Our Team

Rick Gersten

CEO & President

With over 30 years of experience as a commercial real estate broker, owner, and developer in the Washington, D.C. area, Rick knows the ins and outs of the local real estate market like few others. Prior to founding Urban Igloo, he led an advisory firm for real estate owners and renters, and has been a shopping center and office building developer. He also served as Deputy Director and Chief of the Real Estate Portfolio for D.C.'s Office of Property Management.

Rick started Urban Igloo to bring commercial market professionalism and service to DC-area apartment renters and landlords. His drive, expertise, and enthusiasm have helped transform Urban Igloo from a great idea to a vital rental resource, connecting over 40,000 renters with landlords throughout Metro DC in the span of only a few short years.

With four sons between the ages of five and 20, Rick doesn't have any shortage of activities to occupy his time when he's not at work.

Broker Licenses: DC, MD, PA & VA

Debbie Kaplan

Chief Operating Officer

It's little wonder Debbie ended up at Urban Igloo, where every day she gets to help people get their starts in new rentals and neighborhoods. Before joining us, she played a key role in getting numerous start ups off the ground, in addition to contributing to the growth of some little companies you've probably never heard of, like MCI, Sprint, and AOL.

With extensive experience in marketing, advertising, business development, and affiliate relations, Debbie is an expert at identifying needs and then developing and implementing strategies to meet them. In other words, she's exactly the sort of person you want steering the ship if you're trying to lease out or find a rental property.

Debbie serves on the Board of Directors for the DC Ad Club and Clarendon Alliance. She also participates in committees for the Property Management Association and the Northern Virginia Apartment Association.

When she's not figuring out ways to make Urban Igloo more effective and easy to use, Debbie enjoys urban hiking, movie-going, and dining around DC, as well as hanging with her family and friends.

License: VA

Kate Becker

Marketing Manager

Kate Becker is a local girl through and through. Growing up in the popular DC suburb of Vienna, Virginia, she has spent a lifetime taking advantage of Metro DC's many unique cultural, leisure, and dining opportunities. Kate joined Urban Igloo to help others discover their perfect home base for taking advantage of those opportunities too.

Kate says she stays in touch with the needs and interests of those new to the area by pretending to be a newcomer herself. By regularly exploring neighborhoods and activities that she hasn't experienced before, she is constantly gaining new knowledge and new perspectives to share with Urban Igloo clients.

After graduating college, Kate returned to her local roots and worked for an advertising agency downtown, managing national as well as Washingtonian accounts. Described by those who know her as energetic, organized, outgoing, and inquisitive, Kate is the ideal Urban Igloo employee.

Joelle Falcone

Coordinator

Originally from Montgomery County, Joelle has lived all over the DMV area. She has experienced the difficulty and struggles of finding an apartment by herself, and being under informed on the neighborhood or accessibility. Now she is eager to provide people with a stress-free method of finding their next home in a neighborhood ideal for their needs.

When she is not helping steer our renters in the right direction, Joelle enjoys being outdoors and playing recreational soccer. Most Saturdays you are likely to find her at the playground with her 4 year old son. She also loves meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

Bryan Zupan

Regional Sales Director

A native of Ohio, Bryan's has been helping people with their real estate needs for most of his adult life. His experience includes over 12 years in commercial real estate development, retail leasing, and construction, with roles as Senior Manager of Retail Leasing for Lauth Property Group, LP. and Senior Leasing Representative for Simon Property Group, Inc.

Bryan was one of the first leasing agents at Urban Igloo. His passion was evident in the time and effort he invested in getting to know the DC area, driving around and talking to residents to learn what each neighborhood offer and what makes each one unique. Based on his experience and performance, Bryan was promoted to sales manager in 2010.

Currently residing in Alexandria, VA, Bryan has been an invaluable resource of information for renters interested in Northern Virginia as well as D.C. Bryan devotes most of his free time to his family and learning more about DC's best neighborhoods than most Buckeyes will learn in a lifetime.

