Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Today we look at the busy career of Gwen Locher Johnson, vice president of asset management at EPR Properties in Kansas City, Missouri.
After establishing an impressive career in property management, Gwen Locher Johnson has become an advocate for the advancement of commercial real estate in Kansas City. She serves on numerous boards and is involved in several CRE and non-CRE organizations, always taking a lead role in the betterment of the industry and organization.
As a two-time Chair of the ICSC Heartland States Idea Exchange, Locher Johnson has organized regional events bringing together individuals from all sides of CRE to share their knowledge, creativity and perspective. Her position on the KCADC Board of Directors has allowed her to apply a commercial real estate-centric point of view to some of the largest projects underway in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Locher Johnson has also developed a propensity for mentoring young professionals in commercial real estate. Through formal programs including the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Program as well as casual relationships, she has helped mold countless individuals who now play a role in the deal-making seen throughout Kansas City and beyond.
“As real estate landlords and managers we can grow the value of our portfolio while improving the surrounding community,” Locher Johnson said. “Success in this business comes from surrounding yourself with intelligent, interesting people. When you have the right team, you enjoy working and are able to solve problems quickly and creatively.”
In her 20 years of real estate experience, Locher Johnson has managed more than 7 million square feet of properties nationally. Some of her past clients include RED Development, INVESCO and PASSCO, among many others. She has also managed the retail-office portfolio for H&R Block and a $20 million commercial lending portfolio for U.S. Bank. Locher Johnson has also facilitated the fund-raising of more than $30 million for the University of Missouri.
In her spare time, Locher Johnson loves to explore all types of new cities with her husband. Recently they had equally exciting and enlightening trips to places as dissimilar as Dubrovnik, Croatia and Bentonville, Arkansas.
