Thomas

Jeremy Thomas, a Philadelphia real estate development expert, has been named senior director of Cornell Real Estate in Facilities Services. He starts his new position Jan. 30.

Following a one-month overlap, Tom LiVigne, the current senior director, will become a senior adviser to KyuJung Whang, vice president for facilities services, and transition to a phased retirement.

“Jeremy’s knowledge of state, federal and local funding opportunities, along with a strong understanding of building and zoning codes, help bring complex real estate and neighborhood development initiatives to fruition,” said Whang. “He demonstrates creativity, thoughtfulness and strategic thinking. He is eager to work for Cornell and live in Ithaca, and I see him growing with our community.”

Thomas will be responsible for directing real estate development activities for Cornell, which includes strategic planning, oversight of acquisition, sale and leasing of all of Cornell’s real property assets. The position also includes overseeing management, construction and financing of nonacademic real estate. He will manage an annual $30 million portfolio of transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, real estate gifts, leases, licenses, easements and construction projects.

Prior to joining Cornell, Thomas served as director of real estate development for Philadelphia’s deputy mayor for economic development. Before that, he was a senior redevelopment specialist for the deputy mayor, working with Philadelphia’s planning and economic development agencies to support redevelopment projects that attracted business, ensuring that those projects and the city’s planning goals aligned.

Thomas also has worked for the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone as a neighborhoods project manager and coordinator. That agency strove to build healthy, self-sufficient and safe environments by working with residents and business owners to raise the quality of life in their area.

Prior to his departure from Philadelphia, Thomas served as board president for the Weavers Way Cooperative Association, a member-owned food retail business with four stores, 175 employees and more than $19 million in revenue last year.

Additionally, Whang has announced that real estate manager Kristin Gutenberger will become associate director of Cornell Real Estate. Her promotion becomes effective Feb. 1.