Licenses: DC, MD & VA

Danielle Simmons

Leasing Agent

When Danielle came to D.C. for a weekend getaway with her husband before he deployed to Iraq, she had no idea that it would only take three days for this vibrant city to capture her heart. Promising herself that one day she'd live here, she's ecstatic that it only took 5 years to realize her dream of becoming a Washingtonian. Danielle understands how intimidating the D.C. rental market can be to newcomers and draws upon her own experiences to help advise and guide her clients through the rental process.

With a B.A. in Communications from the University of North Carolina, it's little wonder that Danielle chose a career in real estate where she never knows what the day will bring or what interesting people she'll get to meet. Her four years in Property Management give Danielle a unique "behind the scenes" perspective on leasing, which she passes on to her clients so that they can make confident, informed, and stress-free housing decisions.

When not busy helping renters find their new homes, Danielle enjoys getting lost in the Smithsonian museums, exploring the DC dining scene, and spending time with her husband and two shetland sheepdogs, Trixie and Junior.

License: DC

Jacob Fuchs

Leasing Agent

A native of Long Island NY, Jacob spent his childhood summers on Fire Island where his passion for real estate started. Jacob joined Urban Igloo after receving a four-year degree at Catholic University, located right here in DC.

After taking many courses on the history and the development of the Washington DC area, he became interested in the new modern culture that has spread throughout the historical city.

His outgoing and high energy personality allows him to connect with newcomers to the area and help his clients in any way he can to make their transition easier.

Jacob enjoys his free time out on the Potomac with friends and family and by traveling.

License: DC

LuChiea Grissom

Leasing Agent

Luchiea Grissom is a native Washingtonian who discovered her passion for the real estate profession shortly after purchasing her home at the age of 19.

LuChiea’s sole purpose is to make the process of renting an apartment home easier, enjoyable and stress-free. As a homeowner and a Real Estate Agent in our nation’s Capital, she feels privileged to work with others wishing to reside in this great city.

When LuChiea is not working, she spends her time volunteering at Department of Recreation events, reading, mentoring youth, attending city festivals, visiting farmers markets and barbecuing.

License: DC

Margaret Lyons

Coordinator

After changing cities seven times in the past seven years, Margaret is a firm believer that finding the right place to live is the first step in successfully conquering a new city. Being new to DC herself, she knows the challenges and needs of newcomers and hopes she can make the apartment hunting process stress-free for others through her work at Urban Igloo.

Margaret has a degree in Public Relations from the University of Alabama and worked as a language instructor in Madrid, Spain before finding her passion for real estate at a community management firm in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama.

In her free time, Margaret enjoys exploring her new city, running, cooking and playing in DC’s Kubb league.

License: MD

Matt Leighton

Leasing Agent

Matt was born and raised in Arlington. After graduating from James Madison University, he quickly realized that real estate was the ideal opportunity to pursue.

Matt’s passion for the area and one-of-a-kind expertise in individual neighborhoods set him apart from the crowd. With sales and marketing experience, joining the Urban Igloo team felt like a perfect fit.

When he’s not working, you will find Matt at Black Cat checking out a new band, taking in a Capitals’ game at the Verizon Center, or exploring different Arlington neighborhoods on his bike (except Rosslyn with all those hills).

License: VA

Min Shin

Leasing Agent

Min is a native to the DC Metro area who has definitely taken advantage of living in this exciting city. Whether it’s a new art exhibition at the Smithsonian or a jazz concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial, she’s always the first to know.

She and her family have been involved in the local real estate scene for over 15 years. Real estate has become not only a career but also her passion. With her vast knowledge of the market, she is in tune with what people are looking for when searching for a home which made her a perfect match with Urban Igloo.

When Min’s not out scoping real estate, you’ll see her hiking along the Mount Vernon Trail, watching planes go by at Potomac Park or exploring the DC culinary scene.

License: MD

Rick Rouse

Leasing Agent

Rick's professional real estate career spans more than 25 years in sales, leasing, and valuation of real estate.

