Gina Ibarra rejoined 1st American as a Property Manager in February of 2025, bringing a strong commitment to community service and resident relations. She attended Illinois State University, where she built the foundation for her professional career.
As a Northwest Indiana resident, Gina values the importance of maintaining well-managed, welcoming communities. Outside of work, she is a proud mom of two who enjoys spending time outdoors and making memories with family and friends.
Nicole Jefferson
Nicole joined 1st American Management in July 2018 as a Residential Property Manager, taking on a portfolio with properties in both Lake and Porter counties. Her educational background is in Behavioral Science, which she studied at Purdue Northwest. Nicole has 14 years of experience in customer service, retail, and management including 7 years as a store manager for Family Express as well as 2 years of leasing and rental property experience. Nicole is an advocate and ally online to Survivors of Domestic Violence, and she volunteers between LaPorte and Porter County food banks and women’s shelters.
Marianne Juscik
Marianne joined 1st American Management in May 2025 as a Residential Community Manager. She brings more than 20 years of experience in operations, facilities management, and customer service, as well as over five years of Property Owners Association Board experience. During the mid-2000s, she served the Village of Burns Harbor POA in multiple roles, including Vice President and Director.
Marianne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ball State University and a master’s degree in counseling education/counseling psychology from Western Michigan University.
Outside of her professional work, Marianne is a proud single mother to a bright and talented 14-year-old daughter. She is also an avid dog enthusiast, sharing her home with four lovable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and volunteering as a foster for the Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue.
Lora Kokot, CPM
Lora is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Finance and Economics. While in college she worked for American Sunbelt in Bloomington and PMM in Valparaiso as a leasing agent. After graduation, Lora came to 1st American as a Residential Manager, handling a portfolio of apartments and townhomes. She then began to take on commercial properties and was the head of the Commercial Department from 1993-2000. After leaving 1st American in 2000 Lora worked for CB Richard Ellis/Sturges out of Merrillville, and Holladay Properties out of Portage Indiana. She returned to 1st American Management in 2020 to handle high-profile commercial properties and new business development.
Lora has received the prestigious Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), an internationally recognized designation for Real Estate Management professionals. She currently serves as the Treasurer for IREM’s NWI Chapter. In addition, Lora is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Indiana.
