Maintenance Team

Martin Ensbury

MARTIN ENSBURY, CEO, is one of 3 founding members of WESTSTAR, Inc. Martin and two partners started WESTSTAR over 10 years ago because they were unhappy with the services, maintenance and reporting that they were receiving from their prior property management companies.

WESTSTAR has grown from managing the 400 units Martin and his partners own, to managing over 2,600 units in the greater Los Angeles market. Martin works closely with Brent Gibeaut, President of Weststar, in managing WESTSTAR’s 50 employees and directly with many of WESTSTAR’s clients.

Martin has been a real estate broker since 1980 and has sold over 1,000 apartment buildings, 30 shopping centers, and 50 single tenant, NNN properties. He is an expert in helping clients with their 1031 tax deferred exchanges.

As owner of ML Commercial Properties, Inc., Martin owns, and asset manages 25 apartment buildings and shopping centers. Martin has successfully renovated over 100 apartment buildings in the greater Los Angeles market.

Martin graduated from UCLA in 1980 with a BS in Business and Economics. He is an active member of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angles and the Southern California Apartment Owners Association.

Brent Gibeaut

President of WESTSTAR, Inc., responsible for overseeing approximately 50 employees including the executive leadership team, property managers, maintenance technicians, and on-site managers.  As acting President of WESTSTAR, Brent is currently the lead supervisor for a portfolio of 2,600+ apartment units and 250+ buildings in the Greater Los Angeles area. Brent is the central correspondent with owners on a day-to-day basis and is actively involved in helping our clients maximize investment returns while protecting risk from potential issues.  Brent is very involved with the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles and other groups on the front lines protecting landlord rights in California.

Formerly the Chief Operating Officer, Asset Manager, and Head of Acquisitions for ML Commercial Properties, Inc., Brent has unique experience with identifying, underwriting, and operating a syndication of apartment buildings throughout Los Angeles and shopping centers across the country.  During his time with ML Commercial Properties, Brent was an integral part of closing approximately $200+ million in multifamily and retail acquisitions and dispositions.  In addition, he has significant knowledge of the debt market, assisting in the close of $100M+ in CMBS, Fannie/Freddie, and conventional bank loans.  His 13+ year involvement with ML Commercial Properties led to his new role as President of WESTSTAR, who has actively managed the syndicate’s apartment portfolio for approximately 10 years.

In addition to his involvement on the ownership side, Brent also has a great knowledge of the commercial brokerage space, providing support for The Ensbury Group, a multifamily and retail brokerage firm under the Lyon Stahl Investment Real Estate umbrella. He has successfully assisted hundreds of clients on the acquisition and disposition of real estate assets of all product types.

Brent graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.  His free time is spent with his family, on the golf course, and watching Dodgers baseball and Michigan football.

Albert Ponce

Albert Ponce is a seasoned property management professional with over 16 years of experience in the industry. As the Vice President of Property Management at WESTSTAR for the past 7.5 years, Albert oversees the entire property management department, which includes 29 team members, consisting of senior property managers, property managers, assistant property managers, and on-site property managers.

Albert manages an extensive portfolio of over 2,600 units across 250 properties, including apartment buildings, triplexes, duplexes, and single-family homes. His responsibilities encompass all aspects of property management, from ensuring smooth rent collection totaling approximately $4.6 million monthly to providing expert-level oversight of Section 8 housing and rent control compliance. Albert’s deep understanding of market rates and his ability to navigate complex regulations have made him a trusted resource within the company and the industry.

Albert works closely with the President of WESTSTAR to drive the company’s growth and success. He is in constant communication with property owners, staff, vendors, and tenants to ensure seamless operations and high levels of satisfaction.

Albert’s journey in property management began 16 years ago as a property manager. His dedication and expertise led to a position as a senior property manager with American Capital Realty group before joining WESTSTAR, where he has since played an instrumental role in shaping the company’s property management department.

In his free time, Albert enjoys spending time with his family and watching his favorite sports, including baseball, football, and basketball.

Connor Vartanian

Vice President of Marketing for WESTSTAR, Connor plays a critical role in driving the company’s brand, client acquisition, and retention strategies. His responsibilities include marketing strategy development, brand management, lead generation, market analysis, team collaboration, and digital marketing management.

With over a decade of experience in commercial real estate, Connor’s background includes a diverse range of specialties in sales, acquisitions, leasing, and property management. He began his career as an agent with Hoyt Realty & Investments, a boutique firm in Long Beach, CA, focusing on office, retail, medical, and industrial sales and leasing across Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County. In 2018, Connor joined Keller Williams Beach Cities with The Ensbury Group, where he quickly became an expert in multifamily properties, 1031 exchanges, and NNN sales, while also launching his own multifamily investment portfolio. By 2021, The Ensbury Group joined Lyon Stahl, where Connor continued his real estate career as a Senior Associate.

Connor’s journey with WESTSTAR began as a Senior Property Manager, where he oversaw a portfolio of more than 200 units. During this time, he excelled in delivering exceptional service to property owners, successfully negotiating buyouts and managing major delinquency collections. His unmatched work ethic and innovative marketing approach led to his transition to Vice President of Marketing.

Connor’s unique background in both brokerage and property management gives him a deep understanding of what property owners need and expect. His proactive, owner-centric marketing strategies ensure WESTSTAR remains a leader in property management solutions, offering tailored, results-driven services that align with client goals.

Connor Graduated from the University of Arizona in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. In his free time, Connor enjoys spending time with close friends and family, going to the beach, and golfing.

Nestor Saucedo

Nestor Saucedo joined Westar Properties team in 2017 and currently holds the position of VP of ALL FIX Maintenance & Construction.

Nestor has an active contracter license from the state of California and has been in the construction business for almost two decades. His expertise ranges from basic residential projects to commercial.  At Westar Properties, Nestor monitors projects from start to finish ensuring a successful completion and property owner’s satisfaction. He oversees that projects meet required quality standards and are completed on time.

Outside of work, Nestor enjoys spending quality time with his family.