INDUSTRY LEADERS TRUST INDUSTRY
We're a nimble team of industry veterans, proven experts, and thoughtful investors. We move diligently and invest with intent.
John Helm
Partner
John Helm founded RET Ventures in 2017. As a Partner, John oversees RET’s strategy and investment approach, manages relationships with the firm’s Strategic Investors, and sits on many RET portfolio company boards, providing them with strategic guidance and oversight. John draws on over 25 years of experience in real estate technology as an operator, entrepreneur and investor. Prior to RET, John ran and successfully exited two venture-backed real estate tech startups; was a Venture Partner with DN Capital; served as CFO of Marcus & Millichap; and was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. When he’s not at work, you can find John on his skis or mountain biking around Park City with his family.
Christopher Yip
Partner
Christopher Yip joined RET Ventures as a Partner in 2019. Chris oversees RET’s investment, capital formation and operational activities. He currently sits on the boards of numerous RET portfolio companies and provides strategic guidance across RET’s entire portfolio. Chris also serves as an independent director for national homebuilder Taylor Morrison. Prior to RET, Chris spent 12 years at global private equity firm TPG, where he led growth and private equity investments in tech-enabled companies and partnered closely with CEOs and entrepreneurs. Chris has an MBA from the Stanford GSB, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and an AB in Economics and SM in Computer Science from Harvard University. You can find Chris flying between Park City and his home in San Francisco, trailing the RET team on the snow, or driving anything with four wheels.
Jacob Zornes
Chief Financial Officer
Jacob Zornes is RET Ventures’ Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining RET, Jake spent five years as the director of finance for Peterson Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm in Salt Lake City, UT. He began his career with UMB Fund Services, a fund administration firm, in Ogden, UT. Jake has an MBA from Weber State University, as well as a BS in Business Administration from Brigham Young University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Outside of work, Jake spends most of his time with his kids, coaching youth sports, traveling with his wife, playing golf and participating in various outdoor activities.
Aaron Ru
Principal
Aaron Ru is a Principal at RET Ventures. In this role, he leads new investments for the RET funds, sits on several boards, and guides many of RET’s portfolio companies as they scale their growth. Prior to RET, Aaron worked as an investment professional at Naspers Ventures (now Prosus Ventures), where he invested in early and growth-stage tech companies. Earlier in his career, Aaron executed M&A transactions and strategic initiatives at Pinterest and United Talent Agency. He began his career as an investment banker with UBS. Aaron graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys skiing, traveling, college football and helping his golden retriever find the best swim spots in Park City.
Melissa Fagan
Vice President
Melissa is a Vice President at RET Ventures. In this role, Melissa works closely with numerous portfolio companies on a day-to-day basis and sources and vets potential startups for RET investment. Prior to RET, Melissa worked as an Investment Associate at KSL Capital, where she invested in real estate and private equity companies focused on travel and leisure. Melissa began her career in private equity in Goldman Sachs' Real Estate Principal Investment Area. Melissa holds a B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Princeton University. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys hiking, traveling, and watching the Chargers on Sundays.
Jameson Hartman
Vice President
As a Vice President at RET Ventures, Jameson underwrites potential investments for the firm, supports the growth of RET’s portfolio companies and works closely with the firm’s Strategic LPs to identify and address technology pain points in their operations. Prior to joining RET, Jameson spent four years with Goldman Sachs’ Real Estate investment banking group in New York. A Northern Utah local, Jameson received his B.S. in Finance from Utah State University. Jameson enjoys anything and everything related to the outdoors and spends most of his free time playing soccer with his wife or skiing the slopes of Alta.
Jaymie Fung Bingham
Associate
Jaymie is an Associate at RET Ventures. In this role, she identifies and evaluates potential investments and works closely with several of the firm’s portfolio companies. Before joining RET, Jaymie spent five years at Ensign Peak Advisors as a Private Equity and Venture Capital Associate where she worked with venture, growth, and buyout funds from around the world. Her career began as an auditor for Ernst & Young, where she worked with clients in both the banking and capital markets and wealth and asset management sectors. Jaymie was born and raised in Utah and graduated with her B.S. and Masters in Accounting from Brigham Young University in 2015. She loves spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes, hiking with her husband and dog, traveling to countries on her bucket list, and cheering on the Utah Jazz and Seattle Seahawks.
