What You Don't Know About Michael Lanning
Photo: Mike with his kids Jack and Alex in Beaver Creek, CO.
Location: Kansas City, MO.
Position: SVP at Cushman & Wakefield, which includes oversight of a team that manages almost 10M SF and new development in the Kansas City market. I'm also responsible for agency project office leasing assignments totaling almost 1.5M SF, and I'm president-elect of IREM.
How you got involved in property management: I got into property management by chance versus by choice. I was hired as a property manager by a CPM for a real estate syndication company based in Kansas City.
Industry and life extracurriculars: I believe a work-life balance is very important. I love networking with other real estate professionals both in Kansas City and throughout the US. I also believe giving back and supporting charity work by volunteering is important. I am on the board of directors for the American Diabetes Association and also participate in volunteer projects at Harvesters Food Pantry, Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.
Daily habit: I exercise when I get up in the morning, watch some of the Today Show before going to work and regularly make to-do lists.
Photo: Mike with The Simon Cos' Chris Mellen (IREM president) and Managewest's Ben McGrew (IREM secretary/treasurer) at the recent IREM Fall Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City.
Favorite book: It's Your Ship by Capt. Michael Abrashoff.
Favorite music: I love '80s music and frequently attend concerts. Probably been to 15 to 20 in 2015.
Favorite movie: A Few Good Men. I love the scene when Tom Cruise grills Jack Nicholson on the witness stand.
Favorite restaurant: Joe's Seafood in Chicago. Also love the Bristol in Kansas City.
Favorite vacation: Skiing with friends every Super Bowl weekend in Park City, UT.
First job: A busboy in the clubhouse at Aksarben horseracing track in Omaha, NE. Learned how to read a horse racing form when I was 15.
Job in another life: I would enjoy being a tour guide to exotic locations for companies' top performers.
Item on bucket list: Going to the Masters.
Person you'd like to meet, dead or alive: I would love to meet Bill Murray.
Hobbies: I enjoy golfing, snow skiing, tennis, shopping and traveling.
Family life: I have two children—a daughter who graduated from the University of Kansas in May 2014 and now has a great marketing job in KC, and a son who is a freshman at the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk, Go KU!
Startling fact: I have attended a high school reunion party for 38 years in a row. Friends are very important to me.
