management: Kentro Group
Meet Kentro Group's Skilled Professionals
Customer-driven, committed and principled, Kentro Group professionals encompass all aspects of retail real estate, including acquisitions, development, finance, leasing and select property management. As a team, Kentro Group is dedicated to excellence, providing responsive, grounded and effective solutions for our partner-clients.
Jimmy Balafas manages the Company and serves on the investment committee. His expertise includes acquisitions, investments, and development in a variety of real estate verticals, including retail and office, affordable housing, and build-to-rent residential. Jimmy leads the company’s daily operations, driving growth and executing complex real estate transactions, among other executive activities. He encompasses and expands the company’s core cultural tenet to always do the right thing. Prior to co-founding Kentro Group, Jimmy held various professional roles at Accenture, and MVG Development. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Real Estate & Construction degrees from the University of Denver. Jimmy is also a licensed real estate broker in the State of Colorado.
George Balafas manages the Company and serves on the investment committee. His expertise includes private real estate investment, real estate development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic recapitalizations, and the origination and execution of large debt transactions for public and private companies. George establishes and directs the company’s long-term vision through high-level decisions that help achieve company goals, and by identifying and securing strategic growth opportunities. He also expands the company’s mission, and develops 360-degree relationships with investors, vendors, allied real estate professionals, and colleagues, among other executive activities. Prior to co-founding Kentro Group, George held professional roles with Madison Capital and GLC Management, and other companies. Balafas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Chris Viscardi directs execution of the firm’s development projects – from concept through design, entitlement, budgeting, construction, and closeout. In addition, Viscardi oversees property selection, acquisition, disposition, leasing and public finance. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Viscardi has been involved in all aspects of development, investment, property management, construction management and capitalizing of real estate. Prior to joining Kentro Group, Viscardi held various roles in Commercial and Investment Banking with Brownfields Capital, First Western Trust and Heartland Bank. Viscardi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate from Colorado State University.
Yianni Bellis navigates the complexities of entitlements to increase the value and viability of projects under development, coordinating planners, engineers, architects and others while assuring compliance. He also oversees development design. Prior to Kentro Group, Bellis served as Senior Project Manager for BCN Development where he gained expertise in both residential and commercial real estate development. Yianni earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Kathy Bettis is the hands-on director of Kentro Group’s portfolio asset management efforts, leveraging her 25+ years of expertise in financial analysis, forecasting, and property operations and management. She also manages tenant relationships and directs property maintenance. Prior to joining Kentro Group, Bettis was a Senior Asset Manager and Director of Maintenance for Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners where she was responsible for more than one million square feet of retail and commercial space. Kathy serves currently as treasurer for The Colfax Business Improvement District. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Denver.
As Vice President of Acquisitions, Elliot is involved in all aspects of the company’s acquisition processes, from initial underwriting to deal closing. He works to finance existing assets, and is the primary point of contact for investor relations. As a former Acquisitions Analyst at Simpson Housing, Smith assisted in the acquisition of over $400 million in Class A Apartment Transactions. Elliot holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a Real Estate Certificate from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Pam Fischer as controller leads the Kentro Group accounting department, and oversees the preparation of financial reports, designs processes and systems specific to Kentro Group, and is responsible for all tax reporting. After 10 years in public accounting, Pam became controller for Continuum Partners and setup processes and reporting for the Belmar shopping project in Lakewood which she used as a model in her role as Controller for Teatro Tower, the developer of Four Seasons – Denver. Pam graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Colorado – Denver and went on to obtain her CPA and CGMA .
Marla Peragallo holds dual roles at Kentro Group in accounting and operations. She oversees property, corporate, and partnership accounting, as well as budgeting, financial reporting and corporate governance. Operationally, Marla works to achieve the highest levels of corporate efficiencies, and directs business activities to move the company forward. Previous to her role at Kentro Group, Marla owned and operated her own accounting business for more than 20 years, and served as the principal and co-founder of a ticket brokerage. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Logan assists and coordinates development projects from budgeting, leasing, and design to scheduling and entitlements, among other roles. She works actively with engineers, architects, construction teams, and others, to help forward company business effectively. Logan’s professional background includes positions in real estate analysis, construction, and general contracting with firms such as Turner Construction and Black Creek Group (Academy Partners). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Miami University, Ohio.
Barb Osness manages Kentro Group’s portfolio of retail and office assets. She supports tenant relations, and addresses service issues, coordinating with multiple vendors as needed. Barb has long-term experience in lease administration, budgeting and budget forecasting for operating and capital expenses, and supervising build-outs and building improvements, among other expertise. Prior to Kentro Group, Barb’s career included a wide range of real estate-related roles at Kroger, CBRE, and DaVita. Barb earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration degrees with minors in marketing and international business from Regis University.