Mark Ruff

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Mark Ruff brings four decades of diverse experience across the real estate industry, blending expertise in finance, investment, development, brokerage, teaching, and consulting. He began his career in 1988 as a Financial Analyst with a Southern California development firm and later joined Arthur Andersen’s Real Estate Capital Markets Group, where he worked on high-profile transactions including bank mergers, securitizations, and large-scale acquisitions.

He went on to establish his own brokerage and property management firm before taking leadership roles at an affordable housing development company, where he advanced from Director of Acquisitions to Vice President of Investments. In these positions, he directed affordable housing acquisitions, site underwriting, and investment strategy for complex real estate assets. Mark has also advised international investors, prepared pro-formas for residential and mixed-use developments, and consulted on U.S. real estate market cycles.

As an educator, Mark has taught at USC, UCLA Extension, and through national professional training programs. At UCLA, he designed and delivered courses in real estate development, market analysis, finance, and investment, including UCLA’s first course in affordable housing development. He recently designed and launched a groundbreaking course, Artificial Intelligence in Real Estate, in Fall 2025.

Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree from USC, an MBA from Woodbury University, a Master of Real Estate Development from USC, and a Professional Designation in Construction Management from UCLA. Beyond his professional work, he has served with nonprofit organizations focused on housing rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, and he is an avid cyclist who has participated in charity rides such as the 545-mile AIDS LifeCycle ride.

John Heintz

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John Heintz represents clients in complex infrastructure siting, environmental regulatory compliance, and environmental litigation. His experience includes matters involving the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Clean Air Act and related state air laws, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, the California Public Utilities Code, and the California Coastal Act.

John also counsels a variety of clients in their interactions with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the California State Water Resources Control Board, the California Coastal Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, along with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District.

John maintains an active and varied pro bono practice working with nonprofit affordable housing developers and asylum seekers.

During law school, John was a member of the Texas Environmental Law Journal and participated in the Texas Environmental Law Clinic, where he focused on Federal Endangered Species Act compliance.

Prior to practicing law, John worked for a public affairs/public policy firm developing strategic plans for a variety of government, gaming, healthcare, energy, and American Indian Nation clients.