Creative Management

Creative Environments of Hollywood (“CEH”) is a full service real estate investment, development, and management firm based in Hollywood, California. Founded in 2001 by Gerald Schneiderman and Manuel Meza, CEH specializes in the construction, conversion, and rehabilitation of creative commercial office space, live work lofts, and residential space for the inspired urban tenant. CEH, its principals and partners are committed to the revitalization of LA’s urban neighborhoods with a particular focus on Hollywood, downtown LA, and areas in between. CEH has acquired and/or developed over 1,100,000 square feet of commercial and residential space since its inception in 2001.

Creative Environments of Hollywood actively pursues value-added real estate ventures for its own account, its loyal investors, or together with joint venture partners. Currently, CEH has nearly 750,000 square feet of building space either under construction or in the pre-development.

Creative Environments of Hollywood has a history of achieving superior risk-adjusted returns through a calculated formula of innovative design, meticulous cost control, hands-on construction management, targeted leasing, and aggressive property management. Yet most importantly, CEH prides itself on seeing potential where others don’t. CEH maintains a highly qualified in-house design and construction team that has a proven track record of bringing new life and value to under-utilized, vacant, or otherwise under-performing properties. Through its ability to deliver contemporary urban spaces at affordable prices, CEH has cultivated a loyal tenant base and reputation among Hollywood’s artistic, fashion, entertainment, and creative professionals for delivering value combined with a truly unique living and working experience.

CEH always welcomes the opportunity to foster new relationships with investors, lenders and joint venture partners.

Bios

Jerry Schneiderman is Chairman of the Board of Creative Environments of Hollywood, Inc., as well as Chairman of Colony Bancorp of Malibu, another real estate development firm.

Jerry graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1971 and began his own company in 1976, specializing in design, construction and merchandising. Over the next several years, his companies designed twenty million square feet, built six million square feet of commercial space, and brokered over $12 billion in deals.

Today, Jerry’s companies currently own and/or operate over 500,000 square feet of commercial and residential property. He also manages and consults with owners of 10 million square feet of additional space and one thousand residential units. He has been appointed to sit on the CRA’s Planning Design Review Board and the CRA’s Economic Development Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Arts Council. Jerry and his companies have recently won the following awards

• Hollywood Entertainment Museum’s “Legacy Award” for Best Restoration
• Hollywood Arts Council’s “Charlie Award” for Preservation Arts
• Hollywood Arts Council’s “Charlie Award” Architecture award for the Cosmo Building
• Hollywood Heritage’s “Golden Palm Award” for Excellence in Historic Preservation
• State Senate “Commendation” for Leadership in Development
• The Nelson Mandela Multi-Cultural Center “Humanitarian Award”
• City of Los Angeles “Certificate of Commendation”

Having designed and constructed over 7,000,000 square feet of executive and shared legal suites, Jerry is an expert on the planning of these unique environments. As a principal, he has also developed over 2,000,000 square feet of creative space for tenants in the arts and entertainment industries, including Theater Row Hollywood, which today comprises 23 live stage theaters, restaurants, clubs, and galleries.

Jerry has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, New Times Magazine, City Beat, Los Angeles Times and The Los Angeles Business Journal.

CEH’s President, Manuel Meza has been a real estate broker and asset manager for over 20 years and brings extensive experience to the team.

Prior to forming Creative Environments of Hollywood with Jerry, Manny was General Manager of Lotus Management where he brokered and managed nearly 1,000,000 square feet of property over a 15-year period. Properties included shopping centers, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and over 275 residential units. As a seasoned commercial broker with vast experience in hotel, restaurant and property management.

As Vice President of Design for Creative Environments of Hollywood, “Bert” oversees projects from acquisition, planning, design and implementation through completion. He joined “CEH” at its inception and collaborated with its Chairman, Jerry Schneiderman, completing the award-winning Cosmo Lofts – the first live-work project under the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance Hollywood.

Bert began his career as a board certified, 22 year old graduate of one of the world’s oldest and most respected universities, the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. Bert was commissioned to design/build a “little town” project with housing, office buildings, a community park with recreation and a medical clinic and security complex.

