James C. Mastandrea is the Chairman and CEO of Whitestone REIT (NYSE-Amex: WSR), a fully integrated real estate company. Based in Houston, Texas, Whitestone REIT owns, operates and redevelops community centered properties, which are visibly located properties in established or developing culturally diverse neighborhoods.
Mr. Mastandrea has over 35 years of experience in the real estate industry and 17 years serving as Chairman and CEO of publicly traded companies. In addition to Whitestone REIT, Mr. Mastandrea serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Paragon Real Estate Equity and Investment Trust, a real estate company focused on value-added real estate and investments. Previously, Mr. Mastandrea led as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Union Real Estate Investments, a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust from 1994 to 1998.
In addition, Mr. Mastandrea founded Midwest Development Corporation in 1978, a privately held residential and commercial real estate development company. He grew Midwest Development Corporation into the largest development company in suburban Chicago.
Prior to his career in real estate development and public REITs, Mr. Mastandrea launched his career in real estate finance at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh. He later joined Continental Bank in Chicago and, at 32, became one of their youngest Vice Presidents overseeing the commercial and industrial real estate loan division. Mr. Mastandrea left banking in 1977 to become President of Continental Homes in Chicago.
Mr. Mastandrea serves on the boards of the Cleveland State University Foundation Board, the University Circle Inc. Board, Cleveland, Ohio, and the Calvin Business Alliance Board at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Mastandrea is a speaker at various institutional investor conferences and guest lectures at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business. Mr. Mastandrea earned his Master’s Degree in Economics from Miami University of Ohio and a Bachelor’s Degree from Cleveland State University and served as a Military Police Officer with the United States Army. James also has a private pilot’s license.
