About us

Our Team

Commercial real estate teams often struggle to find “best in class” analytics that can grow with their team. Despard Analytics began in 2014 to fill this gap. We offer senior-level financial analysis support on an “as needed” basis.

Despard Analytics began in Atlanta, GA in 2014 with a couple of small freelance projects. The client base grew organically and spread across brokerage teams, investors, asset classes and metro areas. Over the years, our team structure formed into senior-analyst-led teams that offer customized approaches to each client.

OUR TEAM

We have a team of analysts who can engage with you directly.

We combine the benefits of one-on-one communication with the backing of a team with many years of experience.

Our teams are led by senior analysts, mostly U.S.-based, who have experience across a variety of asset classes.

Our analysts stay with you from project to project, creating synergies with each deal.

Val Despard

CEO/Founder

Val Despard

CEO/Founder

I founded Despard Analytics in 2014.

We help commercial real estate brokers, investors and developers with custom financial analysis using Excel and Argus software.

We focus on industrial, multifamily, office, retail, hotel and self storage properties.

We have developed a library of Excel templates over the years that suit a variety of needs - our team uses these templates to serve CRE teams across the U.S.

I have found that every professional and team benefits from a unique approach.

I am based in Denver, CO.

Email:Val.Despard@despardanalytics.com

Shannon McAulay-Newcomb

Chief Revenue Officer

Shannon McAulay-Newcomb

Chief Revenue Officer

Shannon McAulay-Newcomb is an experienced transformation sales leader with a strong track record in driving multimillion-dollar revenue growth across various sectors, including B2B SaaS, capital markets, and commercial real estate. Her expertise spans global sales strategy and operations, executive leadership, and mergers and acquisitions.

Shannon has consistently demonstrated her ability to develop and implement effective sales strategies, optimize sales processes, and lead successful global market expansions.

Her strategic acumen is evident in her roles in industries in HR Technology and Financial Technology, where she led teams to achieve significant revenue targets, managed large-scale sales quotas, and spearheaded go-to-market strategies that notably increased customer acquisition and retention. Her experience in driving sales and revenue growth, combined with her proficiency in CRM and other technologies, makes her highly capable of leading companies to thrive in the competitive landscape of commercial real estate and capital markets.

Shannon's leadership is not just about achieving financial goals but also about building and scaling high-performing teams, fostering long-term client relationships, and steering companies through periods of integration and technological advancement. Her strategic vision and extensive network are invaluable assets in navigating complex market dynamics and sustaining business growth.

Email:Shannon.mn@despardanalytics.com

Helen Rose Onlagada

Virtual Assistant

Helen Rose Onlagada

Virtual Assistant

Helen is involved with all aspects of Despard Analytics, including marketing, operations, and general tasks.

Please reach out to Helen to schedule a meeting with us or if you have any questions about our services.

Helen is based in Bacolod, Philippines.

Email:Helen.Rose@despardanalytics.com

Marc Harrison

Senior Analyst

Marc Harrison

Senior Analyst

Marc Harrison is based in Washington, D.C., and assists with Despard Analytics' underwriting services. Previously, he was a Private Equity Associate at Safanad in New York, where he worked across acquisitions, asset management, and portfolio management functions. Marc holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School, with concentrations in Finance and Real Estate. Marc is based in Virginia.

Email:Marc.Harrison@despardanalytics.com

Jason Rosenthal

Senior Analyst

Jason Rosenthal

Senior Analyst

Jason is based in Atlanta, GA and assists with Despard Analytics’ underwriting services.

In addition to his work at Despard Analytics, Jason spearheads the real estate department at a growing multi-state cannabis company with a focus on retail dispensary expansion. He has worked in the cannabis real estate industry since 2018 and has secured over 150 properties in 8 states as well as over $200M in capital for cultivation projects through sale leasebacks.

Outside of the cannabis real estate sector, his experiences in commercial brokerage investment sales at Keller Williams NYC, value creation and asset management of all real estate asset classes at Miami-based former Lennar subsidiary, Rialto Capital, and acquisitions and development at Tampa-based private equity firm and Franklin Street affiliate, Ally Capital Group, have provided him with wide-range expertise in the commercial real estate industry.

Jason graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Economics and minors in Business, Political Science and History.

Email:Jason.Rosenthal@despardanalytics.com

Ariful Islam

Senior Analyst

Ariful Islam

Senior Analyst

Ariful has over 5 years experience in Real Estate. Performing Commercial Asset Valuation and Underwriting worth over $200 Billion for more than 200 properties. He has expertise in Due Diligence Analysis, Loan Review, and Lease Abstract Analysis.

Through his work Ariful has developed extensive knowledge in complex automated financial and accounting software systems that include Underwriting models for short/long-term strategy development.

Ariful holds an MBA in Finance from the American International University - Bangladesh.

Ariful is based in Dhaka.

Email:Ariful.Islam@despardanalytics.com

Alex Li

Senior Analyst

Alex Li

Senior Analyst

Alex began his career at Trimont Real Estate Advisors and later worked for Rockefeller Group and Jamestown in Atlanta, Georgia.

By working with these leading firms focused on large-scale projects (including Ponce City Market in Atlanta), Alex developed an industry-leading skillset in development, acquisitions, capital markets and asset management spanning multiple asset classes.

Alex holds a BBA in Finance from Emory University.

Alex is based in Atlanta, GA.

Email:Alex.Li@despardanalytics.com

Will Butler

Senior Analyst

Will Butler

Senior Analyst

Will began his career at CBRE in 2014 as a production analyst before joining MetLife as a senior debt analyst. He then joined HFF/JLL, focused on debt and equity placement, and now sources his own commercial real estate investments in the Southeast.

Will has expertise across asset classes including retail, industrial, office and multifamily.

Will graduated from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in 2014 (B.B.A.).

Will is based in Fort Myers, FL.

Email:Will.Butler@despardanalytics.com

Danting Luo

Senior Analyst

Danting Luo

Senior Analyst

Danting Luo’s multifaceted career spans the globe, from strategic urban planning in Liverpool, UK to real estate acquisitions and developments in New York and Washington, D.C.

Danting’s technical skills extend across financial modeling, data analysis, and graphic design, which help guide critical decisions in real estate investments, acquisitions, and project developments.

Danting also has experience managing commercial construction projects with a cumulative worth of $8 million. While at JLL, Danting played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s global strategy, optimizing sector-specific strategies and facilitating major merger activities.

Danting obtained a Master of Science degree from Columbia University, focused on real estate.

Danting is based in Washington, DC.

Email:Danting.Luo@despardanalytics.com

Greg Storm

Senior Analyst

Greg Storm

Senior Analyst

Greg has worked for Trimont Real Estate Advisors, Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, Southeast Capital Companies and JTG Holdings; he co-founded DevLab Partners in 2019.

Greg brings extensive knowledge and experience in residential development (SFD, condo and multifamily), finance and asset management.

Greg is currently enrolled in Emory University's Goizueta Business School's MBA program with graduation in May 2025.

Greg is based in Atlanta, GA.

Email:Greg.Storm@despardanalytics.com

Seohui Lee

Senior Analyst

Seohui Lee

Senior Analyst

Seohui is based in Seattle, WA, and assists with Despard Analytics' underwriting services.

Seohui has experience in acquisitions, development and due diligence. Asset classes include industrial buildings and development, office, retail acquisition, and mixed use development. Experience includes Argus and Excel IRR models.

Seohui holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School with concentrations in Finance and Business Analytics.

Seohui is based in Seattle, Washington.

Email:seohui.lee@despardanalytics.com

Alban Espiasse

Senior Analyst

Alban Espiasse

Senior Analyst

Alban Espiasse has over ten years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. He has been an Acquisition and FPA analyst for a multi-billion dollars value-add REIT (ROIC: Nasdaq) specialized in the acquisition and management of grocery anchored shopping centers.

He has helped in the acquisition of a $3B portfolio encompassing 10 million sf of retail all over the west coast. Experience includes Argus & Excel modeling, database, portfolio & asset management.

He holds a B.A in Finance from ISEG Business School (Paris, France) and an MBA from Dublin Business School (Dublin, Ireland) in conjunction with HETAC & Liverpool John Moores University (Liverpool, UK) with a focus on CRE finance.

He currently lives in San Diego, CA.

Email:alban.espiasse@despardanalytics.com

Eitan Holder

Senior Analyst

Eitan Holder

Senior Analyst

Eitan Holder has over seven years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. He started as a property accountant for a multi-billion dollar REIT and later became the head of acquisitions at a private equity firm specializing in underwriting and analyzing multifamily and retail properties. Now, he runs acquisitions for his private equity firm, which specializes in acquiring value-add, small bay industrial, and retail properties in the southeastern United States.

Email: eitan.holder@despardanalytics.com

Roy Kim

Senior Analyst

Roy Kim

Senior Analyst

Roy began his at career UBS and KEB Hana, specializing in real estate and commercial debt. He has 18 years experience in commercial banking with a focus on credit risk analysis, underwriting, risk mitigation, and portfolio management.

He has managed portfolios ranging from $300MM to $1.5B across various asset classes some including retail, office, mixed use, industrial, and multi-family.

Roy holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from University of Rochester. Roy is based in the metropolitan New York City area.

Email: eitan.holder@despardanalytics.com

Alex Lehman

Senior Analyst

Alex Lehman

Senior Analyst

Alex is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and assists with Despard Analytics’ lease analysis services. In addition to his work at Despard Analytics, Alex is an associate with Donahue Real Estate Advisors, a boutique commercial real estate firm in Pittsburgh that only represents tenants. Alex started his commercial real estate career at CBRE in 2015. While at CBRE, Alex worked on a portfolio service team, managing national and international clients' commercial real estate portfolios.

Alex holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a B.S. in business from American University with a minor in statistics.

Email:alex.lehman@despardanalytics.com

Iker Gorricho

Senior Analyst

Iker Gorricho

Senior Analyst

Iker has almost 30 years of commercial real estate experience including acquisitions, due diligence, and asset management. He has successfully completed over $1.37 billion in acquisitions that total over 14.9 million square feet. Asset classes include multi-family, new multi-family developments, industrial buildings and development, flex space, suburban office, downtown office, retail and retail development, regional malls, and mixed use development and redevelopment. Experience includes Argus DCF, Argus AE, pitch books, simple back of the envelop models, to preferred return models, IRR models with multi-level promotes and portfolio promote models. Iker graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Finance and International Business from Florida International University and holds an M.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas - Austin. Iker is based in Florida.