Mr. Peretz is a founding principal and the CEO of Spectrum Real Estate as well as President of Merger, which he founded with Jerry Lasky in 1986. Mr. Peretz has been active in River North development for over 38 years. Mr. Peretz was responsible for the construction and development of many River North original warehouse-to-office conversions in the 1970s and the early 1980s, including 730 Franklin (Central Arts Building), 303 Erie, 430 W. Erie, 400 W. Erie, 750 N Orleans, 311 W Superior, 820 N Orleans and 414 N. Orleans (OrleansPlaza), which the Chicago Sun-Times called the “Renovation of the Year.” Mr. Peretz along with Mr. Lasky are also active investors in various residential real estate projects in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Arizona through Spectrum Finance, an investment arm controlled by Mr. Peretz and Mr. Lasky.  Mr. Peretz is a graduate of Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois.