About
Who We Are
Projects
Happy Clients
Commitment
Our Leadership Team
Chris Austin
Chris Cole
Peter Piller
R Chris Lightburne
Chris Cole
Chris Cole is a highly respected Co-Managing Principal in the Orange County office of DPFG. With an impressive tenure since February 2003, Chris has been an integral part of our firm’s success.
Throughout his career at DPFG, Chris has provided exceptional consulting services on over 750 projects, solidifying his reputation as a trusted industry expert. He has played a key role in securing financing of over $1.95 billion in public improvements for a diverse clientele, including developers, builders, land banks, hedge funds, and financial institutions across California.
Chris brings a wealth of experience in various real estate consulting matters, with a specialization in planning and implementing public financing districts, negotiating and documenting cost-sharing agreements, reviewing and critiquing development impact fee studies, development agreements, school district financing transactions, fiscal impact analysis, and development feasibility analysis for residential, industrial, commercial, and non-residential properties.
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In addition to his role as Co-Managing Principal, Chris also heads DPFG’s Disclosure Services and Reimbursement Services group, showcasing his expertise in these critical areas.
Prior to joining DPFG, Chris served as a Contract Lobbyist for a California-based lobbying firm, further enhancing his understanding of the intricacies of the industry and its regulatory landscape.
Chris is an active member of the Builder Industry Association of Southern California, which includes chapters such as San Diego, Baldy View, LA Ventura, Orange County, and Riverside. These memberships reflect his commitment to staying connected with industry developments and fostering strong relationships within the real estate community.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Chico.
To connect with Chris and explore opportunities for collaboration, please reach out to him at chris.cole@dpfg.com. His extensive experience, dedication to excellence, and comprehensive understanding of the real estate landscape make him a trusted partner for all your consulting needs.
R Chris Lightburne
Chris Lightburne is the Co-Managing Principal of the Orange County Office at DPFG. With a career spanning over 36 years and tenure at DPFG since 2001, Chris has been an integral part of the firm’s success in delivering new and innovative financing solutions to clients.
Chris has extensive experience in financial analysis, real estate economics, public finance, capital markets, information technology, and accounting. He is skilled in using complex financial modeling to simplify and provide practical solutions.
During his time at DPFG, Chris has been involved in various public financings, including bond authorizations exceeding $23 billion for CFDs, IFDs (EIFDs and IRFDs), and other financing tools.
In addition to his expertise in public finance and real estate development strategies, Chris provides a diverse range of real estate consulting services.
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These include cash flow analysis, portfolio and asset analysis, litigation support, and reimbursement services. He specializes in analyzing fiscal impacts of new developments, tax increment financing, land secured financing, establishing rates, charges, and development impact fees.
Throughout his career, Chris has worked on behalf of the development community across California. He has analyzed and negotiated development impact fees, school fees, and maintenance and services taxes. His comprehensive experience in financial analysis, real estate economics, public finance, capital markets, information technology, and accounting allows him to deliver comprehensive solutions to his clients.
Prior to joining DPFG, Chris served as a manager of consulting with Kenneth Leventhal & Company (later Ernst and Young Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group) in Newport Beach, California. In that role, he handled client engagements involving strategic planning, public finance, real estate portfolio acquisition and disposition, market and feasibility studies, mortgage-backed securities, restructuring and reorganizations, as well as audits of public and private companies.
Chris has also held senior management positions in three start-up/high-growth companies involved in manufacturing and media. His responsibilities included finance, information technology, operations, real estate and facilities, sales and marketing, and strategic planning.
Chris Lightburne holds a BA in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Selected recent projects that Chris has been involved in include Great Park in Irvine and Valencia in Los Angeles in Southern California. In San Francisco, he has worked on projects such as Treasure Island, The San Francisco Shipyard and Candlestick Point, Potrero Power Station, and Pier 70.
To contact Chris Lightburne and explore opportunities for collaboration, you can reach him at chris.lightburne@dpfg.com. He is dedicated to providing exceptional insights and strategic guidance to help clients achieve their goals.
Chris Austin
Chris Austin is the accomplished Managing Principal of the Northern California Office at DPFG. With a remarkable tenure of over two decades, Chris has been a driving force behind the success of our firm since joining in 1998.
With his extensive experience, Chris has provided invaluable consulting services on over 800 projects, solidifying his reputation as an industry expert. He has also played a pivotal role in securing financing of over $4 billion in public improvements for developer and builder clients across California, Nevada, and Washington.
Chris’s expertise extends to a broad range of real estate consulting matters, with a specialization in planning and implementing public financing districts, negotiating and documenting school district financing transactions, conducting fiscal impact analysis, and performing development feasibility analysis for residential and non-residential properties.
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In addition to his role at DPFG, Chris serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). Through this influential position, he has been instrumental in advocating for impact fee and school facilities financing reform, showcasing his dedication to driving positive change within the industry.
Chris actively participates in various professional memberships, including the Chairman’s Circle of the North State Building Industry Association and the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area. These affiliations further demonstrate his commitment to staying connected with industry trends and fostering strong relationships within the real estate community.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Arizona State University, equipping him with a solid educational foundation to support his extensive industry knowledge.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Chris cherishes quality time with his family. He enjoys activities such as golfing, boating, and proudly cheering on his daughters in their cheer competitions.
To connect with Chris and explore opportunities for collaboration, please reach out to him at chris.austin@dpfg.com. His wealth of expertise and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results make him a trusted partner for your real estate needs.
Peter Piller
Peter Piller, the Co-Founding Principal of DPFG, brings over thirty-one years of experience in the real estate industry. His extensive expertise spans a diverse range of real estate consulting services.
Throughout his career, Peter has successfully planned and implemented land secured public financing districts, negotiated and implemented maintenance and services districts, and facilitated public school district transactions. He possesses a deep understanding of fiscal impacts analysis for new developments, and has skillfully negotiated and documented cost sharing and development agreements. Peter’s proficiency also extends to reviewing and critiquing development impact fee studies, conducting valuation and feasibility analysis for various land uses, and presenting property tax appeals. His knowledge and expertise have led him to serve as an expert witness in federal court cases.
As a dedicated member of the real estate community, Peter actively participates in several Building Industry Associations, further demonstrating his commitment to staying connected with industry trends and fostering strong relationships within the field.
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Prior to co-founding DPFG, Peter spent seven years with the national accounting firm of Kenneth Leventhal & Company, where he honed his skills and expertise in the Newport Beach office.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Cal State University, Fullerton, underscoring his solid educational foundation and proficiency in financial matters within the real estate industry.
To connect with Peter and explore opportunities for collaboration, please reach out to him at peter.piller@dpfg.com. His wealth of knowledge, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional results make him a trusted partner for all your real estate consulting needs.
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What Drives Us
We started Brikly to bring reliability back to construction. That means honest timelines, clear communication, and work that holds up — inside and out. We’re proud to partner with homeowners, businesses, and developers who care about quality as much as we do.
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