About

Growing up in the central valley of California, Jim was instilled at a young age with a can-do attitude and a strong work ethic. Jim moved to San Diego in 2006, and began his real estate career in 2007 as a realtor in the commercial sector focusing on selling properties leased to the federal government. In 2010, Jim obtained his real estate Broker’s license and transitioned over to residential real estate as a distressed real estate analyst with PGI Investments. Jim’s contributions to PGI were outstanding as year after year he led the acquisition team in volume, and helped the company flip over 100 homes during his tenure. In 2014, Jim realized that he was ready for new challenges and felt confident that he could run his own operation. Jim partnered up with a business associate and formed Apollo Realty Investments.

Jim experienced great success and growth during his ownership of Apollo with almost 250 flipped homes sold during his tenure. From 2014-2016 he grew the company from zero to eight employees and sold over $34 million in 2016 alone. With over 1,800 home flips managed, Jim has acquired very unique and valuable experiences. He has a talent and perspective that not many real estate investors possess. Jim is driven and passionate about his craft but more importantly, he seeks opportunities to learn and improve his business every day. In addition to his career, Jim is dedicated to his family life and community. Jim will often mentor newer fix and flip investors, volunteer at his children’s school, and has served as a Board Member for the Rancho Penasquitos YMCA.

Kristina Krutop is a San Diego, CA native and grew up with a love for real estate.  She began her career in public accounting after receiving her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Accounting from California State University San Marcos in 2010. Kristina’s accounting experience is unique in that she has worked in both the tax and audit field as well as the private sector. Her tax and audit work includes private companies, non-profits, and trusts.

In 2016, Kristina co-founded Hawthorn & Albatross with the intention of building an organization that treats residential "flipping" as an art. Kristina is an extremely driven, strong, and passionate individual. In addition to her career, Kristina is an active participant in her local community volunteering hundreds of hours each year to local charitable organizations. She serves as President on the Board of Directors for the National Charity League, Inc. Surf Cities Chapter and is an active volunteer in both her children's schools.

Matt Crusco has been with Hawthorn & Albatross for 8+ years in various roles and has worked for the company since he first moved to San Diego in 2017. He started his career as a consultant for Ernst & Young in the Washington D.C. area after graduating from James Madison University in 2013. In 2016, Matt left his consulting career to bicycle across the United States from Yorktown, VA to San Diego, CA. During this trip, Matt’s interest in real estate investing peaked while listening to various real estate podcasts and audiobooks. He ultimately decided to switch career paths and cities after this cross-country adventure, joining Kristina and Jim as the first employee at Hawthorn & Albatross.

He is a positive, thoughtful and determined individual with lofty real estate goals. Recently Matt got married and became the COO at Hawthorn & Albatross! Outside of work, Matt spends his time playing golf, hitting the beach, and hanging with his wife Moriah, their son Mayer, and their two dogs Taz & Grizzly.

VP OF PROJECT MANAGEment

Bob White

Bob White was born in Long Beach Calif. He has been living in North San Diego since 2010. He started his construction career in the Air Force, as a Carpenter Specialist in the Civil Engineering Squadron. Since then he has been involved in many facets of construction , from hands on to management, in both commercial and residential. In his spare time he enjoys surfing , golfing, and spending time with his family.

SENIOR CORPORATE ACCOUNTANT

Angelica Zamaro

Angelica Zamaro was born and raised in sunny San Diego, with early roots just across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up between two cultures gave her a deep appreciation for connection and adaptability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from San Diego State University and later completed her MBA at the University of San Diego. Angelica has built her accounting career working with real estate and home improvement companies, gaining valuable experience in operations, finance, and client relations. 

Outside of work, Angelica loves spending time with family and friends, beach walks with her dog Coconut, and staying active with Pilates. She’s known for her commitment to living with integrity, curiosity, and balance. One of her favorite reminders: “The world is your oyster—make it what you want.”