Prior to joining Urban Igloo, Rick provided commercial real estate counseling services, including appraisal and feasibility studies, portfolio management and debt and equity finance.

Rick has provided consultation services on well-known landmark properties such as Union Station in DC; Mount Vernon Estate and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia; and Buena Vista Palace in Disney World.

License: VA

Stephanie McWhorter

Leasing Agent

Stephanie is a DC area newbie, but she feels like she has found her place in the world. Prior to her move last November she spent 6 months scouting neighborhoods and looking at homes on her own with her daughter in tow. Once settled in DC, she decided she could take her experiences, her love of real estate, and her entrepreneurial spirit and help others find their DC home.

Stephanie is a native of suburban Detroit, who comes to DC by way of 9 years in Georgia, where she earned her BS in Accounting at the University of South Carolina Aiken. While in Georgia, Stephanie owned her own bookkeeping firm. She has a passion for marketing and social media.

Stephanie is a hippie at heart, and she loves all things earthy. You will rarely see her without a camera. She currently resides in Old Town Alexandria with her husband and two young children. When she isn't working, she is enjoying all the activities DC has to offer with her family, running, and learning to knit and sew.

License: DC & VA

Tom Natali

Leasing Agent

Tom Natali was born and raised in the Washington, DC area getting to know, what he feels is, the best city in the world.

After earning a B.A. in communications from Coastal Carolina University, Tom returned to his hometown and now hopes to bring his intimate knowledge and love of the area with future clients. Tom's family members have worked in real estate for over 30 years and he plans on continuing with that success.

In his spare time, Tom enjoys sports writing and has been an active musician for years now.

License: MD

Emily Bush

Director of Operations, Philadelphia

How does a Syracuse University soccer player with a degree in biomedical engineering help Urban Igloo get established in Philadelphia? In the case of Emily Bush, it's a simple matter of wanting to spare people the frustrations of an apartment-hunting process she has been through herself numerous times in numerous cities.

Sure, Emily could develop a genetically-engineered cure for poison ivy, if she wanted to. But then how would renters and landlords in Philly know about Urban Igloo? So instead, Emily is using her outgoing personality and sharp mind to engineer ideal rental arrangements in the Philadelphia market.

When not helping her Urban Igloo clients, Emily loves spending time with her family and her golden retriever, Boo.

License: PA

Ashley Heskett

Leasing Agent

Ashley recently found her perfect home in Philadelphia, and now, she’s thrilled with the idea of helping you find yours. Having rented her way across Europe, Australia, and America, Ashley has met her share of challenges and is determined to make your search as fast and stress-free as possible.

Nobody understands the importance of a good school district better than Ashley, and she is prepared to find the perfect fit for you and your family. Before discovering her passion for real estate, Ashley taught high school English for five years. She graduated with a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University in 2006, and an MLA from Baker University in 2012. Ashley also taught English as a Second Language in Barcelona, Spain.

When she’s not helping you find the perfect home, Ashley is most likely eating at one of Philly’s fabulous restaurants, reading a great American classic, or taking her 100-lb. pup, Kaiser, to his favorite dog park.

License: PA

Jason Luber

Leasing Agent

Jason is a Philadelphian through and through. Born and raised in the Greater Northeast, and earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Temple University, he knows a thing or two about the City of Brotherly Love besides cheesesteaks and tastykakes.

Coming to Urban Igloo from the fast paced world of the restaurant industry, Jason blends a tireless work ethic with an undeniable passion to match client needs and lifestyles with the perfect neighborhood and home.

License: PA

Tionna Christopher

Leasing Agent

As a law student, Tionna used to sit in class and wonder about her future. She knew that she wanted to work in a field that was customer oriented but couldn't picture herself in a cubicle working 60 hours a week and actually be happy.

When she got the opportunity to work in real estate she realized that she loved interacting with new people and the idea of not being chained to a desk all day.

When she heard about Urban Igloo and the services they provide, she knew this was the right place for her.

License: PA