About Contemporary Concepts Inc

Mike Breheny

Founder and CEO

Mike Breheny is the founder and CEO of Contemporary Concepts Inc.  His career in real estate began in 2003 when he purchased a home at auction in his hometown of Santa Fe New, Mexico.  He renovated it, flipped it and then moved to Chicago.  Since moving to Chicago in 2004, Mike has been involved in the development and construction of 700 units valued at $375 million of real estate projects.  Mike lives in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago with his wife, Jen and their children, Danny, Tommy and Ally.  

Henry Richardson

Director of Development

Henry currently serves as Director of Development at Contemporary Concepts. He brings 7 years of construction and engineering experience to the company, having previously worked as a mechanical engineer as well as in Project Engineer and Project Manager roles at major General Contractors in Washington DC and Chicago. Henry currently manages day to day construction activities at active sites as well as preconstruction for upcoming projects. Originally hailing from Santa Barbara, CA, Henry holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University, and in his spare time enjoys playing rugby for a local club, cooking, and enjoying Chicago's lakefront.

TJ Liston

Project Manager + Site Supervisor

TJ Liston is a highly experienced Project Manager/Site Supervisor with over 25 years spent in the construction industry. Originally from Limerick, Ireland, TJ's journey began with a rigorous apprenticeship in carpentry, followed by further honing of his trade here in Chicago. Throughout his career, TJ has worked on a diverse range of projects, including high-end single-family homes, multifaceted residential units, and bespoke commercial spaces.  In his role, TJ is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our construction projects. This encompasses pricing, coordinating trades, managing schedules, ensuring quality control, liaising with the Chicago Building Department for inspections and also serving as the primary point of contact on-site. 

TJ’s dedication to seeing each concept materialize from paper to structure exemplifies his passion for new construction projects. His commitment to timely completions and his strong leadership skills enable him to motivate teams to meet deadlines and deliver projects on time. Tradesmen appreciate his dedication to maintaining efficient workflows, which fosters a positive working environment. 

Beyond his professional pursuits, TJ is an avid sports enthusiast. He enjoys coaching children and developing their skills in soccer, Hurling and Gaelic Football. Through these activities, TJ actively fosters a love for physical activity and teamwork in the next generation. 

Robert Sawina 

Project Manager + Site Supervisor

Robert Sawina has been a site supervisor and Project Manager at CCI for over 10 years.  Prior to joining CCI he owned and operated his own construction company.  Robert has over 25 years’ experience managing construction of residential and commercial real estate projects.   He has mastered the skills of carpentry and completed several courses in Architecture.

Jen Breheny

Principal

Jen has over 20 years of experience in finance, acquisitions, and residential development.  She graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Iowa and then began a career in Commercial Banking at JP Morgan Chase.  She spent most of her corporate career at Citizens Financial group in the Commercial Real Estate Group.  Through her tenure there she worked on middle market and institutional loans as a portfolio manager and underwriter.   Jen spent two years in the Bank’s Work Out Group during the Great Recession restructuring distressed loans.   Jen has been a part of CCI since it’s inception.  She has worked on several projects ranging from a gut renovation of an 1890’s historic home to a luxury Villa in Costa Rica and several other single-family homes, condo and apartment projects in between.  Jen has been a licensed Illinois managing real estate broker since 2005.  Jen is adept at structuring, negotiating, financing and brokering real estate deals.   After many years in the real estate business and living in many different homes, Jen appreciates the importance of highly functional and well-designed space that is structured for an optimal return.  When Jen is not busy finding the next project she can be found planning a vacation, playing tennis or hanging out with Mike and their 3 kids.