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 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.