THE GC TEAM
CHICAGO'S RESPONSIVE PROPERTY MANAGER ®️
WHAT OUR COMPANIES LOGO STANDS FOR
When talking with customers and investors, I often get asked what “GC” stands for and what the meaning behind our logo is. I will get into what “GC” represents in another article, but I wanted to share with you how we came up with our current logo and how it represents us as a company.
Our company was originally established in 2003, and our current logo is just the second logo we have used. Thinking back, our first logo did not have a true business meaning, and it didn’t fully represent who we were as a company. Since then, I have learned the importance of a company identity. The only meaning the old logo had was that it was personal, and we were proud of because it was ours. In 2006, just a few years into our business, GC Realty & Development suffered a devastating loss when the original founder (my best friend) was killed in a car accident. We had used that logo for 11 years. I had an especially hard time letting that logo go because I felt I was moving on from my personal loss. At first, I fought my partners against making the change, but it wasn't until my partner, Bryan, came up with the design you see today that I felt ready to move on.

meet the team
Welcome to our Meet the Team page, where you can get to know the dedicated professionals behind our property management services. Our team is comprised of experienced and knowledgeable individuals who are passionate about providing exceptional property management solutions. Each team member brings unique skills and expertise to the table, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of service and support. From property management operations and leasing agents to maintenance technicians and administrative staff, our team works collaboratively to meet and exceed our clients' expectations.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS




























SALES & MARKETING
FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES






LEASING
MAINTENANCE
Mark Ainley New Business Development
Mark Ainley is an investor, managing broker, and property manager with almost two decades of experience in real estate. Mark has been a speaker at numerous events across the country including investing summits in Dallas, San Francisco, and Chicago. His extensive experience allows him to share his knowledge and experience on many topics like property management, scaling a business, rehabbing and flipping, out of state investing, asset stabilization, market analysis, and more. Mark found his way into real estate by purchasing and flipping condominiums prior to the great recession and since he has built his own portfolio of rental portfolio alongside the creation of GC Realty & Development LLC (GCR&D) and GC Realty Investments (GCRI). He has rehabbed and stabilized over 450 properties and currently manages over 900 investment properties throughout the Chicagoland area. Mark is the co-founder of GCR&D, a full-service Real Estate Brokerage, Property Management, and real estate investment firm in the Chicago Market that consults with both local and out of state investors on the acquisition, stabilization, and management of their rental property portfolio. GCRI has become one of the premier turnkey companies in Chicago, working with both US and International investors. In recent years both companies have grown to include over 25 full and part-time employees running the management & development divisions with 27 additional brokers getting deals done.
He was featured on CNBC’s TV show The Deed chronicling one of his rehabs. He has also been featured on podcasts like Bigger Pockets, The Real Estate Mogul Podcast, Joe Fairless, REI Diamonds, and Positive Phil. In 2017 he was featured on the cover of Top Agent - Property Management Edition.
Bryan Sonn Director of Commercial Sales
Bryan Sonn is the Director of Commercial Sales and most importantly our visionary. Bryan is what you would call a serial entrepreneur. He has started and successfully ran many businesses ranging from a bowling alley to a trucking company with many other funny but successful experiences in between. In 2006 Bryan started in real estate and never looked back.
In the beginning of Bryan’s real estate career, he focused his efforts on construction and property maintenance. His outside-the-box approach to maintenance has saved his investors and clients a tremendous amount of money. Because of this approach, Bryan became the go-to guy. More and more of his time was being spent on the phone with clients so it was a natural transition for Bryan to spend most of his time working directly with them and to hire a project manager. Both he and our clients have never been happier.
When Bryan isn’t overseeing projects, you’ll find him grilling out with family and friends, out on his boat or glued to the TV watching his Chicago Blackhawks. If you ever desire a passionate conversation outside of real estate, just mention hockey; he’ll take it from there.