Jeremy is responsible for defining an integrated corporate strategy to leverage market opportunities for meeting customer needs, as well as assembling and managing all aspects of the of the operational infrastructure in order to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the company. He possesses a strong entrepreneurial spirit, company-building insight and technical knowledge.
Jeremy joined Cirrus as a lease consultant in January of 2000, and within a year was asked to manage the company's expansion into several East Coast markets. In 2002, he was promoted to Vice-President, Business Development, with an expanded responsibility of overseeing the company's overall growth throughout North America. In addition, Jeremy and his team began planning for Cirrus' first ever rollout of its services to corporate and multi-unit retail clients. In April of 2004, Jeremy became Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus.
Jeremy has an extensive background in commercial real estate and has negotiated over 1000 leases since the start of his career. He travels extensively throughout North America lecturing and educating corporations and various tenant groups on best practice tenant lease and portfolio management. Jeremy is also a Director of the Entrepreneurs Organization, Toronto Chapter.
Brian Ross Smith, Vice President, Healthcare Services
Born in Montreal , raised in Toronto , educated at McGill (History) and University of Chicago (Business), Brian is now one of the foremost leaders in tenant-based real estate consulting. He has worked at Reitmans and Le Chateau as Vice-President of Store Operations and at CB Richard Ellis as a Retail/Office Broker. For the last sixteen years, Brian has been the Senior Consultant and Vice-President at Oberfeld Snowcap (formerly Snowcap Investments). In this role he has negotiated new leases, renegotiated old leases, rent abatements, acquisitions and renewals of all kinds.
He is a specialist in thinking outside of the box and an excellent strategist. “When I am working for a tenant, I live and breathe their situation. I believe in “win-win” situations, as long as my client is part of the win!” Brian is also on the board of a major Canadian retailer, as well as several non-profit organizations. He has three children and loves to travel, read, and walk the dog. In his spare time he volunteers in the CAT scan unit at the Mt Sinai Hospital.
Brian has recently joined Cirrus TLS as a Vice President and heads up their health services lease consultancy business. “I am really looking forward to this new challenge and the rewards of working for the individual doctors with their landlords to work out equitable deals.”
Lewis Gelmon, Founder
Lewis Gelmon founded Cirrus Tenant Lease Services in 1994 and grew Cirrus from a one man operation located in the spare bedroom of his house into the largest provider of tenant lease services for dentists in North America. To this day hundreds of dental and medical tenant customers rely on Cirrus and the processes and techniques Lewis developed for negotiating commercial leases early on in his career.
In 1994, Lewis already had a significant background in commercial lease negotiations, first as a shopping center lease negotiator and then as Vice President of Real Estate for one of the world's largest multi-unit chains. By the time he founded Cirrus, he had also completed his BA in History as well as an MBA in International Business. Lewis continues to study extensively the techniques used by landlords in commercial lease negotiations to fulfill his mission of delivering the most valuable educational workshops in America for dental tenants. Lewis’ passion is all about sharing his knowledge and experiences with health care professionals who require that their practice be operated out of leased premises through numerous speaking engagements, lectures and written articles.
Lewis also developed and teaches the first ever accredited course offered for tenants four times each year at the H Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship in Florida.
Leon Damonze, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs
Leon joined Cirrus in September 2005, and is responsible for guiding both the company's legal matters as well as the Lease Documentation Department, which is integral and at the core of Cirrus' service offering. Leon brings 10 years of diverse corporate/commercial law experience having worked both as in house counsel and in private practice. His previous experiences include roles as General Counsel for World of Vacations Ltd., and Counsel at American Express Canada Inc. Leon was also a sole practitioner servicing the legal and business needs of small- and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs. He received his law degree from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Leon holds a membership with the Canadian Bar Association-Corporate Counsel Association and International Law Section.
Leon has extensive knowledge and background in contractual law, having negotiated and drafted numerous complex commercial agreements over the years. He has effectively spearheaded and positively contributed to various corporate management teams. Leon is keenly interested in maintaining Cirrus's corporate integrity and ensuring that its profile is positively reflected in the business community. He utilizes his legal and business related skills to support Cirrus's objective of continued growth and expansion. Leon's legal experience supports Cirrus's position as a company uniquely capable of servicing a myriad of client's ranging from health care professionals to multi-unit franchise companies and other various business entities looking for assistance and support in managing unique real estate needs.
