Our Team
Steaven K. Jones, Chairman and Founder
Since founding SJDC in 1965, Steaven has developed over one hundred commercial properties, primarily in Southern California. He pioneered the concept of an automotive care mall in 1975 and was one of the first to develop creative office space in 1990. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Steaven is an active philanthropist in the Los Angeles area. He currently serves as a Trustee of St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on the Board of OPCC, an agency providing shelter and services for the homeless.
Lawry J. Meister, President and CEO
Lawry has been with SJDC since 1990, during which time she has developed or redeveloped nineteen projects for the company. She is also President of Creative Office Properties, a real estate development company she founded in 2012. Lawry has a B.A. from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard University. She is an independent trustee for Causeway Capital, an investment management firm specializing in international mutual funds. Lawry is involved in a number of not-for-profit organizations, such as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, and is a Trustee of Wellesley College.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x115
Nicole Abend, Director of Property Management
Nicole joined SDJC in 2020 and comes to us with over 14 years of experience in property management. Most recently, Nicole managed and supervised a portfolio of more than 50 commercial properties and 11 million rentable square feet, consisting of office, retail, and industrial locations. Nicole has a passion for animals and animal rights, and is the Co-founder of Paws-to-Share, an organization that brings pets to seniors residing in facilities such as assisted living, memory care and hospice, college campuses, K-12 and charter high schools. Nicole is also lover of the outdoors and an avid sports fan. In her free time, she enjoys going to sporting event, concerts, and spending time with friends and family.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x 113
Email: NAbend@sjdcinc.com
Barry Abrahams, Controller
Barry has over thirty years of real estate operations, development, finance, tax, accounting and reporting experience. Barry grew up in Buffalo and Fountain Valley before earning his bachelor of science degree from the University of Southern California School of Accounting. He started in public accounting with Kenneth Leventhal, and became a Certified Public Accountant. Then he worked with large and small residential, commercial, and hospitality investment, development, and management companies, such as Lowe Enterprises. Barry enjoys time with family and friends, and he is an avid hockey and sports and trivia fan.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x112
Joy Ryan, Property Manager
Joy Ryan is a licensed real estate professional and member of South Bay Association of Realtors and IREM. She brings her 15 years of experience as a property manager to SJDC. Utilizing her background in the 5 Star hotel industry, Joy understands the value of customer service in her daily tenant relations. Joy has managed a variety of properties ranging from the revitalization of residential and commercial property in downtown Los Angeles to managing several million square feet of Southern California Class A & B commercial / industrial real estate portfolios. Joy is responsible for all property management related functions. She has the unique ability to balance the day-to-day operations required to run multiple multi-tenant commercial properties with enthusiasm. Away from work, Joy likes to stay active and healthy by participating in local 10k running events, attending live music festivals and concerts. She has a passion for cinema and art and spends time with family and friends.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x 113
Barrett Meister, Leasing Agent
Barrett Meister grew up on the Westside of Los Angeles, attended high school at Harvard-Westlake, and moved on to major in Economics and double minor in Biology and Art History at Hamilton College in upstate New York. During college Barrett developed a strong background in Commercial Real Estate after interning for LA Realty Partners in 2012 and CBRE-NE in Boston in 2013. After graduation in 2014, Barrett moved to New York City to work for Marcus & Millichap as an investment sales broker specializing in office condos/co-ops. During this time, he took additional classes to develop his Real Estate Financial Analysis skills and soon after moving back to LA, secured a role with JLL, analyzing proposals for lease and purchase and servicing the LA area’s 74 brokers. Barrett enjoys anything competitive: playing lacrosse, golf, and paddle tennis, long walks on the beach, staying current with all scientific discoveries, and re-exploring his hometown of Los Angeles.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x 119
Nicole Renae Rau, Assistant Property Manager
Ms. Nicole Renae Rau is a licensed California Real Estate Broker with over 15 years of experience in the field of real estate and property management services. Prior to joining SJDC Inc. she managed property, including an 8 story commercial high rise, in Arcadia, CA under her own name. Prior to that she managed several buildings with her friend and then broker Mr. Steven Sun. Nicole also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, and Law from Cal Poly Pomona which was awarded in 2016. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, writing, and researching certain topics of interest. She has a great love for animals, and she is also an accomplished snowboarder.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x 118
Erinn Oberman, Administrative Assistant Manager
Erinn brings 15 years of experience, possessing outstanding customer care skills. She maintains an extremely high work ethic and enjoys helping others, associates and Tenants alike. Her background in sales and administrative skills coupled with being a warm people person has made her a welcomed addition to our work family. In Erinn’s spare time she loves attending sporting events; LA Kings being top on her list, enjoys working out, and enjoys dog sitting as well as being with animals.
Phone: 310-826-3600 x116
Tony Crespo, Day Porter/Handyman
Tony Crespo is a native of Venice, California, where he grew up and attended Venice High School. Tony became interested in landscaping, and worked for some of the rich and famous, designing their indoor and outdoor landscaping. He continued with his talent and passion for working with his hands by helping to build homes in Bel Air for McCoy Construction, as well as managing units of Warmington Homes, as they were being built in Playa Vista. Tony is a husband and proud father of three children with his youngest being seven. In his free time, Tony enjoys helping out at his daughter’s soccer practices and exploring different cuisines and restaurants with his family in Los Angeles.
Phone: 310-826-3600
