Rocco Cortese, CEO/Co-Founder of Intersection, formulates, guides and maintains the company’s strategic plan, which determines its overall direction and profitability.

Rocco has been an active California real estate broker since 1987. His 35 years of experience in the industry have enabled him to navigate through the ever-changing cycles of commercial real estate and establish strong relationships with private and institutional clients.

Rocco’s commitment to continuous improvement has led him to leadership roles in Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), serving in numerous board positions and culminating in his role as President of the San Diego Chapter in the 2021/2022 fiscal year. Today he continues his service sitting on the global leadership committee for EO.

An avid Bay Area sports fan, he’s waiting patiently for another 49er Super Bowl. He is a self-described learning junkie reading books and listening to numerous podcasts about leadership and business strategies. He spends the rest of the time keeping up with his 3 children and donating time as a mentor to young entrepreneurs and college students.

He graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Business Administration.

As President/Co-Founder at Intersection, Mark Hoekstra is responsible for executing the long-term plan of the organization by formulating short strategies and overseeing daily business operations. Mark has more than 35 years in commercial real estate and an intimate, working knowledge of all facets of the industry. An effective communicator and leader, he ensures that his clients and team regularly set new standards of excellence within the Intersection CRE portfolio.

Mark shares a commitment to learning and growth as he is actively involved in several commercial real estate associations and philanthropic efforts. He has served as Past President of both the USD Alumni Association and the Escondido Sunrise Rotary Club. He also serves as a member of USD’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate – Commercial Real Estate Committee and is a past director of the San Diego County Commercial Association of Realtors and Center City Advisory Committee (CCAC).

Most recently Mark earned his Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership from his alma mater, the University of San Diego, where he earned undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

Karen has led a comprehensive reorganization, strategically enhancing Real Estate Management, Facility Services, Investments, and Commercial Brokerage. With 26 employees and 13 contractors, she’s tasked with preparing the company for growth. Karen focuses on evolving leadership capabilities, enhancing organizational and employee communications, managing goals, and closing gaps in leadership. She strategically rebuilt HR, IT, Operations, and L&D. Additionally, she stabilized the team, eliminated turnover, and created new functional job descriptions. Karen has implemented a sales training program, revamped recruiting processes, and restructured compensation to drive performance and achieve pay equity. Karen brings a strategic, results-driven, and people-first approach to her role at Intersection, making her an invaluable asset to the team.

Nick is a highly skilled electrician with over fifteen years of commercial experience, making him a valuable asset in the field. Holding a current California Electrical Certification and C10 Contractors License, Nick demonstrates expertise in his trade, ensuring quality and compliance in every project he undertakes. His construction background extends beyond his electrical specialization, encompassing various aspects such as roofing and foundation repairs.

Throughout his career, Nick has held positions as a superintendent and project manager, successfully managing multiple construction projects simultaneously. His responsibilities include estimating project costs, preparing proposals, and assisting with billing procedures. Additionally, he takes the lead in training and recruiting new talent, ensuring a skilled workforce. Furthermore, Nick excels in efficiently scheduling jobs and coordinating crews, optimizing project timelines and resources.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Nick finds enjoyment in outdoor activities, particularly kayaking with his daughter and exploring local wineries in North County with his wife.

Nadir oversees all construction and development activity including both ground-up and adaptive reuse projects for Intersection. His construction management experience includes over 3 million square feet of new ground-up construction, over half a million square feet of tenant improvements, and full redevelopment of both office and hotel properties, primarily in California. His acquisition due-diligence and entitlement experience spans most property types including industrial, commercial, office, multifamily, and hospitality. Nadir’s development experience includes obtaining entitlements at all levels, up to and including full environmental impact reports and parcel map creation.

Jay brings more than 45 years of experience to Intersection’s brokerage division, specializing in commercial brokerage tenant representation and investment sales. His extensive market knowledge enables him to identify sound sales and leasing opportunities that are both value-enhancing and strategic investments. Jay is certified with the prestigious SIOR Designation representing the highest level of knowledge and ethics in the industry. Outside of work, he is an active member of the local Rotary Club and enjoys vacationing abroad.

Natalie is a seasoned real estate professional with over nine years of experience. Her expertise lies in providing comprehensive support to real estate services, brokerage, and investment divisions, leveraging her skills in client service and communication to ensure seamless lease negotiations and documentation to foster relationships with property owners and tenants alike.

In addition to her contributions to the brokerage and investment teams, Natalie plays a pivotal role in corporate marketing, where she leads strategic initiatives to align with company business objectives. In 2018, Natalie showcased her project management skills by spearheading the successful launch of the Intersection brand. With her background in marketing strategy and meticulous eye for detail, Natalie ensures clients receive top tier service, addressing concerns and facilitating a streamlined lease renewal process.

