Richie Hurd
COO
Hurd Real Estate
West Des Moines, Iowa
Richie Hurd, a key figure at Hurd Real Estate since 2008, has significantly shaped the commercial real estate landscape in West Des Moines, Iowa. With 18 years dedicated to the industry, Hurd has become synonymous with introducing major retailers to the region, including names like Nordstrom Rack, Topgolf, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, The Container Store, and HomeGoods. His career is marked by innovation, dedication, and a commitment to community growth.
Hurd’s journey in commercial real estate began in 2006, quickly finding a passion for discovering unique opportunities. “I love uncovering new opportunities—whether it’s a sale-leaseback deal or bringing a new-to-market retailer to one of our developments,” Hurd says. This passion has seen him play a pivotal role in aligning business success with customer satisfaction, ensuring every endeavor is a win-win for all involved.
However, his path was not without challenges. Early in his retail investment and development career, Hurd faced the hurdle of drawing attention to Iowa from national retailers. “Historically, Iowa has been overlooked,” he acknowledges. Yet, by building strong relationships with retailers and tenant representation brokers, Hurd has turned this challenge into an advantage, putting Iowa firmly on the retail map.
Hurd attributes much of his success to the mentors who have guided him, especially his father, Richard Hurd. “I’ve watched him work relentlessly to get ahead in commercial real estate,” he recalls. Through these influences and his extensive network in the net lease space, Hurd keeps his fingers on the pulse of national trends and regional nuances, allowing him to find net lease investment opportunities through his network in addition to getting in front of expanding retailers.
Beyond his professional achievements, Hurd has a profound commitment to community service. Honored as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Man of the Year” in 2018, he led a record-breaking fundraising campaign, raising $331,000 in just ten weeks. His community involvement extends to serving on various boards, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Pro Iowa Soccer, reflecting his dedication to fostering growth and well-being in the Des Moines area.
Hurd’s success is complemented by his personal life, where he enjoys spending time with his wife, Megan, and their three young children. An active lifestyle enthusiast, he finds joy in playing soccer, snowboarding, and engaging in regular workouts. Hurd also adores traveling, relishing experiences of different cultures.
His academic background at Creighton University, where he earned a BSBA in Entrepreneurial Management and played on the men’s soccer team, laid a strong foundation for his career. Before joining forces with his father at Hurd Real Estate, Hurd honed his skills at a national real estate firm in Phoenix, focusing on retail investment property sales.
Today, Hurd continues to drive Hurd Real Estate towards new horizons, overseeing acquisitions for net lease properties throughout the US, helping spearheading development projects, and managing banking relations. His leadership and vision have been recognized with accolades like the “Deal of the Year” from the Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association. Hurd’s influence in West Des Moines is felt not only through the businesses he brings but through his unwavering commitment to enhancing community life.
