson, presently focusing his time on the industrial and self-storage platforms. He grew up between Los Angeles and the UK. Piers joined Whitman Peterson after graduating magna cum laude from New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where he focused on urban design and architecture, as well as economics. He is currently enrolled at the UCLA Anderson School of Management part time, expecting to earn his MBA in Spring 2027.

Education

New York University

Personal Interests

Hospitality, Pottery

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

The good-natured people!

Michael is an Associate on the Investment team at Whitman Peterson. He joined the firm in June 2023 after earning a B.S. in Finance from Brigham Young University. While at BYU, Michael completed an internship in Goldman Sachs’ Asset Management Division.

Education

Brigham Young University – B.S. Finance

Prior Firms

Goldman Sachs

Personal Interests

Traveling, cooking, skiing, spending time with family.

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love that Whitman Peterson’s “Partners for Life” approach drives both how we work with our partners and how we operate as a team. That long-term mindset creates a unique environment where everyone is invested in one another’s success.

Jordan is an Analyst at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the investment team in October 2024, Jordan was an originations analyst at 3650 REIT in Beverly Hills, where he focused on providing high-yield senior and subordinate financing on real estate assets. Jordan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a B.A. in economics and psychology as part of the Liberal Arts Honors program.

Education

University of Texas at Austin

Prior Firms

3650 Capital

Personal Interests

Travel, basketball/NBA, college football, film

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

The team culture, the opportunity to work with highly intelligent and experienced investors, and our relationships with our partners.

Carter is a Senior Analyst at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the investment team in June 2024, Carter graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in French. During school, Carter completed real estate private equity internships at Northrock Companies, Sundance Bay, and Summit Real Estate Holdings where he held roles in acquisitions, debt solutions, and asset management.

Education

B.S. in Finance and minor in French from Brigham Young University

Prior Firms

Northrock Companies, Sundance Bay, Summit Real Estate Holdings

Personal Interests

Basketball, Tennis, Swimming, Hiking, Traveling, Golf

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love that WP approaches business with analytical rigor while maintaining a genuine focus on relationships. The combination of both, along with a long-term commitment to its partners, is what makes the “partners for life” mindset feel so genuine at WP.

Ethan is an Analyst at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the investment team in August 2025, Ethan graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics, with a minor in Data Science. During school, Ethan completed internships at Premier Early Childhood, Morgan Stanley, and Helios Healthcare Advisors, working in acquisitions, wealth management, and brokerage.

Education

B.A. Economics and Mathematics, minor in Data Science from Northwestern University

Prior Firms

Premier Early Childhood Education Partners, Morgan Stanley, Helios Healthcare Advisors

Personal Interests

Swimming, Pin Collecting, Travelling, Concerts, Going to the movies, Trying new restaurants

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love Whitman Peterson because I have the opportunity to work on unique, high impact real estate investments alongside exceptionally smart, collaborative colleagues and outstanding partners. The firm’s lean team structure provides meaningful exposure to every stage of the investment lifecycle across multiple asset classes, while also offering direct access to and mentorship from senior leadership.

Jerome is a Managing Director at Whitman Peterson, where he leads the Corporate Finance team. Prior to joining the team, Jerome was a Vice President at True Investments, an ultra-high net-worth family office based in Newport Beach, CA, where he led the capital markets and business strategy of the real estate group. Prior to True, Jerome spent 10+ years in New York, most recently as an Associate with the with real estate private equity team at Fortress Investment Group, where he focused on real estate investments within the leisure & entertainment and seniors housing asset classes. Additionally, Jerome held roles within the M&A advisory and accounting teams at Morgan Stanley and Deloitte.

Education

Jerome holds a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Prior Firms

Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Fortress Investment Group, True Investments

Personal Interests

Aside from spending time with my growing family, I enjoy motorsports as an enthusiast and participant, racing cars on track and in the canyons. I also enjoy following international football and Formula 1 — Visca Barça!

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

The mission-driven, partner-focused culture that is promulgated from the top down.

Andrea is a Senior Director at Whitman Peterson, in the Corporate Finance Team. Prior to join the team, Andrea was a Manager in the Asset Management and Real Estate group at PwC in the Los Angeles office. At PwC, Andrea served as lead manager on the audits of various private and public companies in the Southern California market. Andrea was also part of the Real Estate leading group which provided quarterly accounting and auditing real estate updates to the broader market and involved in organizing and teaching various real estate training. Andrea holds a B.S. in Finance (Summa cum Laude) from California State University, Northridge and he is licensed CPA.

Education

B.S. in Finance (Summa cum Laude) at CSUN

Prior Firms

PwC

Personal Interests

Travelling, outdoor activities, working out and Go-kart racing

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

What I value most is the team’s culture, integrity, appreciation, and strong sense of camaraderie. Being part of this team feels like being part of a family, and it has given me the opportunity to continue growing both professionally and personally.

Seth is a Senior Director at Whitman Peterson, where he sits on the Capital Markets team and focuses on fund management, investor relations, and financial analysis across the firm’s investment vehicles. His work spans capital raising and LP relations, transaction support, and legal document review in connection with the firm’s real estate investments.

Seth joined Whitman Peterson after graduating magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, where he earned both a B.S. and a Master of Science in Accountancy.”

Education

M.S. in Accountancy, B.S. in Accountancy — Brigham Young University

Personal Interests

Chasing around my young kids, spending time outdoors, and reading non-fiction

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love that Whitman Peterson is small enough that the work you do actually matters and is visible, but ambitious enough that you’re constantly learning. Beyond that, it’s genuinely a great group of people to work with, and that makes a real difference day to day.