Outside of work, Natalie embraces her passions for travel, gardening, and spending quality time with her husband and their two beloved dogs.

With more than 32 years of experience in the real estate industry, Willie first worked on the residential side of the business, switching to commercial in 1986. He has been directly involved in the acquisition, management, operation and leasing of residential, industrial, retail and Class A office properties across the country. Now, Willie brings his expertise to the Intersection Utah team as the Director, managing the overall operations of the office. In his free-time, Willie sits on the board of directors for a non-profit orphanage in Africa. He has a passion for travel and loves to encourage others to explore the world.

San Diego State University Alumni, Eric Caballero has a combined 15 years in sales and marketing within the specialty wine and spirits industry. Previously, Eric managed on-premise distribution teams for major San Diego restauranteurs to build and scale their businesses. Utilizing his sales experience, Eric transitioned sectors and ventured into commercial real estate. With 5 years in multi-family leasing and experience in managing light industrial and retail, Eric is a versatile asset to Intersection’s brokerage team. Outside of work, Eric is a devoted dad to three children and enjoys coaching their youth baseball and basketball teams.

During his 30-plus-year career, Kyle has completed more than $500 million in real estate sales. He continues to list an extensive portfolio of San Diego commercial properties at Intersection. Kyle engages in all aspects of commercial brokerage at the firm, representing landlords and tenants alike. A prolific sailor, he has participated in yacht races to Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Great Lakes, and more.

As Property Accountant and the longest-standing employee at Intersection, Alma boasts an impressive tenure of over 12 years. Her experience encompasses a range of accounting tasks including CAM reconciliation, property tax and insurance management, audit preparation and budgeting support.

As a stalwart within the company, Alma plays an integral role in managing day-today financial duties across the portfolio. Her historical knowledge of the managed portfolio and a deep understanding of Intersection’s processes and software utilization, prove invaluable when onboarding new projects and team members.

MJ comes to Intersection from a career in digital marketing. She joins a power-house team of Industrial commercial real estate experts who specialize in the North County, San Diego market.

MJ brings a unique understanding of the legal system, graduating in 2019 with her Master’s in the Study of Law from the University of Georgia School of Law. She is motivated and looks forward to focusing on tenant representation in North County Industrial deals. She has experience working directly with business owners to fulfill their needs and visions for their companies.

She was an NCAA DI National Champion and 3X All American in track and field, so she is always prepared to embrace challenges and places value on focus, attention to detail, and performance. Since hanging up her track spikes, she spends her free time catching waves over at Tourmaline Surf Park and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs football team.

Dan is the property manager for Intersection Utah, managing the day-to-day operations of several office buildings consisting of 17+ tenants at any given time. Prior to working at Intersection, Dan has worked in various assistant property manager roles, holds experience in carpentry, and has supervised a variety of building construction projects. Outside of work, Dan explores his love for the culinary arts, enjoys biking, and spending time at the theater with his family.

Steve graduated with a B.S. in International Relations from Stanford University and is currently attending Burnham-Moores School of Real Estate at USD. In addition to sourcing potential investment opportunities and creating investment memorandums, Steve assists the Brokerage team with various special projects. When he’s not at work or school, Steve enjoys golfing, hiking and cheering on his alma mater’s football team.

Cody graduated college with an emphasis in HVAC. With 12 years of experience ranging from assistant engineer to chief engineer and many certifications in between, Cody brings well rounded experience to the team and is always encouraging others to go above and beyond expectation. Cody grew up a farmer and holds true to that lifestyle today. He participates in local stock shows and helps his children show their sheep.

Robert has more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience, both in brokerage and appraisal capacities. His broad expertise offers valuable insight on both property acquisition and disposition as well as investment sales, including NNN, retail, industrial, and multi-family. Robert and his wife Collette have three college-graduated and active children and enjoy their family time watching and participating in sports and hiking.

As a Property Administrator, Mariell assists Nicole and Sean with the day-to-day administrative functions of the portfolio. She also plays an important role in both tenant and vendor communication and coordination. She is responsible for insurance certificates, property contracts, and coding of all property invoices.
Mariell graduated college from Universidad Tec Milenio Campus Mazatlan, Sonaloa. Outside of her work at Intersection, Mariell loves to travel with family and friends, and experience new cultures, food and art.

With more than 35 years dedicated to San Diego County’s Commercial Real Estate landscape, Dan McCarthy boasts a wealth of experience. His journey began at Burnham Real Estate, where he navigated through their merger with Cushman & Wakefield before spearheading the brokerage services group at Intersection.

Throughout his career, Dan has delved into various commercial real estate product types and submarkets across San Diego County. His forte lies in midrise and high-rise office brokerage, catering specifically to office, technical, and medical office tenants.

