DSC Partners LLC is a real estate investment and development company based in Washington, DC that creates value through acquisition and management of commercial properties in dynamic local markets located in the Mid-Atlantic region. DSC’s integrated approach to real estate investment aims to maximize cash flow and optimize long-term, risk-adjusted returns.
Founded in 2017 by long-time DC real estate veterans Douglas J. Donatelli and Nicholas R. Smith, the company has acquired in excess of 45 buildings and 4.8 million square feet with a diverse portfolio of commercial and industrial space in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Partner
DOUGLAS J. DONATELLI is a co-founder and Principal of DSC Partners LLC. Prior to forming DSC, Mr. Donatelli was a co-founder of First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) and served as the company’s Chairman and CEO from 1997 until 2015. He led First Potomac’s growth from four properties totaling 800,000 square feet in 1997, through its IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2003, to become one of the largest and fastest-growing real estate companies in the Greater Washington region with a portfolio valued in excess of $2.5 billion.
Previously, Mr. Donatelli was Executive Vice President of Donatelli & Klein, Inc., a real estate development and investment firm located in Washington, D.C., and President of D&K Broadcasting, which owned Fox network affiliated television stations.
Mr. Donatelli is active in numerous charitable and community organizations, including serving as Chair Emeritus of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, having served as Board Chair from 2012 to 2015. He also serves on the board of Higher Achievement, focused on enhancing educational opportunities for inner-city middle schoolers, and is former Vice Chair of the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board. He was named Trendlines TrendSetter of the Year in 2011, was named Man of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, and was a regional finalist for E&Y’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Donatelli received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wake Forest University.
Partner
NICHOLAS R. SMITH is a co-founder and Principal of DSC Partners LLC. Prior to forming DSC, Mr. Smith was a co-founder of First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) and served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer from 1997 until 2015. He led First Potomac’s growth from four properties totaling 800,000 square feet in 1997, through its IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2003, to become one of the largest and fastest-growing real estate companies in the Greater Washington region with a portfolio valued in excess of $2.5 billion.
Previously, Mr. Smith was Vice President of Donatelli & Klein, Inc., a real estate development and investment firm located in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Donatelli & Klein, Mr. Smith was with Garrett & Smith, Inc., a real estate investment and development firm based in McLean, Virginia and Transwestern (formerly Barrueta & Associates, Inc.), a Washington-based commercial real estate brokerage and property management firm.
He currently serves on the boards of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare in Washington, D.C., the Choral Arts Society of Washington, and the Castleton Festival in Rappahannock County, Virginia. He also serves on the Council of Advisors for the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation Graduate Programs in Real Estate. Mr. Smith is a graduate of the Catholic University of America.
Executive Vice President
PATRICK S. KELLY joined DSC Partners in October 2017 and brings 23 years of experience in commercial real estate to the firm to provide strategic planning, asset management, and joint venture relationship management. During his career, he has completed over $3 billion of commercial acquisitions, dispositions, investment sales and property financings throughout the Washington D.C. Metro Area.
Patrick previously worked at First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE:FPO) as the Vice President of Acquisitions and Asset Management. Most recently, Patrick was a Managing Director at Phillips Realty Capital where he was responsible for overseeing senior transaction management of debt and equity transactions.
Patrick has been honored with numerous awards including Real Estate Forum 50 under 40, NAIOP Best Real Estate Transaction (multiple), Washington Business Journal’s Best Office Sale, GWCAR Sale and Finance Transaction of the Year, and Bisnow’s Top 35 under 35.
Vice President
JENNIFER L. NORTON joined DSC Partners in October 2017 bringing 15 years of experience in commercial real estate to the firm. With an extensive acquisition and construction management background, Jennifer is an asset to DSC Partners as it expands its value-add portfolio. Jennifer oversees the day to day operations of our third-party management throughout the portfolio.
Jennifer previously worked at First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE:FPO) most recently as Director of Capital Projects. She started at First Potomac in the acquisitions department in 2005. Throughout her tenure at First Potomac, she worked on numerous acquisitions and dispositions, worked closely with all department heads, and started the capital projects arm within the construction department. Jennifer also has experience in finance, accounting, marketing and strategic business planning.
During her tenure at First Potomac, Jennifer oversaw over 800 capital projects valued at over $100 million.
Vice President of Leasing
KELLY M. CROUGH joined DSC Partners LLC in October 2019 bringing 18 years of experience in commercial real estate with an impressive leasing and tenant relations background. Kelly oversees the day to day management of our third-party brokers throughout the portfolio. Her extensive underwriting experience, financial analysis, and due diligence is invaluable to DSC. Her focus on the strategic business plan and the ability to meet our investment criteria is evident by her proven transactional record.
Kelly joined DSC from Finmarc Management where she oversaw the leasing of a portfolio inclusive of office, flex, industrial and retail assets totaling six million square feet throughout Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. Prior to joining Finmarc, Kelly worked at First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) where she was a part of the team responsible for the leasing of over 5 million square feet of office, flex and industrial properties throughout Suburban Maryland and Baltimore.
During her career, Kelly has leased over 15 million square feet of diversified real estate throughout the region.
Director of Property Management
MARY RIEGERT joined DSC Partners in May 2021 bringing over 20 years of expertise managing commercial properties including retail, office, flex/industrial, medical and GSA anchored assets throughout the Washington D.C. Metro Area. Mary’s proven track record of maximizing revenue and asset value through strategic management of operations is essential to DSC Partners as we continue to expand our portfolio.
Prior to joining DSC Partners, Mary worked at Finmarc Management Inc., as Senior Property Manager where she honed her exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to cultivate relationships with owners, tenants, and vendors to achieve unparalleled results. During her 14-year tenure, she was responsible for the daily operations, financial analysis, and construction of both capital and tenant improvements. She also assisted with the acquisition and disposition of multiple assets.
Asset Manager
BERNARD D. POBLADOR joined DSC Partners as an Asset Manager in October 2019 bringing 10 years ofexperience in commercial real estate to the firm. Bernard provideshis experience in financial analysis,strategic planning, operations and sustainability. Some of Bernard’s career highlights include managingthe redevelopment and re-positioning of commercial office buildings in the Tysons submarket ofnorthern Virginia.Bernard was also instrumental in achieving the first ever LEED Gold certification forexisting buildings-operations and maintenance designation for a trophy asset in downtown WashingtonD.C.
Bernard previously worked at Transwestern Commercial Services, LLC as a Senior Portfolio Manager intheir Asset Services division in Washington D.C. During this time, Bernard managed over 2 million squarefeet of commercial properties for both institutional and private investment clients.
