Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. This year, we’re also profiling these newest members on REjournals.com. Today, we highlight the busy career of Michael Bennett, brokerage senior vice president with the Southfield, Michigan, office of Colliers International.
What kind of year was 2019 for Colliers International‘s Michael Bennett? An exceptional one. Bennett, brokerage senior vice president with the Southfield, Michigan, office of Colliers International, closed more than 2.1 million square feet of transactions last year.
And this isn’t a rarity. Bennett has enjoyed many big years during his commercial real estate career of more than 35 years. It’s why Bennett has been a frequent winner of the Colliers Everest Club Award, given to the top 10 percent of Colliers brokers in the United States. He has also ranked as a top-five producer in Colliers’ Detroit region several times.
Bennett has played a key role in the Detroit-area CRE industry, orchestrating many complex build-to-suit transactions and multiple tenant consolidations during the last three-plus decades. Both national and local companies have relied on Bennett’s talents to complete transactions involving corporate headquarters, manufacturing plants, warehouses, medical buildings and logistics facilities.
What’s the secret to his success? Bennett’s peers says that this industry veteran gives the same effort to the 1,500-square-foot tenant as he does those seeking 1.5-million-square-foot deals.
“Both tenants have similar goals, achieving the best possible outcome for their company, and the broker has the task of delivering,” Bennett said.
Bennett is also constantly learning. This includes spending more of his time reading books and taking classes with the goal of improving the already stellar service he can provide to his clients.
“Putting the client first is the paramount foundation of all successful transactions and the forming of long-term relationships,” Bennett said.
What’s equally impressive, though, is Bennett’s willingness to help others. His peers say that Bennett has always employed an open-door policy for CRE professionals who need his help or advice.
When not working, Bennett prefers spending his time outdoors. Hunting, fishing and golfing top his list of favored out-of-office activities. He is also a car enthusiast and is currently on the hunt for a project car to tackle.