The Habitat Co is planning splashy platform growth in 2015, and we might see a departure from its traditional multifamily high-rises, a move to the neighborhoods or even deals outside Chicago. Here are a few things you may not know about the new man in charge of it all, Matt Fiascone.
Job title: President, The Habitat Co. (Former president and CEO Mark Segal stepped down in September.)
What that means: The opportunity to lead a company with the perfect combination of a great reputation and an outstanding team.
What your company does: Develop, own and operate multifamily properties. We currently manage 20,000 residential units and have developed more than 17,000 units over our history.
Memorable project: Hubbard Place. Because it’s located right out the window of our offices, it was the most supervised construction project in history. Literally, we could watch it go up minute-by-minute from our main conference room and our head of construction and development had a clear view of the site.
Hometown: Clarendon Hills, IL.
School: Bradley University.
First job: Wendy’s crew member in 1979. I learned that I don’t look good in silly hats.
First commercial real estate job: Inland, working on private LPs in 1986. I spent virtually my entire career there before Habitat, and I’ve been fortunate to work with two real estate legends, both named Dan. (Dan Goodwin at Inland and Dan Levin at Habitat.)
Job in another life: I wanted to be president of the United States. In kindergarten I wrote a letter to President Nixon telling him I hoped to follow in his footsteps (before things went awry). His response got printed in my school newspaper and I’m sure my mother still has it.
Dream dinner party (guests can be alive or dead): Jack Nicklaus, Ronald Reagan and famed Chicago children’s TV host Ray Rayner.
Greatest fear: Needles.
Daily habit: Eating dinner as a family, even if that’s only my wife and me.
Favorite song of the moment: Blue Christmas, an Elvis classic.
Favorite book: Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt.
Favorite movie: Animal House.
Favorite vacation: 2012 Summer Olympics. Both of my kids are competitive swimmers, so the best part was their direct relationship and interest in the swimming events.
Favorite restaurant: Blackbird. You have to try the sturgeon.
Bucket list: Go to the Masters.
Family facts: Married for 28 years to Karen; two children, Austin (23) and Regan (21).
Hobbies: Golf, travel, food and wine.
Startling fact: I’ve lived in six different homes all within a two-mile radius (in Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale). My wife is a fourth-generation Hinsdale resident.
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