Transforming Real Estate
Through
Impactful Investments
Westside is a private equity real estate company. We invest in underutilized real estate companies and assets, including real estate development, distressed properties, real estate operating businesses, and public-private partnerships. Our hallmark is opportunistic investing, enabling us to move between geographies, asset classes, and positions in the capital stack as risk-return dynamics evolve. To execute this strategy, Westside has developed expertise in both geographic markets and asset classes.
Since its start, Westside holds around $1.2 billion in assets, mainly in the Southeastern and Sunbelt United States. Additionally, the firm owns entitled land and has a construction pipeline valued at approximately $3 billion, consisting mainly of multifamily and mixed-use assets.
Founder & CEO Jakub Hejl starts Westside Capital Group. Since its founding, the company has developed a distinct position in the industry, with a broadly diversified set of investment strategies, including private equity real estate investing and real estate development.
Acquisition of a 50-unit mid-rise multifamily property in Winter Haven, FL.
Creation of an additional 192-unit multifamily development project of an existing building in Winter Haven, FL.
Acquisition of an 82-unit multifamily complex in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Acquisition of a 240-unit garden-style multifamily complex in Tampa, FL.
Acquisition of a 176-unit garden-style multifamily complex in Jacksonville, FL.
Creation of an additional 57-unit multifamily development project in Jacksonville, FL.
Acquisition of a 337-unit garden-style multifamily complex in Tampa, FL.
Acquisition of a 150-unit mixed-use property in Orlando, FL.
Acquisition of a 920-unit garden-style multifamily complex in Hoover – Birmingham, AL.
Acquisition of a 140-unit garden-style multifamily complex in Hoover – Birmingham, AL.
Acquisition of a 265-unit high-rise multifamily property in Fort Myers, FL.
Assemblage of various waterfront parcels in Fort Myers with development potential of up to 1,000 multifamily units.
Acquisition of a 327-unit high-rise multifamily property in Fort Myers, FL.
Creation of an additional 240-unit multifamily high-rise development project as an expansion of an existing building in Fort Myers, FL.
Assemblage of various development parcels totaling 128 acres intended for a mixed-use development of 5,650 multifamily units and 350,000 SF of commercial space in Orlando, FL.
Acquisition of an office building with ground-floor retail located in Coral Gables, FL.
Westside business is undergoing streamlining into specialized companies organized by product type and strategy.
Focus on strategic large scale real estate developments and acquisitions of significant real estate companies.
Meet Our Executive Team
Jakub Hejl
President
Mr. Hejl founded Westside in 2017 and leads the company as President. He is responsible for the strategic direction, risk management and management of the company and its investments. Mr. Hejl’s real estate transactional experience includes real estate transactions of different kinds in excess of $3 billion in the aggregate both in the United States and Europe. Westside is a real estate investment company with a diverse portfolio of multifamily and mixed-use assets and land in Southeastern United States in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Westside also has a multibillion development pipeline of multifamily and mixed-use assets on developable land it owns mostly in Florida. The company is actively pursuing investments in existing assets, real estate companies as well as land for development throughout the Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Sunbelt U.S.
Mr. Hejl earned a business degree in Finance and Real Estate with a concentration in Economics from the University of Miami School of Business and graduated with honors. He serves as a Board Member of The Wolfsonian, a Miami Beach Museum, and a Member of the University of Miami President’s Council, a select group of the University’s most prominent alumni. He is also an alumnus of the Hyperion Council, a charitable initiative led by the Dean of the School of Business at the University of Miami with a focus on helping underprivileged communities in the US and abroad. Aside from work, Mr. Hejl has had great interest in sports and politics. Mr. Hejl worked for a real estate private equity firm DRA Advisors in New York, and for a New York based real estate private equity firm Westbrook Partners in London. Mr. Hejl also briefly worked at the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Citigroup in New York.
