MKE Forward, Powered by Colliers

Curious about Capital Markets? Interested to learn exactly what that term truly means, how the market has been impacted by the pandemic and other drivers of change in the markets? On our most recent episode of MKE Forward, our hosts Adam Connor and Tom Shepherd delve into the world of real estate investing with Andy Sinclair, CEO and President of Midloch. Midloch, a boutique real estate firm, is a strong institutional investor of real estate private equity. Listen in as we discuss both the impact the pandemic had on investing in commercial real estate and what the investing future looks like for Downtown Milwaukee and across the US.

In MKE Forward’s 2020 wrap up episode Colliers | Wisconsin market experts, Matt Fahey, Bill Langhoff and Josh Minkin, review the challenges and successes of their respective sectors from the past year.  Despite the challenges, the Office, Industrial and Retail markets all proved that the markets can be resilient and expectations can be exceeded with a thoughtful and intentional mindset. Tune in and listen to our year in review and the aspiration we have for the year ahead.

Where we work and how we work have changed trajectory drastically since March. Office space, specifically how we build and operate within space is a fascinating topic that is ever evolving. More and more, furniture designers are a key player in how a finished space is used by its occupants. On this episode of MKE Forward, listen in to hear our conversation with two individuals who are experiencing these shifts first hand.  We are fortunate to welcome New York based Dennis Murphy and Annette Barrelet of Teknion, a Toronto based global contract furniture designer and manufacture. Both work with clients all over the country and share the trends they are seeing, what companies around the country are doing and what trends they expect to continue both during a socially distant world and after. Listen in to hear the highlights of their conversation in just 15 minutes.  

On October 22, the west side of the Hoan Bridge was officially lit. At first look, the lights make for a pretty picture or a unique urban infrastructure project.  But those who were behind the lights will tell you it is so much more. Light the Hoan is a symbol for our community and our city. It is bridge between cultures, backgrounds and experiences meant to Shine a Light on the areas in which, as a community, we can do more to come together to strengthen our city. Listen in to hear from two of the men who made Lighting the Hoan a reality, Michael Hostad and Greg Marshall. Hear from them the things that you might not see at first, but what drove them and their partners to move forward with this project and how this is just the beginning.  

From memorable advertisements and marketing, to best-in-class customer service and selection, Wheel & Sprocket is Wisconsin’s most iconic bicycle shop. This week we sit down with is Noel Kegel as he gives an inside look at this larger than life brand. Noel’s father Chris was hired as a bicycle mechanic two weeks after their opening in 1973, and over the course of the next 16 years, worked his way up to sole owner and president. Fast forward to today, Wheel & Sprocket operates 9 locations throughout Wisconsin & Northern Illinois, and Noel, along with his sister Amelia, are the co-owners of this second-generation family company. Tune in as Noel shares the history of Wheel & Sprocket, explains the recent national bike shortage, and gives a look into their new Bay View headquarters. 

While many property types are facing uncertainty, industrial product nationwide seems to be persisting, and in some cases, even exceeding expectations. To gain insight on how the industrial market has changed and adapted during the ongoing pandemic, MKE Forward is talking with Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for STAG Industrial, Brad Sweeney. With 91.8 million square feet across 38 states, the team at STAG Industrial has a bird’s-eye view of the events, trends and activity impacting properties in the Wisconsin market and across the country. Listen in to hear about the current state of the industrial world, as well as how the SE Wisconsin market stacks up on a national scale. 

In the third part of our series on race, one of our community’s leading leader joins MKE Forward for this important conversation. Keith Stanley, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners shares the integral role his family had on his journey and also key experiences throughout his life when he has been exposed to new things. While for some, exposure to new things is nice to have, for Keith, and many others in our community, it can make all the difference. Keith credits the success of programs like the ACRE program to the exposure they bring to individuals who otherwise would not be able to achieve certain milestones, not because they can’t, but because they don’t know these milestones and opportunities even exist. His experience and passion for his community have translated into his work for the Near West Side Partners (NWSP), making it a model for future neighborhoods and communities. Keith details the experiences and work of the NWSP and more in the latest episode of MKE Forward. 

Our nation and our community are hurting. Over the next few episodes, we are taking a step back to have a difficult conversation about race on MKE Forward. We enter this conversation not because we have the answers but because we want and need to listen and learn. It’s too important not too. 

Our first guest is Michael Emem, founder of Emem Group and an important leader in the Milwaukee real estate industry. Michael, an ACRE and UWM graduate, is a black commercial real estate professional in an industry dominated by whites. Michael walks us through his journey, why and how he started out in real estate and his experience in the industry. He also discusses and explains some of the historical mechanisms that helped create the racial divide that exists today. 

Milwaukee’s downtown halted in mid-march. Now almost three months later, many are asking will downtown ever be the same? What will dining look like and when? While we don’t have all the answers, we at Colliers, along with our guests from Milwaukee Downtown BID #21, are eager to do our part. Hear from Beth Weirick and Erica Chang of BID 21 about what they have done through the pandemic to continue to serve our downtown community. From surveys to an exciting new challenge, Comeback Cuisine, that aims to support and bolster downtown restaurants and community outreach we cover it all on this episode. Listen in to hear actionable steps about how you can step up to the challenge and help support downtown businesses.