Executive Team

Michael M. Adler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Adler Group, Inc.

As the chairman and chief executive officer of Adler Group, Inc., one of South Florida's largest and most successful real estate companies, Michael M. Adler has played a significant role in the growth and development of South Florida as a major center for international trade. Adler Group, Inc., formed in 1978, is an aggressive, multi-profile real estate firm with individual entities and affiliates offering services in such areas as development, general contracting, real estate management for institutional investors, real estate brokerage, and leasing and property management.

Adler's involvement in South Florida real estate began at a very young age. He represents the second-generation of one of Florida's most respected “builder families.” His father, Samuel I. Adler, founded Southern General Builders in the early 1950's and built, owned and managed nearly 6,000 high-rise rental apartment units in Dade and Broward Counties.

While attending college, Michael M. Adler learned his father's business on the job, as a working crew member of the Laborers and Carpenters Unions, where he participated in the construction of high-rise apartment buildings throughout South Florida. In 1979, Adler began developing Miami International Commerce Center (MICC); this 350-acre park was the pioneer mixed-use project in Dade County's Airport West market. Today, the park contains approximately four million square feet of warehouses, flex showrooms and offices. MICC was developed in a joint venture with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Michael M. Adler also serves as Co-Chairman of Kabel-X USA, founded in 2008. Kabel-X provides the fastest possible Internet connection by extracting copper core and replacing it with fiber optic cables for optimum system performance.

Adler graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1973. He is a member of the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP), the Beacon Council and Greater Miami Chamber.

A devoted member of Miami's philanthropic community, he is Chairman of Mount Sinai Medical Center and Board Member of Mount Sinai Philanthropic Foundation. He is a member of the Florida International University Foundation Board of Trustees and a past member of the Florida International University Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors and past Chair of the Florida International University Foundation, Inc. Development Committee. Adler is also the past President of The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Member of the Executive Committee and past President of Temple Emanu-El, active member of the United Way of Dade County - Alexis de Tocqueville Society, past Chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council, and past Board of Directors member of the University of Florida Foundation, Inc.

Christopher E. Balish, President and Chief Executive Officer of Adler Realty Services

Christopher Balish has served as President & CEO of Adler Realty Services (ARS) since January 2013. With over 25 years of senior level real estate experience, he has lead national platform teams for some of the industries top companies. Balish is responsible for overseeing and guiding the Leasing, Brokerage, Property Management, Asset Management, Asset Reporting and client relations.

Prior to leading ARS, Balish was Director-Vice President for HDGM Advisory Services, LLC in Indianapolis, IN where he grew a national institutional portfolio to over 8m sf in 28 states valued at $1.6B. Additionally, he served as Senior Vice President – Asset Management with Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. assisting in their IPO launch as one of the strongest publicly traded Healthcare REITs with a portfolio of 12m sf valued at over $2.1B. Balish also lead Lauth Property Group as their First Vice President growing there national portfolio to over 11.5m sf through acquisitions, development and a national third party services platform, and as Chief Operating Officer for RMC Property Group, he lead a 10m sf Florida based retail portfolio valued at over $1.4B. Additionally, through out his career, Balish has lead, managed, developed and leased many of the premier office and industrial properties across the country.

Balish earned both a Bachelor of Science in Business Management-Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Communications Arts & Science from Western Michigan University, and he earned a Master of Business Administration in Management and Finance from George Mason University. Balish also has a Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation and Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) designation from Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), respectively. Balish is very active in assisting at risk, inner city children to attend college. He is an avid cyclist and fitness enthusiast.

Matthew L. Adler, Chief Investment Officer and President, Adler Realty Services

Matthew L. Adler is the chief investment officer of Adler Group and president of Adler Realty Services, where he oversees fund management and acquisitions for the commercial real estate (CRE) company founded by his grandfather. Since joining the company, Adler has negotiated the acquisition and disposition of well over 4 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space throughout the southeastern United States. Adler is also the founder and manager of significant company business lines, including a series of income-producing property investment funds.

As CIO, his responsibilities extend to include fundraising and investor relations. As President of Adler Realty Services, Adler's primary focus is on growing the realty company's third-party assignments.

Additionally, Adler and a group of prominent Miami business leaders recently purchased controlling interest in Union Credit Bank, where he is now a member of the Board of Directors and Credit Committee.

