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Job title: Managing Principal, Brennan Investment Group. (Snapped on the left, above, with one of my business partners, Sam Mandarino, after running a Tough Mudder last fall in St. Louis.)
What that means: Doing a little bit of everything. I spend most of my time finding purchase opportunities in the Midwest but also work on portfolio acquisitions, long-term sale/leasebacks, sales of existing buildings, and company operations.
What your company does: All things industrial—manufacturing, warehouse, flex, and more. We spend the majority of our time looking for industrial acquisition opportunities. Our deals include: value-add buildings/portfolios, ground-up construction, long-term net leases, and some special circumstance acquisitions outside of industrial (like single-story office). By the end of the year, our owned/managed portfolio will be 20M SF, valued over $1B, across 22 states.
Memorable project: It’s hard to isolate one, but we’ve done four $150M-plus portfolio deals since June 2012, which have been very memorable. We don’t have a huge organization, but they’re the result of long hours and the concentrated effort of all of our staff. The deals closed quickly within just a few months, and it’s always a huge relief when the funds move and the deal is done.
Hometown: Born in Harvey, Ill., grew up in Racine, Wis.
School: DePaul undergrad, law degree and MS in real estate from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
First job: Taught tennis at a country club and a park district.
First CRE job: Worked for Draper and Kramer during college (’88-’91) in the residential loan division as an FHA and VA loan clerk.
How it came full circle: In ’99 with Prime Group Realty Trust, I bought Draper and Kramer’s building where I had worked as a clerk, 33 W Monroe.
Job in another life: Playing in the NBA. I’m a Bulls season ticket holder and like our prospects this season if we can stay injury-free.
Favorite Bulls player: Joakim Noah. He plays with passion, heart, and intensity.
Person (living or dead) to meet: Late UW professor James Graaskamp.
Greatest fear: I’m getting more afraid of heights as I get older. My daughter asked me to go skydiving with her but it scares the hell out of me.
Daily habit: Working out, including soccer, basketball, CrossFit, yoga, running, P90X, etc.
Favorite music group: Beastie Boys.
Favorite song: “One” by U2.
Favorite books: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
Favorite movies: Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption.
Favorite vacation: We go to Europe and Puerto Rico quite a bit (my wife is Puerto Rican). Europe is about once a year with the kids and we always go somewhere new.
Favorite restaurant: I’ve been going to Maki Sushi in Park Ridge with the kids since they were born.
Bucket list: Travel to Asia and go on safari in Africa. (My wife did it in Kenya last year while filming a documentary with E’s Kat Sadler.)
Family facts: Wife Sandy, 13-year-old daughter Samantha, and 16-year-old son Sean. (Talk about alliteration. The family is pictured in Rome this summer.)
Domestic chore you’re good at: Not making the bed. I am pretty good at organizing. Cabinets, files, closets, you name it.
Hobbies: Used to coach a lot, watching sports, reading, movies, traveling, working out, and I’m good with spreadsheets.
Startling fact: I can eat a whole medium-stuffed Giordano’s pizza, and it’s happened more than once.