Julia Lambert
Associate
As an Associate at RET Ventures, Julia works to find and assess potential investments, and helps guide several of the firm’s existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining RET, Julia worked as an Investment Associate at Carlyle, where she focused on West Coast real estate acquisitions. Before Carlyle, she worked on both acquisitions and asset management at Hanover Real Estate Investors (now Pacific Urban Investors). Julia holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and was a four-year member of the varsity sailing team. Outside of work, you can find her skiing, hiking, or enjoying a good read.
Fred Tuomi
Venture Partner
Mr. Tuomi served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Invitation Homes Inc, the nation’s largest single-family rental company, as well as related predecessor companies from 2013 until his retirement in 2019. Fred was Executive Vice President and President—Property Management for Equity Residential, the nation’s largest multi-family REIT, from 1994 until his retirement in 2013. Throughout his career, he has served on numerous real estate industry boards and executive committees.
Monte Jones
Platform Partner
Monte Jones is Platform Partner at RET Ventures, where he works on mentoring RET's portfolio companies; building out its internal tech stack; and growing the firm's "Affiliates" initiative, connecting real estate owners and operators to RET's cutting-edge portfolio companies. Monte joins the RET team with two decades of real estate technology experience. Most recently, he was Chief Experience Officer at RealPage, where he led several sales and go-to-market teams and integrated new acquisitions into the RealPage organization. Prior to that, he led On-Site.com for six years, as President and previously Director of Sales, driving the company's national expansion and its ultimate acquisition by RealPage. When Monte is not helping technology companies turbocharge their growth, you can find him skiing and fly fishing.
Rosemary Sullivan
Operations Manager
Rosemary joined RET in October 2021 as an Executive Assistant with over 7 years of experience, both personal and executive. She has previously worked at Bain & Co. and was a Personal Assistant for a private $2.2bn net worth family. Rosemary holds a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and a M.S. from Boston University, both in Tourism & Economic Development.
Candy Foster
Executive Assistant
Prior to joining RET Ventures, Candy worked as an Executive Assistant at The Cynosure Group, Myriad Genetics, Intermountain Healthcare, Zions Bank, and American Express. During her career, Candy supported CEOs, COOs, Directors, and Executive Vice Presidents with communications for multiple departments and board organizations, maintaining board and regulatory documents, enhancing compliance and efficiency, and communicating regularly with government regulatory agencies. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time doing outdoor activities with her family and friends.
Lauren Lyda
Administrative Assistant
Lauren is an Administrative Assistant at RET Ventures, and has been working with the firm since October 2022. Lauren graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a BS in Business Management & Marketing. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spin classes, golfing, traveling and on the side building her teeth whitening business.
Shawn Mahoney
Senior Advisor
In his twenty years as CIO and CTO at GID, Shawn’s responsibilities and expertise encompassed real estate technology, operations, finance and development. Shawn has been active in real estate technology initiatives including NMHC Optech and is a frequent contributor at trade industry events. Previously, Shawn was CIO of AEW Capital Management, Controller of a real estate development and syndication firm, and a financial services industry management consultant. He served on the Board of Trustees and as Finance Committee Chairperson for a Boston area college. Post-retirement from GID Shawn can be found driving his vintage two and three-wheeled vehicles or hiking with his family and dogs.
Jerry Davis
Senior Advisor
Jerry Davis most recently served as President and COO of UDR, a leading multifamily REIT. Over a 30+ year career at UDR, Jerry served in a number of roles, starting as a controller before moving into operations where he served in a variety of roles culminating in COO and President. Earlier in his career, he was also with JH Management as COO and Crestar Bank as a financial analyst. He began his career as a Staff Accountant for Arthur Young & Co. Post-retirement from UDR, Jerry can be found staying involved in the real estate industry in a consulting/advisory role and enjoying time with his family and friends in Arizona.