Jim Adler
Founding member, shareholder
NAI Hiffman
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
Jim Adler, a founding member and shareholder at NAI Hiffman, serves as Executive Vice President within the Office Services Group. With nearly three decades of experience, Adler has become a cornerstone in the suburban Chicagoland office market, delivering exceptional expertise and a client-focused approach that have earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor in commercial real estate.
Adler’s client portfolio spans a diverse range of users and landlords, including start-up entrepreneurs, mid-size firms, and large institutional organizations. A skilled negotiator, he prides himself on listening intently to his clients to identify and address their unique real estate challenges. By fostering clear communication and leveraging his industry insights, Adler ensures that his clients consistently receive tailored solutions.
Throughout his career, Adler has demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate the complexities of the commercial real estate industry. His expertise extends to collaboration with landlords, lenders, property managers, contractors and other industry professionals.
“Always having a different problem to solve really attracted me to the business,” Adler said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of variety with our business in terms of the types of companies we work with and the types of issues they have with commercial real estate. I enjoy meeting with different companies that do wildly different things in different places to be successful.”
Adler’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. His accolades include multiple CoStar Power Broker honors, Duke Realty Product Broker of the Year (2006), Duke Realty Investment Transaction of the Year (2008), and NAIOP Office Transaction of the Year (2017). His expertise has been sought by several prominent publications, including REjournals, The Daily Herald, GlobeSt., CoStar and The Chicago Tribune.
Adler attributes his success to his ability to listen—a skill he views as paramount in building trust and delivering results.
“You have to be a really good listener,” he said. “Often, there’s a sales component to our business, and brokers focus on selling services instead of listening to what the client really needs. I think that listening piece is paramount, and that’s really something that I’ve gotten good at over the years.”
This dedication to active listening has not only earned him the trust of his clients but has also helped him establish lasting relationships and attract new business.
“People have had a good experience when we’ve worked together,” Adler said. “Hopefully, I’ve given them what they need, I’ve listened to their issues, and gained their trust, which, at the end of the day, is the most important thing that we can offer to our clients.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Adler is committed to giving back to the community. As an active member of the ‘Just Cure It’ team, he plays a key role in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Chicago’s fundraising efforts. His team’s work supports Light the Night, one of Chicagoland’s largest fundraisers dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers. Adler is also a supporter of Misericordia, a Chicago-based organization that provides care and support for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.
Outside of his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Adler values time spent with his wife and four children. He enjoys golf, tennis and running.
