The Ridgehouse Team
A vision requires a team to unite in purpose and create actionable strategies toward success. Each Ridgehouse Companies team member works to align our resources, collaborate with industry partners and manage projects from start to finish. We remain dynamic and forward-thinking in construction, development, investment and acquisition.
Michael J. Sansone
Co-Founder, Managing Principal
Michael J. Sansone is co-founder and managing principal of Ridgehouse Companies. He is a St. Louis native and grew up immersed in the real estate industry. Now, Sansone has over a decade of finance, asset management and real estate investment and development experience.
Sansone leads the expansion of Ridgehouse Companies, creating strategic plans and maintaining oversight over all aspects of the Ridgehouse Platform. He earned his BS/BA from the University of Missouri, Columbia and his MBA from Webster University in St. Louis.
Matthew E. Walla
Co-Founder, Principal
Matthew E. Walla is co-founder and principal of Ridgehouse Companies. Walla is a St. Louis native and has worked for over a decade in the finance and accounting sectors of property development. Walla oversees the day-to-day management of financial operations, asset management and capital and debt financing for the Ridgehouse Companies portfolio.
Prior to founding Ridgehouse, Walla was the Chief Investment Officer of Sangita Capital Partners. Walla earned his BSAcc/MAcc in Accountancy from the University of Missouri, Columbia and his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
Walter Olszewski
President of Ridgehouse Construction
Walter Olszewski has been developing, constructing and supervising projects in property development industries for over 20 years. He has been responsible for contractors’ daily operations, controlling budgets, negotiating subcontracts and working with local and state agencies. He provides day-to-day communication with the project team and owners to ensure jobs remain on schedule and within budget.
Throughout multifamily development career, Olszewski has completed construction of 16 communities in seven states totaling more than 3,100 units and over $830,000,000 in projects. Olszewski attended both Saint Louis University and University of Missouri, St. Louis and holds a Journey Level certificate in Carpentry.
Thomas Bene
Chief Financial Officer
Tom Bene has extensive experience leading finance and accounting teams primarily focused in the multifamily real estate development, construction and property management fields. He actively works with lenders, investors, CPA firms and internal stakeholders to provide accurate financial reporting and analysis to ensure financial obligations are met.
Bene has specialties in financial planning, budget development and financial models. Bene graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Missouri, Columbia and holds a Missouri CPA license.
TJ Redmond
Vice President of Development
TJ Redmond is a St. Louis native and has 20 years of experience in the real estate investment world. Redmond leads the development team at Ridgehouse in sourcing, securing, and entitling multifamily development sites across the country. Redmond began his career at Centex Homes doing land acquisition and entitlements, and then transitioned into commercial appraisal work at Integra Realty Resources (IRR) where he valued over $1.5B worth of real estate. Over his career, Redmond has also helped buy or sell over $1B in investment properties and development projects also including stops as investment sale broker at CBRE and Balke Brown Transwestern (BBT), where he served as Managing Broker as well. In 2021, while at BBT, Redmond also helped launch and direct Diamond Income Fund 2 in 2021, a boutique real estate fund focused on the acquisition and operation of recently delivered core and core-plus multifamily assets in the Midwest.
Redmond graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Ohio and received a master’s degree in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development. In addition, Redmond served on the City of Rock Hill’s Board of Alderman and Planning and Zoning Commission from 2005-2010, serving as the President of the Board from 2007-2010 and had a sear on the TIF Commission during that time.
Mark Eckhardt
Director of Land Acquisitions
Mark Eckhardt has over 30 years of experience in initial market surveys, site selections and the procurement process. Eckhardt is a seasoned land acquisition and development executive with focused expertise in multifamily properties. Eckhardt specializes in real estate development, brokerage, regulatory compliance and contract administration.
He has helped develop projects in Missouri, Florida, Nebraska, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. Eckhardt earned his BS/BA in Real Estate Finance and Economics from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Dan Weller
Director of Asset Management
Dan Weller is the director of asset management and is responsible for maximizing the value of our company’s assets. Dan is also responsible for the property managers’ performance of current sites, as well as choosing property management companies for projects under construction.
Kris Skelton
Regional Vice President of Construction
Kris Skelton is a Regional Vice President for Ridgehouse Construction. As a Regional Vice President, Skelton oversees all aspects of each project in our east region. He is involved in planning and managing from the beginning stage, preconstruction, to the final stage, certificate of occupancy, of all projects in his region.
He has 25 years of experience ranging from hands-on field work to project management of commercial, multifamily and single family constructions.
Matt Limpert
Regional Vice President of Construction
Matt Limpert is a Regional Vice President for Ridgehouse Construction. As a Regional Vice President, Limpert oversees all aspects of each project in our east region. He is involved in planning and managing from the beginning stage, preconstruction, to the final stage, certificate of occupancy, of all projects in his region.
Limpert earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri, St. Louis and has since acquired his NASCLA and ICC building certifications.
Alexa Nickolick-Stahl
Project Manager
Alexa Nickolick-Stahl is a Project Manager that plans and supervises the building process of our multifamily projects from start to finish. Alexa organizes and oversees construction procedures, manages project budgets, and ensures the projects are completed in a timely and efficient manner.
John Murphy
Project Manager
Cole Tarlas
Development Associate
Cole Tarlas is a Development Associate of Ridgehouse Companies. He is a St. Louis native who recently moved back from New York City, where he spent three years working in the finance realm. Tarlas is responsible for site selection, market analysis and project underwriting.
Tarlas graduated with a finance degree from the University of Arkansas. Recently, he completed a CRE Analyst course, enhancing his knowledge of commercial real estate and development.
Keith Townsend
Superintendent
Keith Townsend is a superintendent for Ridgehouse Construction. Townsend has extensive construction experience and is responsible for the daily operations on his assigned job site.
As a superintendent, Townsend oversees the construction process, from planning to completion. He surveys and supervises all of the workers who work on Ridgehouse Companies projects.
Dave DeGeare
Superintendent
Dave DeGeare is a superintendent and executes our multifamily projects by organizing, planning, and overseeing project tasks on site. Steven completes quality inspections and supervises all project members- including subcontractors.
Steven Dodd
Superindendent
Steven Dodd is a superintendent and executes our multifamily projects by organizing, planning, and overseeing project tasks on site. Steven completes quality inspections and supervises all project members- including subcontractors.
Joey Beaver
Assistant Superintendent
Joey Beaver is an assistant superintendent who helps to oversee our multifamily projects by working closely with the superintendent on site. Joey is responsible for the daily operations of assigned construction tasks for our projects.
Dan Santoro
Superintendent
Dan Santoro is a superintendent and executes our multifamily projects by organizing, planning, and overseeing project tasks on site. Dan completes quality inspections and supervises all project members- including subcontractors.
Ethan Ortmann
Development Analyst
Ethan Ortmann is a development analyst that assists the development team with prospecting new land acquisition targets. Ethan is responsible for project underwriting and gathering research and comps for potential development projects.
Joey Parise
Superintendent
Joey Parise has over 30 years of construction experience with over 25 of them in a supervisory position. He has experience in a variety of projects, including but not limited to: medical facilities, churches, schools, retail spaces, multifamily communities, banks, federal facilities and custom homes.
Like his fellow superintendents, Parise ensures that quality standards are upheld in each construction site. He also manages communication between Ridgehouse Companies and external parties, such as vendors, lawyers and more.
Eric Janson
Assistant Superintendent
Eric Janson is an assistant superintendent- helps to oversee our multifamily projects by working closely with the superintendent on site. Eric is responsible for the daily operations of assigned construction tasks for our projects.
Anna Hazelwonder
Administrative Assistant
Anna Hazelwonder is an executive assistant that provides support and structure to the company. Anna is responsible for administrative support for all departments, calendar management for executive level team members, and preparation for weekly team meetings.
Barbara Coose
Project Accountant
Barbara Coose is a project accountant responsible for processing A/P, A/R, tracking insurance and supporting the Ridgehouse Constructors team on all accounting-related items. Coose monitors the progress of projects, investigates variances, approves expenses and ensures that project billings are issued and payments are collected.
Tanya Stewart
Project Accountant
Tanya Stewart is a project accountant tasked with the general accounting of Ridgehouse Companies’ operations. Stewart is responsible for processing A/P, A/R, tracking insurance and supporting the Ridgehouse Construction team on all accounting-related items. She monitors the progress of projects, investigates variances, approves expenses and ensures that project billings are issued and payments are collected.
Stewart earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
