About Us

James is the President of Castle Management and the CFO of Castle Construction Company and affiliated entities. James earned a B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Santa Clara University in California, graduating in 1987. He is a licensed real estate broker and general contractor. James’ leadership has made Castle Management a premier service organization that never loses sight of its clients’ best interests.

Brett provides a wealth of knowledge and experience with respect to property management and operations. He has more than 24 years of experience in the industry and has held multiple positions throughout his career. Brett has extensive knowledge of various markets throughout Northern and Southern California and has managed a wide assortment of multifamily and mixed-use portfolios.

Brett earned a B.S. in Economics and Business Administration from St. Mary’s College in 1994 and is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). He holds a Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation and is a licensed real estate broker.

Jamie oversees portfolios consisting of office, retail, and industrial real estate. She helps to develop monthly financial statements, negotiates Lease terms, manages CAM billings, generates yearly budgets and oversees the day-to-day operations of the company’s professionally managed commercial assets.

Jamie also specializes in overseeing and managing tenant-improvement projects and build-outs from permit to completion. She takes pride in being detail-oriented and upholding the company motto of honoring the worth and dignity of each property owner, resident, tenant, employee and vendor. She strives to maximize profitability at each asset, while maintaining steady tenancy.

Jamie has been with Castle Management since 2012 and transitioned from her role in residential management to commercial property management. She earned a B.A in Communications and Public Relations from California State University, Chico in 2011. Jamie was awarded as one of the Top Leaders under 40 through ICSC Centerbuild in 2020 and is currently an active member in several Commercial Real Estate associations such as ICSC, IREM, BOMA Oakland/East Bay and sits on the board for AFE’s NorCal Chapter.

Elena joined Castle Management and affiliated entities as a CFO in 2024. She has worked in financial operations in property management and venture capital prior to joining Castle and has over 14 years’ experience in public accounting and financial management. She earned a B.S. in Accounting from Santa Clara University and M.S. in Taxation in 2018 from San Jose State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a licensed real estate agent.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga and traveling.

Miriam Swernoff brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial and industrial property management to her position as Commercial Portfolio Manager. She oversees a wide range of properties including commercial, industrial, automotive, medical and retail. Miriam excels in managing tenant and vendor relations. She is also well versed in CAM Analysis, budgeting, and leasing.

Miriam has a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University. Miriam is also a licensed California attorney. In her time away from the office, Miriam enjoys running, TRX, cooking and sewing.

Alexandra joined Castle Management in 2022. She brings with her a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and 3 years of customer service experience. She started off in Accounts Receivable and is now enthusiastic about joining the Commercial department! Alexandra is excited to continue to grow within the company, learn new skills, and apply her knowledge and experiences to her new Commercial Assistant role.

Adam Pitzler had nearly a decade of supervisory experience working at over a dozen different residential management facilities throughout Spokane, Washington and Portland, Oregon before joining the Castle Management team in late 2012. He has extensive training and experience dealing with every aspect of real estate management, including, but not limited to: all vendor relations, supply chain management, move-in/move-out inspections, leasing, budgeting, marketing and tenant relationship management. Adam holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Eastern Washington University, bachelor’s degree in finance, and is a licensed real estate agent in the State of California.

Monica was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and planted her roots in Contra Costa County in spring of 2020. As the newest addition to the Residential Portfolio Manager team, she brings insightful on-the-ground experience from her time as an on-site Property Manager, as well as valuable legal knowledge and training.

Monica earned her B.A. from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). She is a California Certified Residential Manager, and also a Notary Public.

With a strong foundation in accounting and over 8 years of experience in the field, Gagan returned to Castle as a Residential Portfolio Manager, bringing a comprehensive understanding of financial management to the role. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting & Finance from CSU East Bay and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. In this position, Gagan oversees a diverse portfolio of residential properties, ensuring optimal tenant satisfaction and property performance.

His background in accounting allows for a meticulous approach to budgeting, financial planning, and investment analysis.

Passionate about delivering exceptional service, Gagan takes pride in streamlining operations and building strong relationships with both tenants and stakeholders. Gagan is committed to fostering thriving residential communities while maintaining the financial health of each property under his management.

When not working, Gagan enjoys spending time outdoors and playing sports, finding balance between professional and personal life.

In 2016, Tracy joined Castle Management as an On-Site Property Manager and in 2017, transitioned to Residential Portfolio Manager for Single-Family homes. Tracy has deep roots in the Bay Area, where she grew up and raised her own family. Tracy is a licensed California Real Estate Agent and her extensive ties to the community have allowed her to establish a strong network within the industry. As a residential portfolio manager, she is responsible for the daily operations of managing single-family home assets, focusing on tenant relations, marketing, leasing, and home renovations.

