BARBARA A. FERNANDEZ

barb.fernandez@yahoo.com

708.574.8928

 

 

OVERVIEW•Effective negotiation and drafting ability with a variety of agreements

•Extensive experience coordinating with internal business units and making presentations to C-Level executives

•Significant and successful negotiation with governmental entities

•Strives in dynamic environments with minimal supervision

•Ability to recognize deficiencies in policies/processes and improve upon same

EXPERIENCE Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. – Chicago, Illinois

Portfolio Managing Director, Corporate Real Estate, March 2011 – present

·               Responsible for a 26 state real estate region, which includes strategy, site selection, lease acquisitions, expansions, terminations, renewals, property purchases and sales for retail, office and industrial space for several different corporate divisions and franchised locations.

·               Role requires effective building and managing of relationships with internal business leaders, landlords, owners, brokers and vendors.

·               Utilize economic, demographic and market data to make strategic recommendations

·               Prepare and deliver reports, analyses and presentations to senior management.

 

Frontier Communications Corporation – Downers Grove, Illinois (portfolio acquired in sale from Verizon)

Manager, Real Estate Portfolio Management, July 2010 – March 2011

·               Responsible for the disposition, purchase, sale, leasing and sub-leasing of a region that encompassed approximately 12 million square feet across 13 states.

·               Required effective reading, analyzing and negotiating of a wide variety of agreements and documents, as well as the analysis of financial data and models. 

·               Communicated with and directed brokers, attorneys and vendors while coordinating efforts with landlords, building occupants and prospective buyers and tenants. 

·               Prepared and delivered presentations to senior management on the status and development of the real estate portfolio.

·               Responsible for the oversight of the Lease Administration team. 

·               Managed the process for obtaining new database software and conversion of database information.

 

Verizon Services Operations – Schaumburg, Illinois

Manager, Real Estate Portfolio Management, March 2008 – June 2010

·               Responsible for the disposition, purchase, sale, leasing and sub-leasing of a region that encompassed approximately 20 million square feet across 15 states.

·               Required effective reading, analyzing and negotiating of a wide variety of agreements and documents, as well as the analysis of financial data and models. 

·               Communicated with and directed brokers, attorneys and vendors while coordinating efforts with landlords, building occupants and prospective buyers and tenants. 

·               Prepared and delivered presentations to senior management on the status and development of the real estate portfolio.

 

Novak Construction Company – Chicago, Illinois

Corporate Counsel, April 2004 – June 2007

·               Oversaw holdings of company, which included purchasing and selling of properties, leasing of residential and commercial properties, re-zoning, and development of properties. 

·               Managed and directed outside counsel with various types of litigation. 

·               Advised and assisted company personnel with negotiation and dispute resolution on a mixture of legal issues.

·               Managed the legal affairs of the company President.

 

BARBARA A. FERNANDEZ

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE Zausa Development Corporation - Orland Park, Illinois

(cont’d)Corporate Counsel, December 2002 – April 2004

·               Negotiated agreements, conducted feasibility studies, carried out due diligence and performed closings for major land purchases. 

·               Negotiated agreements with and performed hearings before governmental entities for annexation into municipalities.

·               Compiled financial packages and made presentations to financial institutions for procurement of acquisition, development and construction loans. 

·               Managed outside counsel, in addition also directly handling litigation. 

·               Oversaw closing department for home sales.  Implemented and managed leasing program for commercial and residential properties. 

·               Advised company on various legal issues.

 

McLeodUSA – Oak Brook, Illinois

Senior Manager, Right of Way & Site Acquisition, September 2000 – December 2002

·               Negotiated franchise and license agreements with various state agencies, municipalities, utility companies, railroads, and land owners for placement of fiber optic cable and equipment in the public right-of-way, on utility poles and on private property. 

·               Developed system that tracked and maintained annual right-of-way budget. 

·               Attended and conducted any required hearings. 

·               Prepared and submitted construction permits. 

·               Coordinated and tracked inside and outside counsel on various state commission filings and regulatory issues.

 

Marty J. Schwartz, P.C. – Chicago, Illinois

Staff Attorney, June 1998 – September 2000

·               Prepared various correspondence, memoranda, pleadings, motions, and settlement documents. 

·               Appeared in court on various hearings, motions, and status calls. 

·               Assisted with trials.

 

Linderlake Corporation – Alsip, Illinois

Associate Manager, Government Relations, June 1997 – June 1998

·               Coordinated and organized all matters, including zoning, permitting, and franchising, relating to local and state jurisdictions for clients in the wireless telecommunications industry. 

·               Researched, analyzed and advised clients and company personnel on ordinances and communications laws. 

·               Prepared zoning and permit applications. 

·               Performed administrative hearings. 

·               Negotiated franchise agreements with various jurisdictions. 

·               Located and negotiated land agreements for the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities.

 

Norman-Marc & Associates – Lyons, Illinois

Project Coordinator, June 1986 – August 1993

·               Obtained client requests, prepared contract documents, reviewed code and ordinance requirements. 

·               Submitted permit documents. 

·               Contributed to the completion of preliminary environmental impact studies through working drawings. 

·               Oversaw construction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BARBARA A. FERNANDEZ

 

 

 

EDUCATIONNorthern Illinois University College of Law - DeKalb, Illinois

Juris Doctor, May 1996

 

Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

Bachelor of Architecture, May 1992

 

 

BAR ADMISSIONSupreme Court of Illinois, May 1997

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, September 1998

 

PROFESSIONALReal Estate Executive Board

AFFILIATIONS American Bar Association

Hispanic National Bar Association

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International & Chicago Alumni Association

 

AWARDS &Indiana Sports Charities, Assistant to the Chairman

ACTIVITIES2012 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CEO Award

1996 NIU Outstanding Women Student Award

1996 Hispanic Law Student Association Distinguished Graduate Award

Rhoten A. Smith Scholarship Recipient, 1994 - 1996