Jonathan Kass

Over his 25+ years at Continental Real Estate Companies, Jonathan Kass has led both business and project operations at the company. Prior to joining Continental in 1994, Jonathan earned a B.S. in Economics from The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law School. He practiced labor and employment law at Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn.

As President of Continental Real Estate Companies for approximately 15 of his years at Continental, Jonathan oversaw the development of over $2 billion in commercial development while presiding over a full-service real estate development company as it grew from a predominantly local enterprise to one that established a multi-disciplinary presence from coast to coast. Continental’s projects during his tenure include big-box, lifestyle center, and grocery-anchored retail developments, various types of Class A office developments, as well as multi-family residential and hospitality developments. In many instances, these projects represented Continental’s entry into new metropolitan marketplaces, as Jonathan’s tenure as President of Continental Real Estate Companies coincided with the company’s evolution into a national real estate presence.

Through Jonathan’s leadership and counsel, Continental also forged long-term joint venture partnerships with businesses such as Nationwide Realty Investors, Giant Eagle, the Park Corporation, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Also under his leadership, Continental established a reputation for and an expertise in the redevelopment of environmentally challenging “brownfield” sites. To this end, Jonathan was asked to serve on the Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program Task Force, representing the interests of private real estate developers in the State of Ohio.

Over the years, Jonathan has also served on numerous boards including Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation Board (as well as its Facilities Committee), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, Directions for Youth, and the Columbus Academy (for which he served as Board Chair).