Behind the Business

Ian Griffis is the Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Griffis Residential, a Denver-based apartment investment fund manager with approximately 8,000 units under management across eight markets. He has been structuring multifamily real estate investments since 1986. Before founding Griffis Residential, Mr. Griffis managed a diversified investment portfolio that included apartments, retail, office, development land, parking lots, hotels, student housing, and industrial properties. His predecessor firm also operated in third-party management. 

In 2004, after selling his previous firm, Griffis/Blessing, Mr. Griffis, established Griffis Residential with his partner David Birnbaum, focusing exclusively on multifamily investments. Griffis Residential has since completed seven funds and earned global recognition from PitchBook. In 2023, the firm’s closed-end multifamily fund series secured the fourth position in real-estate value-add and was the only multifamily specialist on the PitchBook list. The company focuses on enhancing the resident experience and achieving higher returns by delivering superior service and quality homes.  

Mr. Griffis, a former Trustee of Colorado College and the Fountain Valley School, holds a B.A. from Colorado College. He has a strong interest in conservation, having implemented four conservation easements and co-founded Griffis Residential Gives, an associate-led community outreach initiative dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and individuals facing food and housing insecurity. 

Mr. Birnbaum has been Co-Chief Executive Officer since the founding of Griffis Residential and the Prior Funds, sharing responsibility for strategic management of Griffis Residential and its investment activities. In addition to being a member of the Griffis Residential Investment Committee, he manages the execution of major investment activities and investor reporting.

Prior to Griffis Residential, Mr. Birnbaum was CEO of Tablogix, a European-based contract logistics and warehousing company. Founded in 1994, Mr. Birnbaum oversaw its expansion into multiple international markets and managed the company’s sale and relocation to London in 1998, where he continued as CEO until 2003.

Mr. Birnbaum holds a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School. He currently chairs the Denver Art Museum Foundation board, is a trustee of the Denver Art Museum, and serves as a board member of the International School of Denver.

Mr. Barta, President and Chief Operating Officer of Griffis Residential, is responsible for leading the company’s asset management initiatives and overseeing property operations and finance functions. He also serves as a member of the Griffis Residential Investment Committee, contributing to the company’s strategic investment decisions. 

Before joining Griffis Residential in 2005, Mr. Barta spent four years as a Corporate Controller at Westmoreland Coal Company, a publicly traded firm, where he managed all financial and accounting functions. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Barta worked in the audit practice at KPMG’s Denver office, gaining broad experience in financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls across a range of industries. 

Mr. Barta holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder. 

Mr. Souther is the Chief Financial Officer for Griffis Residential, overseeing finance, reporting, accounting, and other corporate functions. He also fulfills the responsibilities of Chief Compliance Officer in support of Griffis Residential’s status as a Registered Investment Advisor. 

Before joining Griffis Residential in 2016, Mr. Souther was Chief Financial Officer at D4 Urban, LLC, a Denver-based real estate development firm. Prior to relocating to Denver, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for a U.S. subsidiary of Lend Lease, a publicly traded multinational property development and management company.  

Mr. Souther is a Certified Public Accountant and holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Accounting from Wake Forest University. In addition, he serves on the board for Rebuilding Together Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to repairing homes, revitalizing communities, and rebuilding lives. 

Mr. Stenovec, Executive Vice President of Capital Markets, leads capital raising, product development, and client service initiatives. As a key member of the firm’s Senior Management Council and Investment Committee, he oversees the Investor Relations and Capital Formation team. In addition to his fundraising efforts, Mr. Stenovec plays a pivotal role in shaping new investment products and executing business strategies that support Griffis Residential’s long-term growth and performance.  

Prior to joining Griffis Residential, Mr. Stenovec held a range of senior roles in the investment management industry. He led West Coast client relations at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. and co-founded the hedge fund RBI Capital. Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Vice President and Co-Head of North American Client Relations and Marketing at Capital Guardian Trust Company, where he was also a member of the Board of Directors. His investment career began at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he worked in private wealth management before transitioning to institutional client relations at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. 

Mr. Stenovec earned a B.A. in Economics from the Colorado College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He currently serves as an Emeritus Trustee on the Colorado College Board of Trustees. 

Ms. Pichot is the Senior Vice President of Operations at Griffis Residential, where she is responsible for overseeing and executing all on-site property management initiatives. Her leadership is grounded in extensive experience, having previously held both on-site and portfolio management roles within the company since joining in 2007. Prior to that, she served as a community manager at Simpson Property Group, where she developed the operational expertise that continues to inform her approach to leadership. 

Ms. Pichot also serves on the Griffis Residential Investment Committee. In 2024, she joined the board for Entryway, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals facing hardships by providing training and resources to prepare them for careers in property management. 

Mr. DiRienzo, Senior Vice President of Investments, is responsible for Griffis Residential’s acquisition, disposition, and asset management initiatives. He is a member of the Griffis Residential Senior Management Council, the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee, and chairs the company’s Investment Committee. 

Prior to joining Griffis Residential in 2012, Mr. DiRienzo spent seven years at Northmarq Capital, where he was involved in placing debt and joint venture equity across all commercial real estate product types. During his tenure, he was named “Analyst of the Year” and received both the “Analyst Excellence” and “Amerisphere Excellence” awards. 

Mr. DiRienzo holds a B.S. in Real Estate and Finance, with a minor in History, from Colorado State University. He also holds a seat on the Executive Committee of the Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation and serves with Opportunity Austin. Additionally, he is active on the Gala Committee for The Greenway Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the revitalization of Denver’s South Platte River. Mr. DiRienzo is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and serves on the Green Multifamily Council with the Urban Land Institute. 

Mr. Bassi is responsible for managing and expanding the funds business at Griffis Residential, with a focus on asset management, capital raising, portfolio analytics, and performance reporting. He also serves on the Griffis Residential Investment Committee. Prior to joining Griffis Residential, he worked at LACERA, where he managed multiple separate account relationships and oversaw a $2.5 billion portfolio comprising nearly 50 assets across diverse property types and risk profiles. 

Earlier in his career, Mr. Bassi served as an Investment Officer at CalSTRS, where he was responsible for domestic office portfolios and conducted due diligence on new investment opportunities. He also worked as a Financial Analyst for the Buzz Oates Group of Companies. 

Mr. Bassi holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Stanislaus, and an M.B.A. in Real Estate from the USC Marshall School of Business. He is a former member of PREA and was awarded the PREA Fellowship in 2017.