Our Founder & History
William “Bill” Burke laid the groundwork for Burke Real Estate Group when he co-founded Ashwill-Burke Company in 1968. The original 2-man firm grew to become California’s third largest brokerage company with 15 offices and a staff of 600 throughout California.
By the late 1970s, Bill began developing and managing a portfolio of investment properties; and by 1982 he and his son, Brian Burke, co-founded Burke Real Estate Group.
Today, Burke’s development portfolio includes over 7 million square feet among more than 550 buildings, and the property management portfolio oversees approximately 3 million square feet among over 1200 tenants.
Our People
Brian R. Burke
In 1982, Brian co-founded Burke Commercial Development with his father, Bill Burke, and serves as the company’s president and managing partner. He brings valuable experience analyzing investments and developing properties to Burke Real Estate Group, gleaned from previous experience as assistant to the executive vice president in charge of the Investment Division of Ashwill-Burke & Company. Over the years, he has been responsible for developing more than 4 million square feet of commercial property encompassing over 350 buildings valued at $300 million.
Brian earned a B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Southern California School of Business.
Christine Malikowski
Christine is the third generation of the Burke family to work at Burke Real Estate Group, and is the Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to being COO, Christine was the Accounting Manager for 5 years. Before joining the Accounting team, Christine worked as a member of the Acquisitions & Development team for three years assisting in all aspects of the development process, and managed the development of a 42,000 SF industrial building in Huntington Beach. And prior to that, Christine worked in Burke’s Property Management department as the Property Management Assistant for four years.
Christine graduated from Georgetown University with a BSBA in Finance and International Business, is a licensed real estate Broker, and is also the Corporate Secretary for Burke Real Estate Group. She is a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, she leads St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church’s mom group – Tribe, and is a member of the Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Program.
Mike Coady
Mike is involved with all aspects of the development and acquisition process, including site selection, due diligence and financing. He plays a lead role in entitlement process management, project design and construction, marketing, sales, leasing and project cost management. Since joining Burke in 2005, he has overseen over 500,000 square feet of industrial and office development in Orange and San Diego counties.
Mike brings 10 years of real estate development, brokerage, construction and finance experience to the Burke team. Previously, he worked in the debt and structured finance division of Buchanan Street Partners, a West Coast-based real estate investment bank where he served developers and investors in underwriting and placing nearly $500 million in debt and $50 million in equity transactions.
A graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara , Mike is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), a licensed real estate salesperson and an active member of the Urban Land Institute.
Paul Riley
Paul joined Burke Real Estate Group in 2015 as the Controller. He is principally responsible for overseeing financial reporting and compliance for Burke’s operating entities. He assists with financial planning, tax strategies, and also supervises day-to-day accounting operations. Paul maintains relationships with financial institutions and 3rd party service providers, including Burke’s legal counsel.
Prior to joining Burke, Paul was a senior manager in the alternative investment practice at KPMG, serving a broad range of real estate clients in all major real estate sectors. During this time, he served as lead manager on the firm’s largest real estate client in the pacific southwest. He has a deep understanding of partnership tax issues at all stages of an investment’s life cycle.
Paul is a licensed CPA in the state of California, and earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Chapman University.
Ken Wheeler
Ken is the Director of Asset and Property Management overseeing 4.5 million square feet of industrial, office, retail and medical office properties in California and Texas. Ken’s experience spans 35 years of Asset Management, Landlord Representation, Investment Sales Consultation, and has been directly involved in 400 plus construction and development projects valued at more than $400 Million.
Ken is active in the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP), and Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA). Ken is active as a Member of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, California serving in Pastoral Care and Celebrate Recovery.
Traci Shelton
Traci Shelton has been with Burke Real Estate Group since 1994. She started as a staff accountant remaining in that position for 7 years. When a position opened in property management one of the partners at Burke strongly suggested that she take it. She has enjoyed it every day since.
Traci currently manages a portfolio of 829,832 square feet of commercial property consisting of eight multi-tenant parks and eleven free standing buildings. Additionally, she manages over 792,000 square feet for business park associations comprised of 6 different properties.
Traci attended Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Traci is a licensed CPM, and holds a California Real Estate License. She enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her sons.
Lois Chisholm
Lois Chisholm has worked in the field of commercial property management since beginning her career with Ashwill Burke, Inc. in 1981, where she was hired as a receptionist. In 1983, after obtaining a real estate license, Lois was promoted to asset manager and oversaw a portfolio consisting of office, retail and industrial properties, including those owned by third parties.
In 1993, after the original partners of Ashwill Burke decided on different paths, Lois joined the team of Burke Real Estate Group, where she now manages a portfolio of 475,000 square feet, most of which include multiple tenants. Lois’ properties are located in Corona, Westminster, Garden Grove, Anaheim and Huntington Beach.
Lois enjoys spending her free time hiking the beautiful hills surrounding her home. She also volunteers her time to help dogs in animal shelters find wonderful loving homes.
Olivia Villatoro
Olivia Villatoro began her journey with Burke Real Estate Group in 2019 as an Assistant Property Manager, providing dedicated support across the department. In 2022, Olivia was promoted to Property Manager, assuming oversight of a 724,354 sq ft portfolio primarily in Austin, Texas, where she works from both the California and Round Rock offices. In 2024, she expanded her responsibilities upon receiving her California real estate salesperson’s license, now managing an additional 317,004 sq ft of commercial properties across Southern California, including Brea, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Bell, and Orange.
When she’s not managing properties, Olivia loves spending time with her family and dogs. She’s often found exploring new restaurants and attending food events, embracing her passion for food, travel, and unique dining experiences.
Martin Salinas
Martin Salinas has been with Burke Real Estate Group since July 2002. Martin is Burke’s facilities technician primarily responsible for turning a unit over when a tenant vacates. Martin ensures the unit is clean and all systems operational for the next tenant. Martin also handles general repair and maintenance issues throughout the Burke portfolio.
Martin enjoys spending his free time doing karaoke, going to the movies, and being with his children.