Having facilitated over 1,000 transactions, valued at an impressive $2 billion, Dan McCarthy is renowned for crafting tailored solutions for clients’ needs. Whether orchestrating corporate relocations, expansions, dispositions, or facilities acquisitions, his expertise spans diverse sectors including office, healthcare, and R&D.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dan enjoys leading the local San Diego band “Phil N The Blanks” and is a familiar face at SDSU tailgates.

EXPERTISE:

• Tenant representation involving office and medical office properties.
• Agency representation for office, medical office and retail properties
• Leasing / build-to-suit / strategic planning / portfolio management

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California Irvine with NCAA tennis affiliation
• University of San Diego – CRE committee, Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate
• Burnham Foundation

AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Top Producer status with Burnham, C&W and Intersection.
• San Diego Business Journal Award of Excellence – 2020 Deal of the Year
• BOMA – TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award Winner 2023

Tara is a highly skilled Asset Manager, having joined the company as an intern in 2019. With a sharp logical mindset and meticulous attention to detail, Tara plays a crucial role in executing business plans, optimizing operational performance for properties, and managing compliance effectively. This includes providing quarterly updates to property proformas, ensuring seamless equity contributions and distributions, and overseeing investor relations correspondence.

Tara graduated from California State University San Marcos with a degree in Finance, enhancing her ability to analyze complex financial data and make informed investment decisions. She finds joy in conducting market research on new projects, ensuring Intersection stays ahead of the curve in identifying lucrative investment opportunities.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Tara thrives on staying active and engaging in outdoor activities. Whether it’s hiking through scenic trails, playing tennis, or enjoying a game of pickleball, she embraces an active lifestyle.

Dave brings vast knowledge to the Intersection Utah team as a facilities technician. Prior to joining Intersection, Dave has worked as a carpenter which led to a career in construction, specializing in plumbing and HVAC. He takes pride in his work, is very responsive and driven by integrity. In his spare time, Dave rides motorcycle and enjoys going wherever the road takes him.

Anton Myskiw is a distinguished member of Intersection’s Investment Management team, having joined the company in 2018 as an Analyst. His strong understanding of portfolio and property-level valuation, as well as debt and equity markets, put a spotlight on him early in his tenure.

As part of his multifaceted role, Anton is pivotal in finding potential acquisition opportunities for Intersection’s esteemed investor base, which includes private clientele and joint venture partners. In addition, he takes charge of creating comprehensive business plans for these acquisitions, ensuring a strategic and well-informed approach to each investment decision. He leads the due diligence process, ensuring all pursuits align with the company’s long-term objectives.

EXPERTISE:

• Sourcing industrial acquisition opportunities across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado
• Building broker relationships to source off-market opportunities and relaying those same opportunities to a set of institutional and private capital sources
• Supporting the execution of proposed business plans, particularly lease negotiations and capital allocation

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of San Diego
• Master’s degree in finance from Villanova University
• University of San Diego’s real estate mentorship program

AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Completed $150M+ in transactional volume across multiple investment types in California, Arizona, and Nevada
• Co-Founder of the multivariable market selection algorithm, THINK. The methodology reformed Intersection’s acquisitional pursuits by providing a data-driven market selection process
• Passed the first two levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program

Ethan is a dedicated Analyst who plays a vital role in supporting the investment management team at Intersection. With an eye for opportunities, Ethan excels in sourcing new acquisitions and conducting comprehensive due diligence. His expertise in financial modeling and reporting adds significant value to the team’s decision-making processes.

Prior to his current role, Ethan demonstrated his commitment and enthusiasm as an intern on the investment management team throughout his senior year of college. He graduated Cum Laude from San Diego State University, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Real Estate.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Ethan finds joy in staying active outdoors, passionately supporting the Padres, and cherishing quality time with his friends and family.

An electrician by trade, Scott brings light to his team and encourages others to do the best job possible. In previous roles, Scott worked as head electrician and assistant chief engineer and now oversees numerous projects as a licensed electrician and project manager. Scott enjoys long motorcycle trips and traveling with his wife. He is also an avid golfer and skier depending on the season.

Colin began his career at A.T. Pancrazi Real Estate Services, where he initially served as an Operations Specialist, leading marketing strategies and overseeing business operations. In 2018, he transitioned to an Associate Agent role, showcasing his talent for providing expert market analysis, lease negotiations, documentation, and abstraction in his hometown of Yuma, Arizona. Colin’s professional experience also includes assisting clients in acquisitions, conducting due diligence, navigating rezoning process, and project management.

He holds a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in economy and industry from the University of Arizona (2017) and earned his Master of Science in Real Estate from the University of San Diego in 2022. His commitment to professional development is further underscored by his active membership in the USD Real Estate Alumni community.

In addition to his professional and educational achievements, he is an engaged member of several industry associations including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) Developing Leaders, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Young Leaders Group. Based in Pacific Beach, Colin enjoys being active, golfing, and traveling around the world.

