The Team – OLD

Mark Fischer

President

Mark Fischer joined Grupe in 1989 and has served in a variety of management positions. Mark currently serves as the President and Chief Financial Officer of The Grupe Company, Grupe Home Star, MarchbrookBuilding Company & Grupe Custom Homes.

In 2006 Grupe launched Carsten Crossings, Grupe’s first “Zero Energy” community, located in Rocklin California. Mark led both the design and implementation of this project. The project featured BIPV and energy efficiency features standard in all homes. This project won several awards including an EVHA Gold Award from the National Association of Home Builders.

Building on the Carsten Crossings project, Mr. Fischer started Grupe Home Star (GHS). GHS is a company that specializes in energy efficiency and solar retrofits on existing homes. GHS is accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and iscurrently doing retrofits in Stockton and Sacramento. Mark is on the board of the California Building Contractors Association (CBPCA).

Prior to joining Grupe, Mark was a senior consultant for Kenneth Leventhal & Company. Mark received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Sacramento State University, and a Masters Degree in Real Estate from the Lusk School of Real Estate at the University of Southern California. Mark is a CPA and an associate member of the Urban Land Institute. Mark is also Certified by the Building Performance Institute as a Building Analyst and Envelope Specialist, and a “Build it Green”, “New & Existing Home Green Point Rater”.

Jeremy White

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Jeremy White joined The Grupe Company in 1994. As Chief Operating Officer, he’s an integral part of Grupe’s strategic planning and company operations. He is responsible for Grupe’s residential development including acquisitions, forward planning, development and construction.
A graduate of University of the Pacific with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Civil Engineering and Engineering Management, White joined Kjeldsen, Sinnock and Neudeck, Inc., a civil engineering firm, for two years, before returning to Grupe in 1998. In 1999, he obtained his Professional Engineering license in Civil Engineering from the State of California.
White, lives in Stockton with his wife Kellie and two children, where they enjoy golfing, hiking with their two dogs and seeking travel adventures together.

Boards & Affiliations

YMCA Board of Directors
Urban Land Institute
ULI Community Development Council (Silver Flight member)
City of Stockton Development Oversight Commission (2 Term Member)
Building Industry Association of the Greater Valley (Past President)
California Building Industry Association
CBIA Government Affairs Committee (member)

Nelson Bahler

Executive Vice President/Secretary

Nelson E. Bahler joined The Grupe Company in 1980 and is the General Counsel, Secretary and Executive Vice President. In his capacity as General Counsel, Mr. Bahler is responsible for the overall legal affairs of the company’s family of operating units. Mr. Bahler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College, a Masters in Business Administration from Western New England College, and a Juris Doctorate degree from McGeorge School of Law. He moved to Stockton in 1977 when employed by the law firm of Neumiller & Beardslee.

In addition to his professional duties, Nelson also has served the community through several nonprofit organizations, including past President of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, Stockton Symphony Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Central United Methodist Church, and member of the North Stockton Rotary Club.

Yan Tomimoto

Executive Vice President

Yan joined The Grupe Company in 2015 as the Executive Vice President of Capital Markets. She is responsible for sourcing and procuring debt and equity for the Company’s real estate projects. Yan has over twenty years of experience in commercial, retail, multifamily and residential real estate focusing on acquisition, finance, due diligence and cash flow modeling. Since 2015 Yan has raised over $500 Million of capital. Yan graduated with a Political Science degree from UCLA.

Lani Vinas-Bioc

CONTROLLER

Vinas-Bioc joined The Grupe Company in March 2019 and now serves as Controller for the Company where she oversees accounting operations, financial reporting, internal control and streamlining accounting functions and processes. Prior to joining Grupe, Vinas-Bioc had over 15 years of experience in the manufacturing and construction industries. She received her BS in Accounting from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and completed her MBA in Accounting from Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. Lani lives in Manteca with her husband Russell and three children.

Mike Kristoff

Controller, CFO Grupe Operating Company

Michael Kristoff is the Financial Controller at The Greenlaw Grupe Jr. Operating Company (GOC) based in Stockton, CA. GOC is a multi-faceted entity involved in multiple industries including agriculture, estate planning and Investments in real estate including multi-family, office buildings and self-storage facilities. Kristoff is responsible for all financial matters of GOC, as well as the oversight of The Grupe Building in Stockton, CA. Kristoff works directly with Greenlaw “Fritz” Grupe, Jr. on all matters relating to GOC’s investments, strategic planning, and financing activities.
Prior to joining GOC in 2001, Kristoff’s background includes 20 years in resort and hotel industry as well with one of the largest leasing companies in the United States.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Business Bachelor of Arts, Kristoff is an avid skier and snowboarder, he has also been heli-skiing in Alaska and the Himalayas. Mike and his wife Staci share 4 children and reside in Angels Camp California.

Boards & Affiliations

Calaveras Community Foundation
Destination Angels Camp
Calaveras Visitors Bureau
Grace Hill Covenant Church
Boys & Girls Club

Angela Bridges

Vice President Property Management

Matt Skelton

Vice President Acquisition

Matt Skelton joined The Grupe Company in 2020 as Vice President of Acquisitions to pursue affordable housing and market-rate multifamily opportunities.