Jeff Levin
Principal
Mr. Levin serves as Principal of Westside. He participates in forming the strategic direction and management of the company and its investments. Mr. Levin is primarily responsible for acquisition, value enhancement and disposition processes for the company’s investments.
Prior to joining Westside, Mr. Levin spent several years within Citigroup’s Banking, Capital Markets & Advisory division in New York where he participated in over $25 billion in investment banking and capital markets activities. Mr. Levin also briefly worked at Aztec Group, a real estate advisory firm based in Miami, where he was responsible for the underwriting, financial analysis, and execution of various real estate related capital market and investment sale engagements.
Mr. Levin earned a business degree with a concentration in Finance from the University of Miami. He serves as a Member of the University of Miami Citizens Board, a select group of civic leaders who actively support the University’s philanthropic efforts and promote the University’s programs. Mr. Levin holds a FINRA Series 79 and a FINRA Series 63 license in the state of New York in addition to a Real Estate Sales Associate license in the state of Florida.
George Corton
Managing Principal
Mr. Corton is the Managing Principal at Westside, overseeing business development, investor relations, and strategic growth. With over 20 years of experience, he has facilitated fundraising exceeding $2 billion. Westside specializes in real estate investments across the Southeastern United States, particularly in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, with a substantial development pipeline primarily in Florida.
Prior to joining Westside, Mr. Corton served as Chief Development Officer at Florida International University (FIU), where he achieved record-breaking fundraising results, including securing the largest alumni gift in FIU history.
Prior to FIU, Mr. Corton held roles at the University of Miami (UM), contributing to the Momentum Campaign and enhancing the School of Business Administration's reputation internationally. He also played a key role in establishing a full MBA program in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Corton is deeply involved in philanthropy. He co-founded the FIU Foundation Office of Inclusive Philanthropy and serves on various nonprofit boards, including Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Executive Advisory Board. He also played a pivotal role in founding the CasaCuba initiative where he now serves as Vice Chair of the Board. Additionally, he's a proud member of the Moss Foundation, known for its significant corporate giving.
Mr. Corton earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business from Florida International University.
Eric Reisman
General Counsel | Principal
Mr. Reisman serves as the General Counsel and Principal of Westside. He provides general legal and operational counsel to all key personnel and other members of the Westside team and manages all legal aspects of the company including transactions, development, operations, risk management, corporate affairs, asset management, compliance and litigation. Mr. Reisman has worked in real estate both in-house and in private practice and has provided legal counsel on more than $2 billion in commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, finance, development and dispositions.
Prior to joining Westside, Mr. Reisman served as a Managing Director and the Senior Legal Counsel at Waypoint Residential, a private equity national multifamily developer, owner and operator. While at Waypoint, Mr. Reisman provided legal counsel to the CEO, COO and other executive team members and oversaw the entire legal operations for the company.
Prior to Waypoint, Mr. Reisman was an Associate and then elevated to Partner in the Real Estate Department of Cole Schotz P.C., an Am Law 200 law firm with a robust national real estate practice.
Mr. Reisman earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University.
Carrie Schramek
Vice President of Finance
Mrs. Schramek currently holds the position of Vice President of Finance at Westside, where she oversees financial operations and leads value enhancement processes for multifamily properties valued at over $700 million across the region.
Before joining Westside, Mrs. Schramek served as a Controller at Franklin Street's Tampa office, managing accounting for various asset types including multifamily, commercial, office, and industrial properties. At one point, she oversaw a portfolio of over 60 properties and led a team of 11 accountants and managers. In addition to managing accounting operations, Mrs. Schramek was responsible for maintaining accounting principles, practices, and procedures, as well as overseeing general ledger preparation, financial reporting, year-end CPA reporting, banking requirements, and supporting on-site staff, including training and management of company accountants.
Before Franklin Street, she worked as a financial analyst for Echelon Real Estate Development. Outside of work, Mrs. Schramek enjoys spending time with her three children and husband. Mrs. Schramek earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL.