Meet our leadership

Our team’s focus is on minimizing risk and delivering outsized results for our partners.

Vadim Kleyner, CEO - Smartland

Vadim Kleyner

CEO
Bio 
Dismiss
Vadim Kleyner, CEO - Smartland

Vadim Kleyner

CEO

As founder and CEO of Smartland, Vadim focuses on the company’s overall strategies, including future geographic expansion and assembling the best possible team. A serial entrepreneur who got his start in IT, he continues to apply that extensive IT background to create competitive advantages. Prior to founding Smartland, Vadim served as VP at Cleveland Restoration Group, where he developed successful real estate investment models that have since been adopted throughout the nation. His partners, investors, and team regard his strengths as being strategic, analytical, and visionary.

Irina Kleyner

Irina Kleyner

Broker
Bio 
Dismiss
Irina Kleyner

Irina Kleyner

Broker

As the Real Estate Broker, Irina uses her intricate knowledge of the buying and selling process in overseeing all of the real estate transactions. As a liaison between real estate agents, clients, escrow companies, and mortgage brokers, Irina closely monitors each stage of the deal from contract signing through closing to efficiently manage the home sale or purchase transaction. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Physics Science from Gomel State University, and is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors.

Steven Gesis

Steven Gesis

EVP • COO
Bio 
Dismiss
Steven Gesis

Steven Gesis

EVP • COO

Steven is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of all teams within Smartland. As EVP Steven is the catalyst for all department directors to ensure the Smartland vision and Smartland standards are being implemented and adhered to. Prior to joining Smartland, Steven was an Operations Administrator at the Cleveland Clinic, where he was instrumental in the implementation of new strategies and efficiencies. Steven holds an MBA from CSU Monte Ahuja School of Business as well as a Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

Our Management

Valerie Couch

Valerie Couch

Director, Resident Relations
Bio 
Dismiss
Valerie Couch

Valerie Couch

Director, Resident Relations

Valerie oversees day-to-day property management and leasing operations from inception of a tenant’s lease to their living experience with Smartland to their move-out. In addition, Valerie is a licensed real estate agent with twenty years of experience in residential, commercial and corporate real estate and continues to work with both internal investors as well as external buyers and sellers. As Client Relations Manager, it is important to Valerie to harbor positive relationships with Smartland’s tenants, investors and vendors. She is a Cleveland native and supports the city development and sports teams. Fun fact, Valerie and her fiance own a pet pig!

Victor Fedin

Victor Fedin

Director, Leasing
Bio 
Dismiss
Victor Fedin

Victor Fedin

Director, Leasing

Victor is a SEO/digital marketing expert and experienced software/web developer. He has nearly 20 years of experience working for both educational and commercial industries. He is always thinking of out-of- the-box ways to utilize and combine his expertise. He strongly believes that a company needs to educate their clients with awesome content on its industry. Victor has participated in many private thought-leadership sessions with Google on how to help increase page rankings for the ultimate benefit of the user experience to get the answer they were searching for. In his free time, he enjoys annoying his wife and two daughters by singing while playing his guitar.

David

David Nulick

Director, Commercial Development
Bio 
Dismiss
David

David Nulick

Director, Commercial Development

David Nulick provides construction estimates for clients seeking property renovations. He then has the unique opportunity to present these reports and communicate with potential clients to formulate realistic solutions to property issues of all scopes. His weekly visits to our construction sites ensure the projects are meeting contract requirements. David also initiates our development projects, including facilitating pre-construction services for development partners. When not listening to Tribe broadcasts, he enjoys traveling with his wife & visiting family.

Matt Fritz

Matt Fritz

Director, Marketing
Bio 
Dismiss
Matt Fritz

Matt Fritz

Director, Marketing

Matt oversees all marketing efforts within Smartland. He collaborates with all of the divisions of the Smartland team to convey our company’s mission through web advertising and various media outlets. He uses competitive analysis to integrate effective marketing concepts and oversees marketing campaigns within the local community once areas of growth potential are identified. Matt wears many hats and has experience in almost every department of the company. Personally, Matt is a newlywed and enjoys watching and coaching baseball. Matt has a BA in sports management with minors in marketing & coaching from Notre Dame College while playing varsity baseball all 4 years.

Viki Wade

Viki Wade

Supervisor, Accounting
    Bio 
    Dismiss
    Viki Wade

    Viki Wade

    Supervisor, Accounting

      Viki works with all Smartland departments to ensure all payments are processed accurately. She performs daily accounting tasks, daily cash flow, maintain financial databases and reconcile vendor & bank statements, reconciliation of tenant bills. Viki has 15 years of general accounting experience & payroll processing I enjoy hiking, sports activities with my family & reading. Proud of my Slovenian heritage & excited to see new development happening in Cleveland that focuses on the diversity of its residents.

      Alex Stevens

      Alex Stevens

      Management, Multifamily
      Bio 
      Dismiss
      Alex Stevens

      Alex Stevens

      Management, Multifamily

      Alex supervises the maintenance associates who perform services and repairs for our investors and tenants at Smartland. Alex is accountable and prepares work schedules, assignments and oversees the satisfactory completion of all maintenance work orders. He then maintains the management system for tracking work orders and maintenance history. Alex has a knack for quick troubleshooting and figures out how to accomplish tasks at hand. His hard-working nature and hands-on mentality makes Alex an imperative part of the Smartland team. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his kids, hunting, fishing, riding dirt bikes, water parks and amusement parks.

      Alex

      Alex Frenk

      Director, Construction
      Bio 
      Dismiss
      Alex

      Alex Frenk

      Director, Construction

      As project manager, Alex Frenk oversees and directs renovation projects from conception to completion. For each project, Alex is responsible for ordering the necessary materials, organizing all trades and making sure they know their directions, and supervising that all aspects of the project run according to plan. He is in constant communication with clients to address any changes or concerns they may have. Alex makes sure each project stays within the budget and works with city inspectors to ensure accordance with state codes. Alex has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry and has managed other construction companies prior to his current role at Smartland.

      Paul Coso

      Paul Coso

      Assistant Director, Maintenance
      Bio 
      Dismiss
      Paul Coso

      Paul Coso

      Assistant Director, Maintenance

      Paul is a Service technician for Smartland. He performs regular maintenance to Smartland’s numerous properties, performs inspections, emergency maintenance, and coordinates annual inspections with city inspectors. He also holds classes for maintenance department staff and helps coordinate weekly meetings. Paul is an avid fisher and loves to ride his motorcycle. He completed trade school for carpentry and has been trained in HVAC. Fun Fact: Paul is in fact a certified chef as well.

      Jack Fudala

      Jack Fudala

      Associate, Multifamily Acquisitions
      Bio 
      Dismiss
      Jack Fudala

      Jack Fudala

      Associate, Multifamily Acquisitions

      Jack is Smartland’s Multifamily Acquisitions Associate. He underwrites potential acquisitions and procures off-market multifamily deals for Smartland. He pursues various opportunities and extended projects that fit Smartland’s acquisition strategy. In his free time, Jack enjoys traveling, boating, and skiing. Jack holds a degree in Finance from John Carroll University.

      mission

      Mission

      To completely transform the standard of living across communities.

      approach

      Approach

      Identifying mismanaged investments transformed through Smartland's modernization and management.

      partnership

      Partnership

      To build a world-class ever-growing partnership with aligned interests, transparency, and trust.

      graph bar

      Impact

      To change the lives of individuals, families, and institutions through becoming a partner in private real estate and transforming experiences for tenants, communities, and key stakeholders.

      Explore our
      Investments