CRG Hires J.J. Smith to Lead Residential Business, Including Student Housing

by Katie Sloan

Chicago — CRG, the real estate development and investment arm of Chicago-based Clayco, has hired J.J. Smith as managing partner of its residential business.

Smith has over a decade of leadership experience at Chicago-based CA Ventures, where he launched real estate development and investment platforms that included more than 40,000 units of housing and over $6 billion in executed projects.

In his role as managing partner, Smith will deliver properties for all residential asset classes across North America, including multifamily, student housing, co-living, senior living and workforce housing.

Smith holds an M.B.A. and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Illinois. He was a Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 recipient in 2018; serves as a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council’s Student Housing Committee and the Urban Land Institute’s Student Housing Council; and champions volunteer involvement in Habitat for Humanity and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

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