Team

The StreetLights Residential vision starts with Doug Chesnut. Doug’s approach to longevity and community-driven design has spawned the StreetLights philosophy—one that empowers both neighborhoods and investors through smart urban development.

As the heart and soul of the StreetLights team, Doug serves day-to-day as the chief executive officer. His expertise lies in high-density developments and investments, specifically multifamily and mixed-use assets located in high job-growth markets.

Previously at Gables Residential, Doug served as senior vice president of investments overseeing development, construction, and acquisition efforts for the Western U.S. and served on the Executive Committee. Prior to joining Gables in 2002, Doug was president and chief operating officer for the Central U.S. Region of Trammell Crow Residential Services. He oversaw the management of more than 25,000 apartment units and served on the Trammell Crow Residential Management Board.

With over 30 years of experience in development and property management, Doug remains active with the National Association of Home Builders and National Multi Housing Council. He serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Apartment Life Developers and an executive council member of the University of Texas Real Estate Finance Investment Center at the McCombs School of Business. Doug’s roots can be traced back to The University of Texas, from where he holds a Bachelor of Finance.

Tom Bakewell is StreetLights Residential’s President of Development, responsible for overseeing all development activities including feasibility analysis, site selection and asset management. As a founding partner, Tom contributes to the company’s unique design-driven philosophy, which targets high job growth markets and brings exceptional talent under one roof.

Throughout his 25 years in real estate, Tom has been responsible for more than $4 billion in development and acquisitions of multifamily assets. Prior to his role at StreetLights, he served as the regional vice president of investment for Gables Residential (Dallas market), where he oversaw multifamily acquisitions, site acquisitions and the development of new assets. Early in his career, Tom gained valuable experience in asset management with Phoenix Capital Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm.

Throughout his time in Dallas, Tom has served as a board member for Preservation Dallas, Friends of the Katy Trail and Forest Heights Neighborhood Development Corporation. He currently serves as an executive board member of The Real Estate Council of Dallas, the National Association of Home Builders, and the SMU Cox Folsom Real Estate Institute. Tom holds a Bachelor of Economics and Real Estate Finance from Southern Methodist University, along with a Master of Business Administration from SMU’s Cox School of Business.

At StreetLights Residential (SLR), all design direction flows through Paige Close, president of Design. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Paige is one of the leading design architects for mixed-use communities in the nation.

Paige has received more than 100 design awards throughout his career, equipping him with an advanced knowledge in multifamily and a honed ability to design creative solutions for the development world.

Prior to joining StreetLights, Paige was the senior partner overseeing multifamily and mixed-use communities for LRK Architects. He has designed more than 20,000 apartment units including townhomes, urban infill flats, mid-rise and high-rise developments; his experience extends across all types of for-rent and for-sale projects.

Active in several professional communities, Paige is a member of Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, National Apartment Association and the Multifamily Council of National Association of Home Builders. He speaks frequently at industry events and has been published numerous times on the subject of mixed-use design, place making and multifamily design trends. Paige is a graduate of Texas Tech University with degrees in architecture and structural engineering.

As the president of construction at StreetLights Residential, Rob De Bruin manages the construction of nearly $1 billion of total capitalization.

Previously, Rob was the vice president of construction for the western U.S. region of Gables Residential and oversaw all cost estimation, budgeting and construction for the company’s portfolio. Rob began his construction career in 1994 with the Florida region of Trammell Crow Residential (TCR), which was acquired by Gables Residential in 1998.

Rob started with TCR as an assistant project manager and quickly  worked his way up, spending nine years with Gables as vice president of construction for the western region. During his tenure, Rob was involved in more than $1 billion in new construction.

He has extensive experience with cast-in-place concrete, tunnel form, load-bearing masonry and wood construction. Rob’s specialization includes wood wrap, mid-rise, hi-rise, podium, historical renovation and mixed-use developments. Rob is licensed in the states of Arizona, California and Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Northeastern University and graduated cum laude.

Serving as the company’s senior vice president and general counsel, Bob Voelker brings a unique background in multifamily, condominium, retail and hospitality transactions involving multiple private-public financing sources.

Prior to joining StreetLights Residential, Bob served as head of the real estate section at Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr, PC where he worked on complex mixed-use development projects. Throughout Bob’s vast educational and professional career, he has gained experience as a CPA, tax attorney, real estate attorney and multifamily developer.

His involvement throughout the Dallas community spans both legal and real estate organizations, including the Texas Bar Association, Dallas Bar Association, North Texas Chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism and The Real Estate Council. Bob graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Dedman School of Law and also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from SMU.

Mr. Beless has been at StreetLights Residential since May 2016. He serves as Chief Operating Officer, where he oversees capital markets, asset management, acquisitions, portfolio management, and company operations. He has extensive global experience in multi-family, office, retail, hotel assets, and both single asset and portfolio investments.

In his previous role, Roger oversaw global real estate asset management for Mount Kellett Capital Management LP, a New York-based investment firm focused on global distressed, special situations and opportunistic investing. In this position, Roger oversaw the management of a portfolio of $6.5 billion and worked closely with operating partners in acquiring, formulating and execution of asset strategy in order to maximize value and investment returns.

Prior to joining Mount Kellett, Roger spent nearly 20 years with Goldman Sachs/Archon Group where he held a number of positions, including co-head of US Real Estate and Chief Operating Officer for Archon Residential, where he oversaw acquisitions, asset management, property management and dispositions. He also spent four years in Tokyo, Japan where he led the startup of Goldman Sachs Realty Japan, building and leading a platform focused on the acquisition, asset management and disposition of both real estate and secured non-performing debt investments.

Roger holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Finance from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.