As director of development of the Midwest and Ohio Valley regions at the Chicago office of CRG, Ben Weinstein supports all aspects of the firm’s industrial projects, from site selection through completion.
CRG’s national industrial development platform, marketed as The Cubes, serves many nationally recognized brands and Fortune 500 companies. In all, the company has planned, broken ground on or completed over 71.6 million square feet of industrial projects during the last 10 years.
Weinstein is a vital member of CRG’s development team, building on the impact he made during his time with CRG’s parent company, Clayco, where he worked as a preconstruction engineer before transitioning to his current role.
Here’s a glimpse into what Weinstein shared about his budding career in the real estate industry.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
Ben Weinstein: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and the city has always given me an appreciation for architecture and design. For my undergrad, I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I majored in construction management. During my time in school, I was a TA for an Auto CAD class, and I interned with several national construction companies where I gained firsthand experience and insight into the industry.
How did you get your start in the industry?
Weinstein: As a kid, I discovered a natural talent for math and science, which, combined with an interest in architecture, shaped my career aspirations for development. These aspirations became a reality soon after graduation when I joined Clayco as a preconstruction engineer. There, I gained a critical foundation in construction management that would further benefit my career growth when I joined the CRG development team as an associate supporting the Midwest and Ohio Valley regions.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
Weinstein: The relationships I developed while working at Clayco made my transition to development at CRG much smoother. I came into CRG being very familiar with The Cubes brand and the firm’s popular design standards. Clayco is the design-builder for many CRG projects, so I can leverage the in-house resources and connections I had already established to improve our operational efficiencies for industrial development.
Because of working at Clayco, I brought a good baseline of construction knowledge to CRG on Day One. But I recognized there was a lot to learn about real estate development. Having access to great mentors like Kevin Scott, Susan Bergdoll, Jeff Lanaghan and CRG’s CEO Shawn Clark ensured that I had all the tools and information that I needed to be successful in all aspects of the real estate development project lifecycle.
What does an average day at work look like?
Weinstein: I oversee daily operations for CRG’s industrial projects in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, such as The Cubes at ORD in Franklin Park, Illinois; The Cubes at French Lake in Dayton, Minnesota; and The Cubes at Sparta Pike near Nashville, Tennessee.
Each has unique aspects; with Cubes at ORD, for example, we identified a highly sought-after infill location that enabled us to develop a 66,552-square-foot industrial project on 4.27 acres that will bring a modern and efficient space with direct access to one of the world’s busiest airports. Regardless of the project, the objective remains consistent: Deliver the facility on time, within budget, and of the highest quality.
My responsibilities include overseeing site due diligence, managing design and construction coordination, navigating entitlements, obtaining building permits, supervising construction, supporting leasing and tenant buildout, and serving as the primary point of contact with our tenants — all to meet the needs of our clients.
What do you like most about your job?
Weinstein: Every day brings something different; it keeps development interesting. The most rewarding part of my job is the tangible nature of it: witnessing a building’s transformation from concept to completion. The Cubes at Country Club Hills is a perfect example of this. CRG built this 1,033,450-square-foot speculative industrial facility at interstates 57 and 80 in Country Club Hills, Illinois, and leased it to Solo Cup/Dart Container, and I was the lead on the tenant buildout.
Just a few months later, I had the chance to visit. The facility manager gave me a tour in a golf cart, and I saw how the once-empty shell had transformed into a bustling space filled with products and people. It was incredibly rewarding to see Solo Cup’s vision become a reality and hear the clients express their gratitude for the space and the work we completed.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve/work on that you haven’t already?
Weinstein: My goal is to source my own deal and see it through from start to finish. Identifying a land site, presenting it to our investment committee and bringing the vision for the building to life would be very fulfilling.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
Weinstein: My fiancé and I are planning our wedding for 2026. Wedding planning has been one of our main focuses for the year ahead. Additionally, I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, and playing guitar.