Sofia is a Senior Associate at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the Corporate Finance team in 2021, Sofia was a Senior Audit Associate with KPMG in Los Angeles, where she worked in the Asset Management practice, primarily serving private equity and hedge fund clients. Sofia received a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a CPA in the State of California.

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara

Prior Firms

KPMG

Personal Interests

Tennis, Golf, spending time outdoors

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love Whitman Peterson because your coworkers really become your friends! I love catching up and playing golf outside of work hours together.

As a Senior Associate on the Corporate Finance team, Daniel supports a broad range of strategic initiatives across the investment lifecycle, including asset valuations, portfolio and fund management, investor relations, fundraising, and financial analyses.

Prior to joining Whitman Peterson, Daniel worked in valuation advisory at Bellwether and Altus Group in the Greater Los Angeles area. He specialized in performing valuation analyses for a diverse range of commercial real estate assets across the United States, serving large national and global developers, investors, and institutional owners. His experience includes valuing assets across multiple property types and supporting clients with investment, financing, and strategic decision-making.

Education

B.S. in Real Estate Finance and investment from San Diego State University

Prior Firms

Prior to joining Whitman Peterson, Daniel was in Valuations at Bellwether and Altus Group in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Personal Interests

Interests include swimming, investing, and discovering new restaurants

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I enjoy being part of the team at Whitman Peterson because of the people above all else. The collaborative culture, supportive leadership, and talented colleagues create an environment where everyone is encouraged to learn, contribute, and grow.

One of the aspects I value most is the opportunity to be involved throughout the investment lifecycle. From valuations and portfolio management to fund operations, fundraising, and investor relations, the breadth of exposure provides continuous learning opportunities and a deeper understanding of the business. Working across these different areas keeps every day engaging and has allowed me to develop a well-rounded perspective on investing.

And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that the office is always stocked with an impressive assortment of snacks—a small but appreciated perk that reflects the company’s thoughtful, welcoming culture.

Dorian is an Associate on the Corporate Finance team at Whitman Peterson, where he supports financial reporting, forecasting, and other strategic finance initiatives. Prior to joining the firm in 2023, he was an Audit Senior in Ernst & Young’s Real Estate practice in Los Angeles, where he served real estate and private equity clients. Dorian holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Education

University of California Santa Barbara

Prior Firms

Ernst & Young

Personal Interests

Outdoor activites and racket sports, Watching most shows on AppleTV, Travel

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

What I love about Whitman Peterson is that I’m given real responsibility, access to senior leadership, and the chance to grow while working with people who genuinely value relationships.

Tom is an Associate on Whitman Peterson’s Corporate Finance team, where he supports financial reporting, analysis, and portfolio management initiatives across the firm’s investments. He joined the firm in 2023.

Before joining Whitman Peterson, Tom was an Audit Associate at CohnReznick in the firm’s Commercial Real Estate practice. There, he advised real estate investment firms through financial statement audits and developed expertise in real estate investment structures, financial reporting, and accounting for complex real estate transactions.

Tom received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of San Diego.

Education

B.S. in Accountancy from the University of San Diego

Prior Firms

CohnReznick

Personal Interests

Outside of work, I enjoy surfing, woodworking, gardening, photography and enjoy spending time outdoors whenever I can.

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

What I love most about Whitman Peterson is the opportunity to work alongside an exceptionally talented and collaborative team. The firm’s hands-on culture and commitment to excellence create an environment where I’m constantly learning, growing, and challenged to do my best work.

Ernesto is an Associate at Whitman Peterson. Prior to joining the Corporate Finance team in 2024, he was a Senior Audit Associate at PwC, where he specialized in the Asset Management practice, serving private equity and hedge fund clients across the Los Angeles and Denver markets.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from CSUDH
Minor in Computer Information Systems from CSUDH

Prior Firms

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Personal Interests

Traveling and exploring new cultures, Playing and watching various sports, Spending time with my friends and loved ones

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

Whitman Peterson is a place where you can learn, grow, and thrive as a professional while becoming part of a family.

Aria Sencer joined Whitman Peterson in November 2025 and serves as Executive Assistant to Wes Whitman, supporting executive operations, driving key initiatives, and advancing the firm’s strategic priorities. Prior to joining Whitman Peterson, Aria served as Executive Assistant to the CEO of L-Acoustics, where she supported global operations and executive initiatives. She previously partnered with the Head of School at Viewpoint School, serving as a trusted advisor to leadership and a key liaison to board members and the broader school community. Aria began her executive support career with Dole Packaged Foods.

Aria holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and brings extensive experience in executive leadership support, strategic project coordination, and organizational management.

Education

B.A. Theatre I Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge

Personal Interests

A Yoga lover and fitness fantastic.

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

What I love most about working at Whitman Peterson is the collaborative culture. I have the opportunity to work alongside incredibly intelligent and talented professionals who are leaders in their fields, but what truly sets the firm apart is the quality of the people. Everyone is approachable, supportive, and genuinely kind. There is a strong sense of teamwork and mutual respect, which creates an environment where people are always willing to share ideas, help one another, and work together toward common goals. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that combines excellence with humility and kindness.

Polina Merzlyak joined Whitman Peterson in May 2026 and serves as Executive Assistant to Bob Whitman, supporting executive operations and strategic initiatives across the firm. Prior to joining Whitman Peterson, Polina spent over eight years supporting C-level executives across the real estate, entertainment, and finance industries, serving as a trusted partner in executive operations, strategic planning, and cross-functional initiatives in both corporate and high-growth environments. Polina holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona

Prior Firms

The Lighthouse Group, Dreamlend, Bentop Productions

Personal Interests

Pickleball, hiking, traveling, event planning, reading

Why do you love Whitman Peterson?

I love working at Whitman Peterson because of the people, the culture, and the leadership. Everyone is approachable, collaborative, and genuinely invested in each other’s success.