Leadership Team

Current Responsibilities

In his role as Executive Vice President of Commercial Development, Phil is responsible for pursuing development opportunities in all product types, helping United Properties grow and succeed in new areas, and preparing the next generation of development leaders.

Past Experience

Phil joined United Properties in 2023. He spent the last 13 years at Opus as a senior vice president and general manager, leading and managing the Minneapolis and Des Moines development offices.

Before joining Opus, Phil had a distinguished seven-year stint with the U.S. Army.

Education

Phil is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holder of a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Current Responsibilities

Chris Pohlad serves as Chief of Staff, a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team and Executive Leadership Council. He is also responsible for oversight of the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis asset and all hotel operations.

Past Experience

Chris joined United Properties in 2017 and since has worked as an Asset Manager, led marketing and rebranding efforts for Amira, the company’s senior living brand, and played a role in the establishment of the Four Seasons Hotel in Minneapolis, the first five-star luxury hotel in the state. Prior to that, he was at Northmarq for 6 years as an analyst and loan originator in Boston and Seattle.

Professional and Community Involvement

He serves as a trustee on the board of the University of Puget Sound, his alma mater.

Education

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Politics & Government with a concentration in International Relations from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

Current Responsibilities

As Executive Vice President of Amira Senior Living, Karla is responsible for United Properties’ senior living business line. She oversees both new development, acquisitions, management of the company’s portfolio of senior living investment assets, and the Amira brand. She drives the overall strategy for the business line and facilitates securing capital to execute the same, with the fundamental goal of creating and investing in high-quality senior living communities. She leads a team of eight with members in Minneapolis and Denver who implement and support the company’s senior living strategic initiatives.

Karla is also a member of United Properties’ Strategic Leadership Team which establishes the company’s overall strategic plan and oversees the organization’s broader operational initiatives.

Past Experience

Karla held the position of partner and vice president at Capital Real Estate Inc. for more than 10 years, during which she gained a deep understanding of the development process and built strong relationships with lenders and equity partners. In 2022, she joined United Properties as vice president of capital markets, where she was responsible for securing equity for speculative and build-to-suit developments for the company’s commercial and senior development pipeline, structuring joint ventures, and managing the due diligence process for equity partners to ensure timely closings.

Professional and Community Involvement

Karla is an active member of American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) and National Investment Center (NIC).

Education

Karla earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business.

Current Responsibilities

Sarah Veith is the Executive Vice President of People, Brand, & Culture for United Properties. She spearheads strategic initiatives aimed at attracting, developing, and engaging top talent in alignment with United Properties’ core values. As an integral part of the Executive Leadership Council and Strategic Leadership Team, she leads the company’s efforts in leadership and organizational development, enhancing the employee experience, talent acquisition, fostering diversity and inclusion, driving marketing and branding initiatives, and overseeing internal operations and administration. 

Past Experience

Sarah joined United Properties in 2016 and has more than 20 years of progressive human resources experience. Prior to joining United Properties, Sarah served as a human resources consultant with Salo, LLC at the University of Minnesota Foundation. She also spent more than nine years with Essilor Laboratories of America, where she served as a senior human resource business partner/director supporting over 35 locations and 1500 employees.

Professional and Community Involvement

Sarah is a member of the HR Executive Forum and Twin Cities Society for Human Resources Management.  

Sarah is part of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 2021 Class of 40 Under 40 and was recognized in 2022 as a Notable Woman in Commercial Real Estate with Twin Cities Business.

Education

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management from St. Cloud State University.  Sarah is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified.  She also holds a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate from Cornell University.

Current Responsibilities

Eric is the Chief Financial Officer & EVP of Capital Markets at United Properties, where he is responsible for the company’s financial and capital market activities. He leads a team of personnel in capital markets, accounting, financial planning, internal and external reporting, tax planning, and technology, overseeing their analysis, organization, and structuring of equity, debt, and joint ventures. Eric is also a member of the Board of Directors, Investment Committee, Strategic Leadership Team, and Executive Leadership Council, and takes a lead role in the development and implementation of United Properties’ overall strategy.

Past Experience

Having joined United Properties in 2007 as an assistant controller, Eric was promoted to controller in 2010, and then to chief accounting officer and vice president in 2014. Before that, he was a senior financial analyst at CBS Radio, Inc. and a senior associate at Grant Thornton. Eric is not only an experienced financial professional but has also demonstrated his ability to create effective corporate strategies and build strategic partnerships.

Professional and Community Involvement

Eric is an active member of multiple professional associations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Minnesota Society of CPAs, and the National Association of Real Estate Companies (NAREC). He also serves on the North Memorial Health Foundation Board. In 2021, he expanded his philanthropic work by joining the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Board.

Education

Eric is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

Current Responsibilities

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Laura provides strategic advice to management and transactional support and guidance to the Company. She also manages the company’s insurance portfolio and claims, as well as the organization’s dispute resolution needs.

Laura is also a member of United Properties’ Strategic Leadership Team which establishes the company’s overall strategic plan and oversees the organization’s broader operational initiatives.

Past Experience

Laura joined United Properties in 2019 as United Properties’ first in-house legal counsel and has since established a strong legal team and implemented strategies to effectively manage risk. Before joining United Properties, Laura served as Senior Counsel at Empire State Development where she worked on complex multi-party real estate development projects in the New York Metro Area, including the $1 billion redevelopment of Belmont Park into a 435,000 square foot retail complex and hotel. She has also worked for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and Empire State Development.

Education

Laura received her Bachelor of Arts and her Juris Doctor degrees from Indiana University Bloomington.

Matt Van Slooten is the chief executive officer of United Properties.

Current Responsibilities

As chief executive officer, Van Slooten oversees all aspects of the business.

Past Experience

Matt joined United Properties in 2018 as President and Portfolio CIO and was promoted to CEO in 2022. Matt has been a long-time real estate industry leader, with 25 years at Carlson Real Estate Company, advancing through all critical company roles leading ultimately to becoming president of the organization, a post he held for 13 years. Matt also served as the president of commercial properties for CSM Corporation for 4 years, overseeing a 10 million sq. ft. portfolio of industrial, office, and retail properties.

Professional and Community Involvement

Matt is an active member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) and a past Chapter President of NAIOP Minnesota. He is also a recipient of the NAIOP President’s Award (2009). He is an active member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and served on the Minnesota Chapter board as the membership chair. While at Carlson Companies, he was the recipient of the Carlson Fellow Award for Leadership Achievement, the company’s highest honor.

Education

Matt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. Cloud State University.