Our Personnel

Craig M. Lessard

Director of Acquisitions

Mr. Lessard is a seasoned real estate professional with over 15 years of experience specializing in acquisitions, asset management, and market analysis. As the Director of Acquisitions at Woodspear Properties, Craig oversees the procurement and strategic investment of real estate assets, focusing on apartment and industrial properties valued between $5 million and $50 million. His expertise extends across multiple markets, including Colorado, Washington, California, and Arizona.

Since joining Woodspear Properties in 2008, Craig has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s portfolio. Under his leadership, the firm has successfully acquired 27 properties for over $400 million and currently manages a portfolio valued at $1 billion. His responsibilities extend beyond acquisitions including portfolio management, debt structuring, lease negotiations and overseeing all personnel within Woodspear Properties.

Mr. Lessard holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University, with a concentration in Commercial Real Estate. Mr. Lessard lives in Denver, Colorado and spends most of his free time with his wife and two children. He is a member of Cherry Hills Country Club.

Zakary A. Kessler

General Counsel

Zakary A. Kessler joined Woodspear Properties as Associate General Counsel in September 2013 and was promoted to General Counsel in 2018. He is responsible for legal matters related to all aspects of Woodspear’s commercial real estate business. Mr. Kessler graduated summa cum laude from Gonzaga University in 2005 with a B.A. degree in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado Law School in 2013, graduating in the top 1/3rd of his class. Mr. Kessler is licensed to practice law in Colorado and is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and previously served as a member of the Real Estate Section Council of the Colorado Bar Association. He is the 2025-26 Chair of the Real Estate Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

In addition to being a lawyer, Mr. Kessler has extensive experience in various areas of real estate finance. He began his career as a residential mortgage-backed securities credit risk analyst. Upon moving into the commercial real estate field, he developed expertise in analysis, modeling, and underwriting of commercial real estate while working as a financial analyst in mortgage banking and private equity. In that time, he aided in the origination of multiple commercial real estate debt and equity investments totaling in excess of $450M.

Mr. Kessler gained real estate, securities, and business legal experience while in law school by interning with the Real Estate Legal Department of Red Robin International, Inc. and clerking at Frascona, Joiner, Goodman & Greenstein, P.C. Mr. Kessler’s note, Getting One Step Closer to a Commercial eMortgage, was published in Volume 11 of the Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law in December 2013. He co-authored The Attack on Colorado’s TABOR and the Threat to Other States, an Issue Paper published by the Independence Institute in January 2013.

Mr. Kessler lives in Parker, CO and spends most of his free time with his wife and four children. He also enjoys running and playing golf.

Jane Markel

Controller

Jane Markel joined Woodspear Properties in November 2023 as the Controller. Ms. Markel is responsible for financial reporting and managing the monthly accounting processes. She oversees the accounting department and works closely with property management, owners, lenders, and CPA firms.

Jane is a licensed CPA with over 20 years of multi-entity accounting experience. She began her accounting career in California working at a real estate investment company and moved out to Colorado in 2017. She enjoys creating process improvements and is committed to accurate and timely financial reporting. Jane has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of California, Berkeley. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, baking, tennis, and traveling.

Yoko Tanaka

Accounting Manager

Yoko Tanaka joined Woodspear Properties in March of 2024 as an Accounting Manager. She is responsible for executing Woodspear’s Accounts Payable and Receivable. She also trains, coordinates, and leads other accounting staff through the day-to-day procedures within the accounting department. Yoko has over 15 years of property accounting experience in both commercial and residential properties.

Yoko is originally from Tokyo, Japan and has lived in Colorado for 26 years. She enjoys watching sports with her husband and three children, especially the Denver Nuggets. She also enjoys going to her sons’ football games and going on family walks with their dog.

Shana Passaro

Regional Manager, California

Shana Passaro joined Woodspear Properties in February of 2013 as the assistant to the Director of Property Management. This position entailed directly supporting our 27 residential properties in marketing, training, policies and procedures, and auditing and analysis as well as providing administrative support and acting as the direct liaison between the corporate office and the property personnel. In February of 2017 Ms. Passaro accepted the position of Property Supervisor and now oversees the multi-family operations in California. In December of 2018 Ms. Passaro assumed the title of Regional Property Manager.

Ms. Passaro began her career in Property Management in 1994 starting out as a Leasing Consultant and quickly worked her way up from Leasing to Assistant Manager to Property Manager. Her early experience was with several large property management companies and included extensive training in leasing, marketing, customer service and resident retention.

Ms. Passaro attended Richland College in Dallas, Texas before relocating to California in 1994. She served on her homeowner’s association in some capacity for 18 years. She is a mom to two adult children and loves watching sports and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, enjoys shopping and traveling in her spare time.

Shelly Smith

Regional Manager, Washington

Shelly Smith joined Woodspear Properties in December 2019 as the Washington Regional Property Manager. With over 20 years of experience in real estate and development, she has worked extensively in all facets of leasing and management since 2003. Before joining Woodspear Properties, Shelly served as a Regional Manager at Tarragon Property Services, where she successfully oversaw 3,000 multifamily units from 2003 to 2018. Known for her leadership and ability to deliver measurable results, Shelly is committed to creating positive experiences for both her associates and residents. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to Alaska and spending time with her beloved dog, Aly.

Tiffany Dickason

Regional Manager, Colorado

Tiffany Dickason joined Woodspear Properties in 2022 as an Area Manager and quickly advanced to Regional Manager in 2023. With over 20 years of experience in the multifamily industry, she combines her expertise with a genuine passion for inspiring staff and enhancing resident experiences across Colorado.

Tiffany began her career in property management in 2002 and earned her CAM certification in 2018, establishing a strong foundation in management. Before her role at Woodspear, she was the Regional Manager for Botnick Realty from 2017 to 2020, where she oversaw operations for 2,000 multifamily units.

Dedicated to fostering productivity and growth, Tiffany develops training programs that empower her teams. Her extensive experience in diverse markets and commitment to team development make her a valuable member of Woodspear’s management team.

A proud Colorado native, Tiffany enjoys spending her free time with her husband and two children. Her hobbies—baking, hiking, and painting—reflect her creative spirit and love for the outdoors.

Alex Wells

Asset Manager

Alex Wells joined Woodspear Properties in November of 2017 and is based out of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Wells is responsible for the acquisitions, financial modeling, property management, and tenant improvement construction for industrial, flex, and office buildings in Woodspear’s commercial portfolio.

Mr. Wells graduated from Doane University in 2017 with a B.A. degree in Economics and Business Administration. Mr. Wells is a Nebraska native who enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and golfing with his wife and friends.