Prior to joining Adler Group, Adler spent two years as a financial analyst for New York-based Insignia Financial Group, Inc., at the time one of the nation's leading commercial real estate service providers. His responsibilities included conducting financial and market analysis and assisting with negotiations for major real estate transactions.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999, Adler has always been interested in urban development and community involvement. He previously served on the Miami Beach Planning Board, which allowed him the opportunity to be involved with the city's zoning and land use issues.

An active member of the community, Adler serves on numerous community-based organizations, including: Immediate Past Chairman of the Network and member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, member of the Jewish Federations of North America's National Young Leadership Cabinet and is a founder of Slingshot, a non-profit that focuses on developing the next generation of philanthropists through cultivating innovation in Jewish life. He is also Vice Chairman of Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation Young Founders Board, Trustee Member of Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and member of the Miami Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. In September 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Adler to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Matthew Adler blogs at the Progressive Capitalist.

Robert Smither, President of Adler Group

Robert Smither is responsible for Adler Group's accounting, financial reporting, income taxes, treasury, banking and lender relations as well as human resources and information technology. Smither joined Adler Group in the fall of 2008, bringing with him experience in all aspects of business acquisitions. His real estate track record includes residential land development, construction management, multifamily, mixed-use, residential condominiums, rental management, hospitality and land acquisition and entitlement.

Smither began his career with A.M. Pullen & Co., CPA, and subsequently worked for a private company with national and international investments in newspaper, television, manufacturing and real estate. He served as Chief Financial Officer for that company for more than 10 of his 25-year tenure. Subsequently, Smither held the position of Chief Financial Officer for a real estate developer in Northwest Florida and then served as Chief Financial Officer for one of the largest privately-held condominium developers in South Florida.

Smither earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and master's degree in Business Administration from James Madison University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and past member of the Southern Federal Tax Institute. Smither has also served on the boards of several private charitable foundations.

Joel Levy, Vice Chairman

Joel Levy pilots Adler Group's acquisition activities and participates in debt placement, seeking shrewd investments in the current opportunistic real estate environment. Levy has participated in all phases of the company's operations, with particular emphasis on acquisitions and financing.

Under his past leadership as Chief Operating Officer from 1984 to 2007, Adler Group acquired over $400 million in existing industrial, flex and office properties aggregating over 4 million square feet. Levy negotiated the financing for all acquisitions and was additionally responsible for dispositions, which also totaled over $400 million.

Levy joined Adler Group in 1984 with more than 24 years of public accounting experience. Throughout his career at Adler Group, he has had primary responsibility for structuring the company's various partnership transactions with institutions and individuals, as well as supervising the company's accounting and tax functions.

After graduating from Brooklyn College with a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Levy was employed by the New York accounting firm Eisner & Lubin, until relocating to South Florida in 1965. He joined the accounting firm of David Stuzin & Company as partner, only to be recruited back to Eisner & Lubin as partner in charge of the Miami and West Palm Beach offices in 1972. Levy is currently a Board Member of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Mt. Sinai Medical Center.

David S. Adler, President of Adler Development, Inc.

David S. Adler is the president of Adler Development, the development and project management division of Adler Group, Inc. In this position, he is responsible for contributing to the development and acquisition of high-rise multifamily, industrial, office and retail properties. Additionally, he oversees business development of third-party development projects, project management services and capital expenditure and facilities management programs for properties owned and managed by Adler Group.

Since joining Adler Group in 1997, Adler, a licensed general contractor, has been involved in all development and construction projects. Currently, he is working on high-rise multifamily commercial and retail projects, primarily in the South East.

Adler represents the third-generation of one of Florida's most respected "builder families." His grandfather, Samuel I. Adler, founded Southern General Builders in the early 1950s and built, owned and managed nearly 8,000 high-rise rental apartment units in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The Adler family name is synonymous with the entrepreneurial leadership and innovation that keeps Adler Group at the forefront of the real estate industry.

Adler lives in Miami with his wife, Hinda, and two children, Samson and Mason. Committed to community service and education initiatives, Adler is a member of the Florida International University Foundation Board of Directors; is a dedicated member of the Young Founders Club at Mount Sinai Medical Center; and is the Treasurer of the Jewish Museum of Florida. Additionally, he is actively involved with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center, and the American Jewish Committee of Greater Miami and Broward.