Ari Topper is an accomplished commercial real estate broker with nearly two decades of industry experience. A lifelong Chicagoan, Ari joined Baum Realty in 2018, where he specializes in investment sales, commercial leasing, and investment advisory services. Known for his deep expertise in real estate finance and underwriting, coupled with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, Ari brings a unique combination of analytical acumen and client-focused service to every transaction.

Throughout his career, Ari has worked across a diverse range of property types—including multifamily, retail, office, and industrial—and has successfully represented sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Ari holds the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Lee leads Baum Realty’s Entertainment Practice, focusing on distinctive national real estate solutions for incomparable performing arts organizations, location-based experiential and entertainment concepts, hospitality professionals, musicians, magicians and other creative visionaries. She works to secure unique and well-suited spaces for this growing list of clients and then negotiates imaginative, mutually beneficial deals for both tenant and landlord. These clients’ needs are not always understandable to commercial brokers focusing on office, retail or industrial properties. Theirs is a particular language, and she speaks it fluently.

Notable representations include Lighthouse Immersive (Immersive Van Gogh & Disney Animation Immersive Experience), Starvox Exhibits (The Art of Banksy), Original X Productions (Harry Potter - Magic at Play & The Friends Experience), Chicago Magic Company & Goodman Theatre (Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour), Supply & Demand (Minecraft Experience by Microsoft), Shakespeare Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre Company, Steep Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Writers Theatre, Albany Park Theater Project (Port of Entry), Collaboraction Theatre Company (Trial in the Delta & La Havana Madrid), Rhapsody Theatre (Physician Magician), Revel Global Events, The Paramount Group and Potter & Potter Auctions (that's entertainment, too, isn't it?).

Lee joined Baum Realty after a successful run at the helm of Dickson & Co., her commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in urban leasing and sales. She and her partners established The Retail Group, the first brokerage firm in Chicago to specialize in retail properties and tenant representation. Later, she joined forces with Friedman Properties to create three boutique shared office suite businesses that heralded today’s popular co-working spaces. As their Director of Retail, Lee marketed and leased the block called Tree Studios and Medinah Temple.

Josh Crane joined Baum Realty in 2023, bringing more than 20 years of leasing experience to the role of Managing Director. Previously, Josh focused on leasing real estate in-house. He takes a very personal, ownership-like approach to leasing space, delivering all-encompassing services from negotiating new and renewal leases to the marketing and brand development of the assets he represents. With deep experience covering real estate from new construction to landmark buildings, his range of office and medical office expertise allows him to understand the different goals and objectives of each of his clients and their assets.

Before joining Baum Realty, Josh was a partner at Merit Partners and had success working for companies such as Golub & Company, Friedman Properties, and M&J Wilkow. Josh is an Illinois-licensed real estate broker and an alumnus of the University of Arizona, where he majored in Communications.

Paul Fishbein joined Baum Realty in 2023, bringing over 30 years of invaluable experience in commercial real estate. Paul is renowned for his exceptional redevelopment, leasing, and sales work. Paul brings an unwavering commitment to excellence and integrity to every project he undertakes. With a visionary approach, he has achieved remarkable results, positioning properties for exceptional value creation for building owners and tenants.

An award-winning developer, Paul’s expertise shines in revitalizing large-scale vacant properties. Before joining Baum Realty, Paul founded Merit Partners, a Chicago-based firm focused on redeveloping office and mixed-use properties. Among his notable achievements was redeveloping the 1.5 million square foot former Marshall Field campus at 4000 West Diversey. Under Paul's strategic guidance, the project became an award-winning success, breathing new life into the massive building and revitalizing the surrounding area.

Before forming Merit, Paul held influential positions at Centrum Properties and Amerimar Enterprises for 16 years, where he achieved remarkable success as a developer and broker. His track record boasts $750 million in successful developments, leasing, and sales.

Paul is a US Green Building Council LEED Green Associate and an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he majored in Economics. His commitment to sustainability and development excellence and a strong track record of delivering meaningful economic returns have transformed Paul into a sought-after development partner and a driving force in commercial real estate development.

Charles Whitlock is a Senior Vice President at Baum Realty specializing in the sale and leasing of office, retail, and industrial property in the West Loop, River West, Wicker Park, River North, Goose Island, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Roscoe Village, Downtown Chicago, the Greater Chicago market, as well as the Denver Metro.

Charles has a comprehensive real estate background, including experience in land use, zoning, financial modeling and real estate development. He has worked on complex projects involving regional lifestyle centers, transit oriented developments, retail pad sites, landlord representation and tenant representation.

A licensed real estate broker in Colorado and Illinois, Charles earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Denver. He attended the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic. He is actively involved with the Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR), and the University of Denver Alumni Organization.

Tyler Dechter joined Baum Realty in 2018. A vital team member, Tyler works on middle market investment sales assignments throughout the Midwest and has made key contributions to multiple successfully completed sales and leasing transactions.

Primarily focused on live-bid online auction transactions, Tyler also works on traditional sales assignments and provides all aspects of property due diligence and underwriting as well as landlord representation services and market analyses to his client base which includes private equity and debt funds, banks, family offices, corporations, and individuals throughout the country.

Prior to joining Baum Realty, Tyler worked at Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG). Tyler is an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, ICSC, Urban Land Institute, and The Junior Council of Lurie Children’s Hospital. Tyler was named a top 25 Ten-X broker expert nationally by volume in 2021 and was awarded the CoStar Power Broker award in 2020. Tyler is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker. Tyler was born in Northbrook, IL and graduated from Butler University, earning his bachelor’s degree in finance. When not in the office, Tyler can be found on the golf course or spending time with family and friends

Owen joined Baum Realty in June 2021. As a member of the firm's Investment Sales and Urban Office & Flex teams, Owen provides significant contributions to current leasing and investment sales assignments including conducting due diligence, market research, and proactively seeking out new business opportunities.

Prior to joining Baum Realty, Owen interned at CapRock Real Estate on the acquisitions team where his primary focus was finding investment grade multifamily buildings in secondary and tertiary markets that met acquisition criteria. This included conducting demographic market analysis, due diligence, and interfacing with owners and brokers to establish meaningful connections.

Owen is an active member of the Real Estate Investment Association (REIA) and the DePaul Real Estate Alumni Alliance (DREAA).

Owen graduated from DePaul University’s Driehaus School of Business, earning a bachelor’s degree in real estate with a minor in photography. When not in the office, Owen enjoys his free time spent biking, golfing, and skiing.