Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class in its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Here is a look at one of our newest inductees, Amanda Leathers, who specializes in net lease sales at Minneapolis’ Upland Real Estate Group.
During a successful career that has stretched for more than two decades, Amanda Leathers has contributed to the completion of more than 900 transactions totaling more than $2.8 billion in investment sales.
This success stems from Leathers’ willingness to work long hours, study her market and do anything it takes to help her clients meet her goals. These attributes, along with a knack for closing even the most complicated of deals, have helped Leathers build a steady stream of repeat clients.
Leathers specializes in representing buyers, sellers and tenants on the acquisition or disposition of single- and multi-tenant net-leased investment properties. She has a broad range of clients, including developers, REITs, 1031 exchange buyers, family trusts and tenants. Throughout her career, Leathers has represented such big-name clients as 7-Eleven, Arby’s, Bank of America, CVS Pharmacy, Circle K, Gander Mountain, US Bank, Walgreens and Starbucks.
Leathers says that she truly enjoys working with her team at Upland. They, she says, make coming to work each morning a pleasure.
“The strong bond with my team feels like family,” Leathers said. “I love coming to work with a shared work ethic and passion for overcoming challenges. Building long-term friendships with clients is also a rewarding aspect.”
Leathers attended St. Cloud State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate from the Herberger Business School. Most of her professional career has been at Upland, giving her a unique opportunity to grow strong team bonds, as well as create long-term client relationships.
Being part of a small net lease sales team gives Leathers the ability to see transactions through from start to finish. In this relationship-based industry, Leathers says that clients are her most important asset. One of the primary reasons for her success is that she has been able to maintain existing client relationships, while researching and building new ones.
“Our success comes from the trust of our remarkable clients who have confidence in our team’s dedication,” Leathers said. “Implementing a solid base strategy, researching ways to facilitate connection between buyers and sellers and consistent cold calling are key steps to thriving in this industry. Additionally, I am grateful for the two mentors on my team who provide constant encouragement.”
Leathers’ work ethic and market knowledge have allowed her to overcome some of the challenges in the commercial real estate business.
“Dealing with market uncertainties, such as the impact of rising interest rates, has been challenging,” she said. “I prioritize clients’ goals and work to find solutions to ensure their success.”
When not working, Leathers enjoys spending quality moments with family and friends, practicing yoga and taking part in any activity on the water.
Leathers is actively involved with several real estate associations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers, Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors and St. Cloud State University Real Estate Alumni Association.
