Team

James Lighthizer

Principal, Managing Partner

Mr. Lighthizer started Chesapeake Real Estate Group, LLC ("CREG") in 2004 after spending 16 years at CBRE, where he achieved the titles of Senior Vice President and Partner and was a consistent "Top 5" producer. His past institutional landlord clients include RREEF, Ohio Teachers, First Industrial, Opus, Invesco, Cabot, and CalEast/LaSalle Advisors. He also served as a tenant representative leader with the National CB Global Logistics Practice Group.

Since starting CREG Lighthizer has led the company’s acquisition and development of many of the highest profile industrial business parks in the Maryland Region as part of the company's initiative to both own and develop commercial real estate. CREG has acquired, developed and/or has held ownership in over 20 industrial, office, and retail projects that total over $400 million in value. The company's partners have included Prudential Real Estate Investors, USAA, The Carlyle Group, EverWest Investors, TA Advisors, Atapco Properties, Osprey Property, Somerset Construction, and Holland Properties.

Immediately after starting CREG, Mr. Lighthizer negotiated a few of the region's largest industrial transactions, including representing General Motors in the sale of their Baltimore Van Assembly Plant, which consisted of 182 acres and two million square feet of industrial space to Duke Realty for $33 million. Mr. Lighthizer previously represented GM with their acquisition of 80 acres in White Marsh, Maryland for their 800,000 square-foot Allison Transmission Plant. Lighthizer also acquired and developed a 240-acre, 1.5 million square foot planned business park known as Baltimore Crossroads @95.

Past & Current

Professional Affiliations and Accreditations

• NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties)
• SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors)
• CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
• Board Member, Anne Arundel County Partnership for Families and Children
• Board Member, US Lacrosse Mid-Atlantic Chapter
• Commissioner, Severna Park Green Hornets Boys Lacrosse
• Board Member, Anne Arundel County Park and Recreation Boys Lacrosse Coach's Association
• CLM (Council of Logistics Management)
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Board Member
• AACIA (Anne Arundel Commercial & Industrial Association)
• Mount St. Mary's President's Council
• Fund-Raising Chairman, Mount St. Mary's (Class of 1988)

Education & Designations

• CB Richard Ellis/USC Formal Sales and Corporate Service Training
• Bachelor of Arts, Mount St. Mary's College, 1988
• Gilmour Academy High School, Cleveland, Ohio, 1984

Whit MacCuaig

Partner, Head of Development

Whit has managed the development of over 14,800,000 square feet of industrial real estate.  He has completed over 5,800,000 square feet of construction, deploying over $360,000,000 in capital. Whit’s passion for development continues to present growth opportunities for Chesapeake, deepening our expertise in underwriting, planning, entitlements, and construction.  Whit thrives when presented with a challenge, and the intricate, dynamic, and multi-faceted assignment of real estate development has allowed him to hone his craft at a blistering pace. 

Prior to joining CREG in 2014, Whit spent six years in public accounting at Ellin & Tucker. He is a licensed CPA, and his extensive audit, accounting, and tax experience offers our investors and lenders a unique advantage. Whit can bridge the gap between books and the field. Prior to mastering accounting, Whit spent 12 years pursuing every construction trade he could learn.  While he has hung up the hammer, his practical knowledge of how things are built helps him with quality control and cost management. 

Whit’s institutional education includes a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Baltimore.  He is a proud Towson General, for those Baltimoreans interested. 

Professional Affiliations / Accreditations

Education

Ed Brady

Partner

Ed is the Broker of Record for Chesapeake and also works with both the development and brokerage sides of the company. Ed utilizes his 11 years of experience in commercial real estate to help with the conceptual designs of the properties that Chesapeake has developed while also working with architects and engineers to meet the latest industrial trends. Ed is also a founding member of the Chesapeake team.

Before joining Chesapeake, Mr. Brady spent 10 years in the Information Technology arena performing such jobs as sales, team leader and project manager.

Professional Affiliations / Accreditations

• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)

Education

• Bachelor of Arts from Towson State University, 1990

Brian Kelly

Vice President, Asset Management

Brian Kelly serves as Vice President, Asset Management at Chesapeake Real Estate Group (CREG), bringing more than 30 years of diversified experience across commercial real estate, business, and collegiate athletics.

In his role, he oversees day-to-day asset management for CREG's portfolio of more than three million square feet of commercial office, flex, and industrial properties across the Mid-Atlantic region. His responsibilities encompass direct asset management services, tenant relations, contractor oversight, portfolio value preservation, and pursuing new third-party management agreements. Additionally, he supports CREG’s leasing, tenant renewals, acquisitions, dispositions, and due diligence efforts.

Prior to joining CREG, Brian spent more than 17 years in commercial real estate as Vice President at both Deutsche Bank/RREEF Real Estate and Ryan Commercial. In these positions, he managed the asset management, leasing, marketing, and investment strategies for flex/office and industrial properties.

His background also includes extensive leadership experience in collegiate athletics. He previously served as Assistant Coach for the Stanford University women’s lacrosse team, Assistant Coach for the men's lacrosse programs at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and Head Coach for the Goucher College men's lacrosse team.

Brian played lacrosse both collegiately and professionally. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Education from Goucher College.