Our Team

As President and CEO of Snell Properties, Chris Hanessian’s strategic vision drives both operational excellence and groundbreaking development. His leadership has been pivotal in Snell Properties’ expansion into new markets, advancing the company’s mission to own and operate premier properties in diverse growth markets. Committed to thoughtful development, Chris fosters sustainable and vibrant communities, ensuring Snell Properties remains an industry leader while upholding its legacy of quality and integrity.

His extensive experience spans real estate business and asset management, property acquisitions, financing, construction, zoning and entitlement, master plan design, strategic planning, and the development of diverse property types. Notably, Chris has overseen the development of 6,200 multifamily homes and 2.3 million square feet of office and retail space, along with 4,400 residential and commercial lots and significant infrastructure projects. He has secured over $2.5 billion in financing for these ventures, including public bond financing for major projects in Maryland.

Chris holds degrees in Architecture and Environmental Design from Miami University and a Master’s in Real Estate from The Johns Hopkins University. His prior experience includes work with architectural firms and teaching asset management at the University of Maryland. He currently serves on the boards of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District and True Ground Housing Partners.

Michael Eastwood, Executive Vice President at Snell Properties, is instrumental in steering the company’s multifaceted development initiatives. His extensive background in architecture and real estate has led to the oversight of over 2 million square feet of development, the construction or renovation of 2,200 residential units and the entitlement of an additional 2,000 units, marking significant contributions to urban transformation and community enhancement. His work, including major projects at Reston Town Center, Arlington County, the Largo Metro area and Fredericksburg, Va. reflects a commitment to innovative, sustainable urban planning and a deep understanding of the architectural nuances that contribute to successful, livable communities.​

Michael has over 25 years of experience in the design, construction, and development industries. Prior to joining Snell, Michael held positions with Roseland Residential Trust, as Vice President of Development, Home Properties, as Vice President of Development, and at Kettler, as Director of Development. In his prior roles, Michael was responsible for all aspects of the development process including deal underwriting, land acquisition, complex land entitlements, construction, project marketing, and lease-up.

Prior to entering the real estate industry, Michael practiced architecture for 8 years, where he worked primarily for office and institutional clients.

Michael received a bachelor’s in Architecture from Princeton University, a master’s in Architecture from University of Virginia, and a Master of Science Degree in Real Estate from New York University.

Howard M. Koenick is Vice President of Finance of Snell Construction Corporation. Howard is responsible for overseeing and managing all accounting functions for Snell. Howard has over 30 years’ experience in accounting, finance, risk management and project management with real estate firms and various other industry and public accounting.

Prior to joining Snell, Howard worked for eight years at Prince Georges Metro Center, Inc. (PGMC) and its affiliates, the last three years serving as its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. PGMC owned and operated two million square feet of mixed-use real estate.

Howard also held positions at various public companies including Freddie Mac as Director of Operating Risk Management, responsible for a corporate-wide implementation of a risk and control self-assessment program. He was at the Prudential Realty Group responsible for the accounting management of a $1.2 billion portfolio of mixed real estate investments.

Howard received his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Delaware. He is a Maryland CPA.

Tim Friemel, Vice President of Development at Snell Properties, has a robust history of leading development activities that expand and enhance the company’s portfolio. With over two decades of experience in the field, Tim has managed a broad array of projects, including the planning, design, and construction of several key properties such as Metropolitan at Reston Town Center and Midtown Lofts at Reston Town Center. His expertise ensures the successful integration of strategic planning and market analysis into Snell’s development projects, driving forward the company’s vision for growth and community value​​.

Tim has over twenty-five years of real estate development and construction experience. He has managed the planning, design, and construction of a diverse portfolio of projects including ground-up commercial and mixed-use developments, large interior construction projects, and the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. Prior to joining Snell, Tim led the development of several mixed-use, adaptive re-use, and condominium projects with The FORTIS Companies in Washington, DC. He has also worked as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State, and as a senior development manager for one of Arlington’s land owners where he was responsible for the development of several large mixed-use projects. Tim’s experience also includes several years in a commercial brokerage team with Jones Lang LaSalle where he provided planning, construction, and brokerage services to large commercial tenants.

Tim is a registered professional engineer and holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University.

Will is a Manager of Acquisitions and Development for Snell. Will supports the team in all phases of acquisitions and development, including market research, sourcing, underwriting, and finance. To date, he has been involved with the acquisition of seven multifamily assets, totaling 2,120 apartment units in Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Additionally, Will is responsible for due diligence efforts for several of Snell’s multifamily development projects.

Before joining Snell, Will was a Senior Analyst at Walker & Dunlop in the Capital Markets division. At Walker & Dunlop, he was responsible for underwriting debt and equity transactions, market and property research, and managing transactions from identification through closing. Will assisted in the placement of over $650 million of capital throughout his time at the company.

Will began his career at Goldman Sachs in 2015. He received a bachelor’s in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington & Lee University.