How I got here
My industry career started in 1982 at Atlantic Insulation in Quincy, MA. The company was a union commercial HVAC, piping, ductwork and plumbing insulation sub-contractor founded in the 1960s by a WW2 Navy veteran named Joe Gilmartin. Joe hired me to be an estimator, which became my day-to-day job, but over my four-year stint at Atlantic Insulation Joe showed me how to run a small business.
I learned from Joe an important concept that I still use and apply: businesses relationships are comprised of both a Client and Customer, and they are not exclusively the same person, business or entity.
Yes, Joe viewed the HVAC and Plumbing contractors that hired and paid us for our services as the Client, but also viewed the project’s Developer/Owner as the Customer. This simple business concept has been an invaluable tool in bringing clarity to all types of decision making and outcome strategies.
Turner Construction – Chicago, IL
My next career move was to the Chicago office of Turner Construction, where I learned all aspects of being a professional builder. In my ten years at Turner, I got to build everything from a 62-story High Rise to a 300,000 SF greenfield High School.
Turner offered me invaluable exposure to various job experiences in project engineering, field operations, business development and marketing. In addition, they provided a world class employee training program that helped me learn and appreciate the process, procedures, orientation and discipline of how large corporations function.
Lillibridge Health Trust – Chicago, IL
Believing in myself and given the tools and experience Turner gave me to deliver a successful construction project of any type, I then moved within Turner into real estate development, and a Director of Development position at a newly created REIT, Lilllibridge Health Trust.
Six years at Lillibridge gave me experience in a real estate organization structured as a “Department Shop” vs “Deal Shop.” Lillibridge has all aspects of a REIT: business development, acquisitions, development, property management, leasing, asset management, accounting and funding operated internally by a dedicated corporate team.
McShane Development / Conor Commercial Real Estate – Chicago, IL
After learning all aspects of a REIT environment, I wanted to move to a real estate development “Deal Shop.” That happened for me per my move and subsequent 10 years at McShane Development / Conor Commercial Real Estate as a Vice President of Development.
To succeed at a “Deal Shop,” you have to source a deal, close funding, construct the building, fill the building with tenants and sell the leased asset at a profit for your investors and company. This process can take 18 to 36 months and is both challenging and rewarding. I thrived in this environment, successfully delivering all types of deals at compelling profit margins.
Structured Real Estate – Chicago, IL & Phoenix, AZ
My experience in four unique companies, a Sub-Subcontractor, a General Contractor, a Real Estate REIT and a Real Estate Development Company afforded me the tools and confidence to lead the start-up of a real estate development company.
In 2015, I became a Founding Partner, Owner and day-to-day Principal manager of Structured Real Estate, along with two construction industry veterans as partners. The new company was launched as a “Deal Shop” and proceeded to successfully develop and sell various real estate projects in excess of $120 million over 7 years. The returns to investors ranged from 19% to 35%.
As a business owner and partner that personally guarantees construction loans and the business line of credit, I came to truly understand what all business owners experience – overall personal financial responsibility!
Adaptable Real Estate – Chicago, IL
Adaptable Real Estate is a business I created to help other businesses grow and succeed. One of my mentors, who was similarly “seasoned”, professed the idea of “Learn - Earn - Return.” I have been very fortunate to benefit from continuous learning and growth by embracing adaptability in my diverse career experiences. My version of “Return” is to work with companies, organizations, boards and projects applying my 40 years of creating and delivering successful outcomes and results.