With a wealth of experience in property management, Tracy has earned recognition for her skills in increasing revenue, reducing expenses, delivering exceptional customer service, and excelling in leasing. She recognizes and values the respect of each owner, tenant and vendor. Her achievements are a testament to her unwavering commitment to exceeding expectations and her belief that integrity is the foundation of success.

Lisa Wood joined Castle Management in 2018. Her education in Real Estate started at an early age. She comes from a family of real estate brokers, property managers, owners and investors. Lisa managed her first property in Santa Clara and today manages a wide variety of properties that include Single Family and Multi-Family properties with high satisfaction for both owners and tenants.

Lisa is committed to working together with others in a team relationship and atmosphere. It is important for Lisa to strive for win/win results if at all possible. It is of particular delight to see difficult and challenging circumstances turn into positives for all that she serves.

First and foremost, in her life are her family and Siberian Husky/German Shepherd, Sasha. She enjoys spending time with them and celebrating the events in their lives.

Michelle joined the Castle Management accounting team in 2019. As the Full-Charge Bookkeeper, she leads the accounting department with monthly financial reporting and audits of all business accounts.

Michelle brings her knowledge and expertise from a career in public accounting with bookkeeping, accounting and operations management experience. She has experience working with multiple clients while providing excellent customer service. Michelle is also a QuickBooks Pro Adviser. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking and being outdoors.

Joined Castle Management in 2023. Tatiana earned a B.S. in Accounting and Finance and M.S. in Taxation from the Golden Gate University, San Francisco in 2012. She has over 17 years of work experience in the construction company as a Full-Charge Accountant. Tatiana is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Reese joined Castle Management in 2022 as our Accounts Receivable, she came to our team with over 2 years of experience. She handles all incoming rents for all Castle Management tenants. She is excited to be a part of the Castle Management team & looks forward to continue growing with the company. Reese enjoys reading, problem solving, & being a team player. She is a Bay Area native & enjoys outdoor camping, hiking, being with friends & family, & of course, her dogs.

Sandra joined Castle Management in 2023. Sandra holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting, from Health College, where she gained a solid foundation in accounting. Sandras academic background combined with experience, has equipped her with understanding of financial principles and best practices.

Sandra’s journey in the branch of accounts payables has prepared her with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy.

Beyond Sandra’s professional life, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking and reading.

Sandra is excited about the opportunity to bring her skills and expertise to Castle Management, where she can contribute to the financial success of the organization.

Emelinda graduated from Centro Escolar University with a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance in Manila, Philippines. Her years of experience in accounts payable have made her a mature team player. She believes that treating people with trust and respect is vital for building strong customer relationships. Emelinda is prepared to roll up her sleeves to ensure work is delivered on time and contribute to the team's success.

In her free time, Emelinda enjoys watching live concerts, reading books, and cooking. She is excited about the opportunity to work with the best people in the property management industry.

Grace joined Castle Management in 2023 with 8 years of experience in commercial real estate. As an Asset Manager, she oversees the financial activities and evaluates the performance of the portfolio, provides thorough analysis and insight on the assets and potential acquisition opportunities, and creates and implements investment and divestiture strategies. Her responsibilities also include coordinating acquisitions and dispositions, conducting due diligence, projecting and managing cash flows, and reviewing operating/financial reports as well as budgets.

Prior to joining Castle Management, Grace worked as a Senior Asset Management Analyst at L&B Realty Advisors, where she led the preparation and execution of business plans, valuations, leasing analyses, and market research for a portfolio spanning over 3.7 million square feet and valued at $1.7 billion.

Grace received her Master of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Texas at Dallas and her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Beijing Technology and Business University. She is a level III candidate of CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).

Jeff is a Bay Area native and joined Castle Management in 2024. Jeff is responsible for originating new acquisitions and managing the full acquisition process, while also providing oversight on Castle’s existing portfolio. Prior to joining Castle, Jeff worked on the real estate acquisitions and debt originations teams at PCCP, Berkeley Partners, and Placemakr, evaluating both debt and equity investments across all major asset types. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.

All properties are maintained by our on-site staff and in-house maintenance department. Their education and talent allow us to save time and money by completing maintenance and turnover requests in-house. Issues with plumbing, painting, carpentry, appliance repair, and HVAC can be resolved with our staff in lieu of hiring outside vendors. The In-House Maintenance Department has two fully equipped vans and all maintenance professionals carry cell phones to keep them in touch with our main office, on-site managers, and tenants in the event of an emergency.