About Us

Ani Paulson is a senior vice president on Northmarq’s Commercial Investment Sales team based in our Atlanta office. She is the founder and team lead of Team AP, where she has positioned her team among the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic’s top producers in office, retail, and industrial investment sales. She specializes in valuation, acquisitions and dispositions, underwriting, and strategic marketing, with an emphasis on advisory services that guide clients in identifying the right time to sell, positioning assets effectively, and pursuing acquisitions aligned with long-term investment goals.

Ani leads a top-performing team that has evaluated more than $1 billion in assets across 20 states and facilitated property sales exceeding $250 million, covering nearly four million square feet. In the past three years alone, she and her team have closed transactions in 13 different states. Ani focuses on delivering results for a wide range of clients, including REITs, private equity firms, developers, family offices, and 1031 exchange investors. Team AP is committed to building lasting relationships by guiding clients through every stage of the investment cycle.

Before joining Northmarq, Ani spent seven years with Marcus & Millichap, where she advanced from agent candidate to senior director investments. During her tenure, she consistently ranked as one of the firm’s top producers in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, earning multiple Sales Recognition Awards (2021–2025), the Senior Investment Advisor Award (2025), and the National Achievement Award (2024), an honor reserved for less than 5% of agents nationwide. She spearheaded The AP Group within Marcus & Millichap, establishing it as one of the most successful investment sales teams in the region.

Earlier in her career, Ani was a franchise owner with Meineke (2013–2020), where she managed operations, P&L oversight, and business development, significantly increasing profitability and operational efficiency. Ani also has a background in logistics and supply chain, where she managed planning for over 400 raw materials, maintained vendor relationships across domestic and international markets, and coordinated global and intermodal shipments with a hands-on, solutions-driven approach.

Ani is an active member of NAIOP and ICSC, where she engages with industry peers across the office, retail, and industrial sectors. She is committed to mentorship, providing guidance to aspiring commercial real estate professionals and students through industry events, speaking engagements, and direct mentoring. Ani also supports animal welfare organizations, contributing time and resources to local and national animal shelters.

Manton Paine is a senior associate on Northmarq’s Commercial Investment Sales team based in Charleston, South Carolina. He is an outcome-focused commercial broker who specializes in the analysis, acquisition, leasing, and disposition of office/industrial and retail assets. Manton provides his clients access to the largest pool of qualified investors, both nationally and internationally, maximizing asset exposure in order to curate the most competitive bidding environment possible.

A frictionless, ROI-focused customer experience is fundamental to Manton’s advisory relationships. Transparency, communication, and market knowledge allow him to consistently deliver positive outcomes and grow the wealth and portfolios of his clients.

Prior to joining Northmarq, Manton was part of The AP Group, Marcus & Millichap’s top office/industrial team, which specialized in the Southeastern United States. The team facilitated property sales across 20 states, exceeding $250 million. Previous to Marcus & Millichap, Manton spent a decade in software sales in San Francisco.

Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, sailing, skiing, surfing, windsurfing, and driving old cars. Manton obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston, where he was the team captain of the Division-I national champion sailing team as both a junior and senior. He holds real estate licenses in South Carolina and Georgia.

Nick DiPietro is an associate on Northmarq’s Commercial Investment Sales team based in our Atlanta office. Nick leverages his expertise to help clients evaluate opportunities, maximize property value, and navigate the sales process. His strategic approach and strong market insights make him an ideal advisor for investors, property owners, and business operators. Nick is part of Team AP, a top-performing team that has evaluated more than $1 billion in assets across 20 states and facilitated property sales exceeding $250 million. The AP Group has delivered these results for a wide range of clients including REITs, private equity firms, developers, family offices and 1031 exchange investors.

Prior to joining Northmarq, Nick spent time in leadership positions and leading operational initiatives at Marcus & Millichap, General Motors and Nissan North America. This hands-on experience gives him a unique understanding of the functional needs and challenges that shape a variety of real estate decisions.

Nick is an active member of ICSC. He holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Clemson University and is a licensed real estate salesperson in Georgia.

Rachel, a Charleston, SC native, has a deep appreciation for her community and a keen understanding of its dynamic market. After a successful nine-year career in logistics, she transitioned into commercial real estate, leveraging her expertise in strategic planning, problem-solving, and operational management.

Before joining Northmarq, Rachel managed a large, multi-state commercial real estate portfolio for a family office, overseeing retail, office, and industrial assets across eight states along the East Coast. This experience gave her a well-rounded foundation in leasing, asset management, tenant relations, and investment strategy, ultimately leading her to Team AP in 2025.

Rachel’s strong background in customer service and sales enhances her ability to navigate complex transactions and build lasting client relationships. With her attention to detail, adaptability, and commitment to excellence, she plays a vital role in the Team AP at Northmarq, ensuring seamless transactions and top-tier service in every deal.

Willa Beth Bessinger is a senior investment analyst on Northmarq’s Commercial Investment Sales team. She specializes in underwriting, valuation, financial modeling, and strategic marketing for office, industrial, and retail assets. Willa Beth plays a key role in guiding clients through the investment cycle by combining detailed analysis with tailored marketing strategies that maximize asset exposure and positioning.

As part of Team AP, she contributes to the evaluation and facilitation of property sales across multiple markets. Her work includes preparing pro formas, rent rolls, SWOT analyses, pricing analyses, and offering memoranda, as well as leading the design and execution of marketing materials that drive competitive bidding environments. She also provides administrative support to ensure smooth team operations and deal execution.

Prior to joining Northmarq, Willa Beth spent four years with Marcus & Millichap, where she focused on underwriting and marketing support for The AP Group. Originally from Texas, she moved to South Carolina to study Commercial Real Estate Finance at the College of Charleston.

EDUCATION

aWARDS & ACCOLADES

Ani Paulson

senior vice president

EDUCATION

MANTON PAINE

senior associate

EDUCATION

Nick DiPietro

associate

EDUCATION

Rachel Lakian

Operations analyst

EDUCATION

Willa Beth Bessinger

SENIOR INVESTMENT ANALYST

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