Matt started his real estate career in 2006 at St. Anton Partners as an Analyst and eventually became Regional Property Supervisor. In 2013 Matt joined USA Properties Fund as an Acquisition Manager where he pursued multifamily opportunities, both affordable housing and market-rate, and both existing assets and new construction projects.

Matt earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento in Business Administration, with a Concentration in Real Estate and Land Use. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker in California and is a United States Air Force veteran.

Matt and his wife, Marina, live in Rocklin, California with their children.

Rob Toste

PROJECT MANAGER

Rob Toste, Project Manager, joined Grupe in 2019. his role relies heavily on his expertise including financial analysis, project management and asset management. Toste brings a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise to his work. In addition to being a licensed Real Estate agent, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from California State University Stanislaus and continues to expand his knowledge by engaging with the Urban Land Institute to stay on the forefront of industry trends. Outside of Grupe, Toste is an avid reader and outdoorsman, enjoying exploring and off-road adventures.

Fritz Grupe

CEO Grupe Operating Company

Greenlaw “Fritz” Grupe, Jr. founded The Grupe Company in 1966. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Grupe was raised in the rural farmlands of San Joaquin County, where he dreamed of being a cattle rancher. Grupe married his college sweetheart, Phyllis, in 1960 and four kids soon followed. Starting as a real estate salesman, Grupe moved his young family off the farm to Stockton where he began having visions of lake side communities, where families could live, work and play. Fast forward to today where over 50,000 families across the US, call Grupe neighborhoods Home. Grupe has served on committees for local, state and national building initiatives and is considered one of the pioneers of master planned communities nationwide. The Grupe’s reside in Lodi, CA and have 4 children, 20 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and counting.

Board Member

Urban Land Institute – 1963-2013
Young President Organization – 1970-88
World Presidents Organization – 1988-2013
Fisher School of Real Estate and Urban Economics
UC Merced Board of Trustees (Founding Chairperson)
University of the Pacific Board of Regents
United Way San Joaquin Keel Club
California Chamber of Commerce
Business Council of San Joaquin 1987-Present, Chairman
San Joaquin A+ 1997
San Joaquin Partnership 1991 – Present
Golden Gate and Northern California Chapters of the Young Presidents’ Organization
The Stockton Chamber of Commerce
The Stockton Board of Realtors
The Builders Hall of Fame

Past President of the following organizations

The Golden Gate and Northern California Chapters of Young Presidents’ Organization
Stockton Chamber of Commerce
Stockton Board of Realtors
Urban Land Institute
United Way of San Joaquin Keel Club Chairman
Mr. Grupe currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at U.C. Berkeley.

Phyllis Grupe

President Grupe Operating Company

Born and raised in California, Phyllis Grupe is truly a “woman of many hats”. Her occupations on any given day range from homemaker, to philanthropist, to interior decorator, to renowned horsewoman.
Mrs. Grupe is currently Chairperson of the Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CPFSJ), the agency she and many other stakeholders helped found in 1998. CPFSJ provides policies and programs that enable all groups – neighborhood groups, the faith community, schools, the public and private health sector, social services, criminal justice agencies, city and county government, and the business community – to work together in a systematic manner to build strong and resourceful families and communities in San Joaquin County. In addition, Mrs. Grupe was one of the founding team members of San Joaquin A+, which is working to eliminate illiteracy in San Joaquin County.
Mrs. Grupe and husband Fritz have been married for over 60 years. Together, they are the parents of four children, grandparents of twenty “Amazing Grupe” grandchildren, and great grandparents to a growing number, currently at 9.

Board Member

Bank of America, Livestock Symposium 1981-84
Equine Research Lab UC Davis 1980-84
Delta College Equine Management 1985-87
Summer Search 1994-98
Children’s Home of San Joaquin 1980-87
Belgian Draft Horse Association of America 1980-90
Founder
Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin 1998 – Present
San Joaquin A+

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2010’s
Fritz and Phyllis Grupe Receive Honorary Doctorates from Stanislaus State
ATHENA Leadership Award 2012 – Phyllis Grupe2000’s
Bravo Awards for Community Partners 2007 – Fritz & Phyllis Grupe
Goodwill Helping Hands 2006 – Fritz & Phyllis Grupe
Phyllis Grupe named “Woman of the Year” by the Calif State Assembly 2005
Phyllis Grupe named “Stocktonian of the Year” 2002
1990’s
ABC Award (Action on Behalf of Children) 1998 – Phyllis Grupe
Stockton Arts Commission STAR Award 1993 – Fritz & Phyllis Grupe
Phyllis Grupe –Girl Scout Role Model of the Year 1992
California Building Industry Award 1991 – Fritz Grupe
1980’s
Fritz Grupe –Boy Scout Role Model of the Year
Fritz Grupe named “Stocktonian of the Year” 1984