The ViaWest Principals
Gary M. Linhart
Managing Director, ViaWest Properties, LLC
Gary leads the public markets real estate investment activity for ViaWest, through its affiliated Registered Investment Advisor, VWP Asset Management, LLC, and co-manages the investment strategy and finance activity for ViaWest. Gary brings to the company a wide range of experiences in finance, investment management, marketing, business operations, and consulting. Previously at ViaWest, Gary managed the company's multi-family activities, during which time he oversaw the acquisition, conversion, and disposition of over 2,000 apartment units to condominiums for a national multifamily / condominium client.
Prior to forming ViaWest, Gary was a long-time investor in real estate and was president of Grenfell Properties, which focused on real estate acquisitions in Metropolitan Phoenix, primarily in the multifamily sector. Previous work experience includes serving as a senior investment analyst for a hedge fund, the president and co-founder of a venture-funded technology company, an associate consultant at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, in New York, and as a marketing and sales promotions manager in Tokyo, Japan for the Bridgestone Corporation.
Gary earned his B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University, spent his Junior Year at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan, and earned his M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Gary is fluent in Japanese and proficient in Spanish. He is currently active in the Arizona Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), and holds leadership positions for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) on a local and national level.
He resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and two children.Steven R. Schwarz
Managing Director, ViaWest Properties, LLC
Steven leads the private real estate investment activity for ViaWest, while managing operations and co-managing the investment strategy and finance areas. He has over fifteen years of experience in the development, operations and financing of all types of real estate, with deep experience in industrial and office properties. Through involvement in nearly $1 billion of projects, Steven has provided build-to-suit, speculative development, acquisitions, dispositions and property management services in multiple product types in Arizona, California, Utah, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi.
Prior to forming ViaWest Properties in 2003, Steven served as SVP of The Plaza Companies, a full service, medical-office and senior-living, development and property management company. Prior to joining Plaza, Steven rose through the ranks to become COO and EVP of The Hewson Company, a privately-held, real estate development company in the Western U.S. in which capacity he developed properties ranging from a 131,000 square foot, mid-rise office building to a 2.2 million square foot industrial complex. Prior work experience includes Real Estate Finance work with SunTrust Banks in Atlanta, GA.
Steven graduated from The University of Texas Honors Program with a B.A. with Honors in Marketing. He has served as Chairman of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Arizona Chapter, on the National Board of Directors of NAIOP, in national and local capacities with Urban Land Institute (ULI), and on numerous local and national boards and councils of non-profit philanthropic, civic and industry organizations.
He resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona with his wife and three children.