In 1974, as associate architect of LST Designs Collaborative, Bert directed the New York City firm’s Upper Manhattan urban renewal projects for “Architectural Rehabilitation Committee of Harlem” and “HUD.” He then joined Space Matters, Inc., in Los Angeles, as Executive Vice President with responsibility for planning and construction of the firm’s multi-million square feet projects in the continental U.S. In 1979, he formed LTIC, the construction arm of Space Matters, Inc., opening offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fresno.

With design/build experience in more than two continents, today Bert shares the vision of Jerry Schneiderman in committing development expertise to meet the challenge of a resurgent Asian economy with the opening of Creative Environments International offices in Japan and the Philippines.

As Property Manager, Justine is responsible for guiding the overall management of the company’s asset portfolio. One of Justine’s core objectives in this role is to grow this management portfolio by offering high-quality property services to the industry’s prominent investors and developers of Commercial and Residential Creative Spaces. Justine’s management focus is concentrated on creating value for tenants and the company alike by controlling costs, enhancing customer service, targeting marketing efforts, improving tenant retention, streamlining internal management systems, enhancing teamwork, and promoting positive mental attitudes while providing the highest quality management services in the industry.

Justine’s commercial and residential real estate experience spans more than 15 years including service as Vice President of Portfolio Management, Business Area Manager, overseeing two high performing regions on the west coast, and Portfolio Manager of Commercial Properties, overseeing more than 1.5 million square feet.

Justine is a member of the California Association of Community Managers and holds the designation of California Certified Association Manager (CCAM), and California Certified Residential Manager (CCRM). She holds a California Real Estate License, and a BS in Fine Arts from San Francisco State University.

Joe Altounian
Development Partner

As Development Partner for Creative Environments of Hollywood, Joe is responsible for locating and developing some of the company’s most exciting development projects over the years. Additionally, Joe’s growing list of investor relationships and financing partners helps to bring these development projects to life… and to profitability.

From a multi-unit condominium conversion in Tujunga, California, to a 40,000 square foot nightclub in Tokyo… from an exclusive rooftop lounge in downtown Hollywood, to the upcoming (and much anticipated) Rolling Stone LA at the ‘Hollywood and Highland Center’ in the heart of Los Angeles… Creative Environments relies on Joe’s vision, passion and talent every day.

Joe works closely with our young development partners, our finance division, our construction arm and our architectural department, sharing his experience and skill and helping to move the company in unified and focused direction.

Chris Meola is the Leasing Coordinator for Creative Environments of Hollywood, managing all portfolio properties for the company. Chris is also developing Creative Environments fee-based enterprise, providing the same leasing expertise to external property owners.

Chris has years of real estate experience, ranging from development feasibility advisement to 1031 tax deferred exchanges and has worked with hundreds of investors and partnerships throughout Southern California.

Chris’s commitment to excellence, customer service and expense management is a key component in the continued success of Creative Environments.

Mr. Toshio Kato, Development Partner of Creative Environments of Hollywood and head of construction for the Hilrock Corporation, the construction entity within CEH. He began his real estate career in 1964 as an engineer at Sumitomo Japan and in the last 43 years, Mr. Kato has been renowned for the elegance in his dynamic projects.

Mr. Kato’s career progressed as he became the General Manager of Sumitomo America and Partner, COO of Westcoast Professional Development, Inc. He has been involved with significant developments worldwide as a Developer, General Contractor and Construction Manager.

Mr. Kato’s touch can be seen with projects such as the 400-unit, $35 million Park West apartment complex near the Los Angeles Airport; the 225-unit, 25-story Harbor Place ocean front condominiums in Long Beach; the Standard Oil Building in Downtown Los Angeles as well as the Mazda Motors America Headquarters and Warehouse in Orange County, California.

Mr. Kato’s developments have extended far beyond the state with the luxurious tenant improvement in Qiora, at 350 Madison Avenue in Manhattan; the Austin City Building in Austin, Texas as well as Benihana restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia.