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leadership profiles: |
Peter
E. Ricker Mr. Ricker’s accomplishments in developing, positioning, leasing, and managing office properties and industrial portfolios nationwide have made him among the most respected real estate executives in the United States. In 1998, Mr. Ricker spearheaded the creation of MB Real Estate from the merger of two real estate entities and became its Chairman and CEO. Based in Chicago and operating throughout the Midwest and East Coast, MB Real Estate offers full-service real estate solutions to corporations, institutions, professional organizations, private investors, and non-profit agencies. Under Mr. Ricker’s leadership, MB Real Estate was reengineered to be better equipped for the 21st century. Revitalizing the company’s structure and philosophy, he chartered a new direction that reflects modern business models, incorporates new industry lines, and streamlines support divisions. Upon the creation of MB Real Estate, Mr. Ricker personally secured two of Chicago’s most prestigious and profitable management and leasing portfolios—Citigroup Center and 230 West Monroe, owned by GE Asset Management, and One North Dearborn, One North LaSalle, and 360 North Michigan, owned by The Chetrit Group. In addition, Mr. Ricker helped to secure Chicago’s high-profile Michigan Plaza management and leasing assignment in 2005. MB Real Estate currently holds a management portfolio of over 17 million square feet of real estate assets and facilities in the Midwest and East Coast. Building on the company’s reputation as one of the strongest forces in Chicago-area leasing, Mr. Ricker has actively developed a senior-level leasing team of top industry experts. Today, MB Real Estate leases the fourth largest portfolio in Chicago and had the highest percentage of leased space among its competitors in 2005. Mr. Ricker has also grown MB Real Estate’s construction capabilities, redeveloping almost 5 million square feet of office properties in the last three years, including Citigroup Center, 230 West Monroe, and Michigan Plaza. As Mr. Ricker grows MB Real Estate’s resources and secures experienced team members, he has cemented MB Real Estate’s place as one of the most dynamic forces in the Midwest and East Coast real estate marketplaces. Mr. Ricker began his career at The Helmsley Organization during one of New York’s most difficult real estate markets. Successful in leasing the virtually empty, 2.5 million square foot One Penn Plaza, he went on to form The Helmsley Organization’s brokerage group and led its institutional portfolio as it expanded to over 20 million square feet in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. In 1989, Mr. Ricker became chairman of the Galbreath Company, where he developed a tenant representation group of more than 100 brokers and increased the company’s management and leasing portfolio by 500 percent in the Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania markets. Under his leadership, the Galbreath team served major institutional clients such as General Electric, Metropolitan Life, Principal Financial, and Goldman Sachs. Mr. Ricker’s other real estate successes include his role in directing the development of California’s award-winning 1.1 million square foot Oakland Federal Office Building; his partnership with The Trump Organization and General Electric to arrange the redevelopment of the Gulf and Western Building into the Trump International Hotel and Tower; his redevelopment of the Delmonico Hotel to Trump Park Avenue; his $40 million redevelopment and repositioning of Pittsburgh’s USX Tower, where he leased an average of 200,000 square feet annually during a 5-year period; and his redevelopment and repositioning of 14 Wall Street, enabling it to recapture value it had previously lost. In recognition of his accomplishments and civic involvement, Mr. Ricker has received honors including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor award, the American Cancer Society of Monmouth County’s Person of the Year award, and Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year award (finalist). In addition, he has been honored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation for his exemplary citizenship and contributions to the City of Chicago. He also received the prestigious Building with Books Global Impact Award in recognition of his tremendous efforts to launch and support the Building with Books Chicago chapter. Mr. Ricker presently serves on the New York University Advisory Council, is active on The Real Estate Board of New York’s Brokers Committee, and is a member of the Counselors of Real Estate. |
