Executive Profile

John J. Dee—Chief Operating Officer

John J. Dee is chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of finance. He is responsible for accounting, audit, legal, technology, finance and SEC reporting. He also has approval responsibility for all tenant leases and major operational projects. He has worked closely with Chairman Mastandrea for the past 14 years.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Dee graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University, Cleveland, and joined the audit staff of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., then one of the nation's largest accounting firms. In 1978, he joined First Union, a real estate investment trust, where he met Mr. Mastandrea in 1993. Mr. Dee later rose to senior vice president and chief accounting officer.

In 2000 he joined Frantz Ward LLP, a Cleveland-based law firm, as director of finance and administration. In 2002 Mr. Dee joined Midwest Development Corporation, established in 1978 by Mr. Mastandrea. Mr. Dee served as senior vice president and chief financial officer, leading the firm’s acquisition analysis program.
A year later, he joined Paragon Real Estate Investment Trust, a Cleveland-based REIT then listed on the American Stock Exchange, as chief financial officer and a trustee with Mr. Mastandrea who joined at the same time as chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Dee was responsible for accounting and finance, SEC reporting, legal, technology and shareholder relations, and served as the corporate secretary.