Our Leadership Team

John E. Michaelsen

– President

By the time John Michaelsen founded Capital Growth Properties, Inc. in 1982, he was already a veteran of the real estate industry, as well as a proud Veteran of our nation’s Armed Forces, having served our country as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1966 to 1970. Upon trading his Navy uniform for a civilian’s suit and tie, John put his master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University to good use by joining U.S. Guaranty Capital, serving as the company’s vice president until 1973.

At that point, he joined Citizen’s Financial Corp., where he also served as vice president. Between 1973 and 1976, John was responsible for managing the company’s San Diego branch office and negotiating, underwriting, and closing construction loans on a variety of real estate projects. During this time, he acted as an advisor to National Mortgage Fund, a mortgage real estate investment trust, and to Citizens Growth Properties, an equity real estate investment trust.

John used the invaluable experience he gained during his tenure at Citizen’s Financial Corp. to become co-owner and president of Capital Advisors, Inc. Like CGP, Capital Advisors, Inc. provided a wide range of real estate services, including the acquisition, planning, construction, leasing, and management of investment properties throughout San Diego County. John remained with Capital Advisors, Inc. until 1982, when he founded CGP, where he has acted as president and CEO for three decades and counting.

In addition to his work with CGP, John is active both in his community and in a variety of prestigious professional organizations:

Mt. Soledad Memorial Association – Trustee & Treasurer
San Diego County Apartment Association – Past President
La Jolla High School Foundation – Past President
La Jolla YMCA – Past Chairman
La Jolla Town Council – Past Board of Trustees
La Jolla Country Club – Past Board of Directors

Phone

858.729.9310
DRE Lic.

#00531568
Email

jem@cgpinc.com

Renee M. Savage, CPM, CCIM

– Sr. Vice President of Property Management

As senior vice president of property management at CGP, Renee Savage is responsible for the oversight of seven regional property managers, their respective teams, and the company’s accounting department, as well as the management of more than 110 commercial and residential properties throughout San Diego County. However, her title belies the fact that she wears many hats within the company, as she also handles all of its insurance and legal matters, develops its policies and procedures, and is in charge of various human resource functions.

Along with her more than 25 years of experience in property management, Renee is an at-large member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Executive Committee. IREM is an international collective of professionals that has been setting the standard for best practices in real estate management for more than 80 years. The organization awarded Renee with the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation in 2002 and has since honored her with multiple awards, including CPM of the Year (2006), the Presidential Achievement Award (2009), and the Exceptional Contribution Award (2014). IREM officially recognized her as a “Woman Changing the World of Real Estate Management” in 2013.

Renee is attempting to change the world of real estate management even further by passing on her knowledge and experience to others through teaching and mentoring. She has returned to her alma mater, the University of San Diego, where she earned a bachelor of science in business administration. She now works with students at the school’s Burnham Moore Center for Real Estate, serving as a mentor in its real estate mentorship program and as an instructor of real estate management classes in its graduate program.

Renee has been an active member of the following highly esteemed professional organizations:

Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) San Diego Chapter 18 – Past President
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) – At-Large member, Executive Committee
San Diego County Apartment Association (SDCAA) – Past President
National Apartment Association (NAA) – Past California Delegate
CCIM Institute – National Member