As Assistant Real Estate Manager, Sean oversees day-to-day operations of the properties within Intersection’s diverse portfolio, helping to ensure the responsiveness that’s central to our philosophy. Because he’s responsible for both the fiscal and physical management of each property, Sean prioritizes client/ tenant/owner relations and conducts regular on-site inspections.

When Sean is not visiting properties or touching base with tenants, he focuses his time in the office on accurately coding vendor invoices to align with each property’s budgets and assisting with the monthly operating statements.

Sean is a senior at the University of San Diego, studying finance and real estate. In his free time, he enjoys discovering new cuisines, staying active through swimming and playing golf and relaxing watching baseball.

Carolina has sat in many different seats within the Real Estate Services division. Currently Carolina oversees all property budgeting, property CAM reconciliations, property audits, and special projects throughout the portfolio.
Carolina graduated from University of San Diego with her master’s in business administration. During her collegiate years, she worked as an Assistant Property Manager for a local firm in San Diego County. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, and outside of work she enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and holds her teaching certification in Pilates.

As Controller, Jonathan leads Finance and Accounting activities across Intersection. Drawing from his experience as a Property Accountant, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience handling intricate financial responsibilities, including budgeting and forecasting, financial analysis and reporting and risk management.

Jonathan leads treasury functions by managing banking relationships, overseeing loan agreements, and negotiating financing terms. His attention to detail and strategic guidance contributes significantly to Intersection’s financial health and regulatory compliance.

Jonathan earned his degree in Accounting and Finance from San Diego State University. Outside of the office, he enjoys playing basketball, golf, and spending time with his family.

Nicole has been an emerging leader in San Diego’s commercial property management for the last decade. Her previous roles enabled her to work with a diverse portfolio ranging from small industrial parks to Class-A office buildings with over 1-million-square feet of portfolio space. Her knowledge and experience of working with large corporate real estate companies helps Intersection to streamline and strengthen our daily processes.
Nicole has been a longstanding member of BOMA San Diego and is currently on the executive leadership board, serving as treasurer. Nicole’s involvement with BOMA assists her in all aspects of commercial real estate. Her engagement with Government Affairs helps her advocate for commercial Real Estate owners at both local and state governments. She is currently on the BOMA San Diego executive leadership board, serving as treasurer. In 2023, Nicole was awarded Board Member of the Year and lead the Intersection team to be first retail center in Southern California to win a Toby award for the Mercado Shopping Center.

Alec is a dedicated professional who brings a wealth of experience in the commercial real estate industry. After spending four years as an Associate at St. Croix Capital Realty Advisors in Austin, Texas, Alec established himself as an expert in tenant and landlord representation for a diverse range of commercial properties. Throughout his tenure at St. Croix Capital Realty Advisors, Alec collaborated closely with local and national landlords, representing a remarkable portfolio of 14 buildings totaling 288,866 square feet across Austin and San Antonio.

Alec earned his Business Administration degree from the University of La Verne in 2017. In early 2021, Alec returned to his hometown of San Diego and now spearheads the representation of eight buildings spanning 206,230 square feet throughout the county. His primary focus lies in landlord representation, while also contributing his expertise to building Intersection’s Tenant Rep practice.

Alec is an avid golfer who frequently participates in amateur golf tournaments. He has had the privilege of caddying for professional golfers across various tours, and Alec serves as the assistant coach for the golf team at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

Ray is an industry veteran with over 40 years’ experience in the commercial real estate industry. Ray began his career in brokerage at John Burnham & Company, later joining McKellar Development of La Jolla, in the development of commercial properties, eventually leading him to the banking industry where he specialized in helping is clients secure financing through the Small Business Administration for nearly 29 years. During this time, Ray worked closely with brokers, CPA’s and relationship managers within similar fields with whom he has formed strong professional relationships.

Ray earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Real Estate from San Diego State University. He has been on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties for eight years and was voted by his peers a “Top Finance Influential” by the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Nate has been an active commercial real estate broker since 2007.  After graduating from the University of San Diego, Nate returned to his hometown of Seattle to begin his real estate career. Ultimately, he couldn’t resist and returned to San Diego with his wife and family, planting strong roots in the San Diego community.

Nate specializes in Tenant Representation and Investment Sales. With nearly 1,000 real estate transactions, spanning from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Nate is a seasoned broker with a wide range of experience and depth.  Nate is dedicated to helping companies implement real estate to maximize business objectives, cultivate positive company culture, and cater to the community.

Doug is very knowledgeable in the construction industry, with over 20 years of experience as a B100 general contractor. In addition to his independent projects, he worked maintenance for the Low-Income Housing Authority. Doug has earned his title of “Jack-of-all-trades” managing numerous tasks as a facilities technician. Outside of work, he’s an outdoorsman who enjoys everything Utah’s landscape has to offer, especially if he gets to ride in his side-by-side.