Jacob Swartz currently serves as senior analyst, acquisitions and asset management for Oak Brook-based Clear Height Properties, in which role he assists the asset management and acquisition teams with sourcing, underwriting, and modeling current and prospective investments.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb roughly 30 minutes from Chicago, and went to Highland Park High School. After graduation, I went on to study at Miami (Ohio) University’s Farmer School of Business. I also played on Miami’s football team as a kicker and punter.
How did you get your start in the industry?
My start in the industry came from an internship opportunity at Clear Height Properties, which then materialized into a full-time role as an analyst on the acquisitions & asset management team. Currently, I am a senior analyst on the team with a focus on sourcing and underwriting acquisition targets for core-plus & value-add industrial investment strategies throughout the Midwest.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
My exposure to investment strategies at the hedge fund High Ridge, sales and investor relations at Morgan Stanley and financial modeling at Copper Beech provided me with the necessary footing to begin my career.
My biggest mentor over the past two years, however, has been Clear Height Properties’ CEO, Dominic Sergi. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with him daily and have received invaluable guidance and advice on both a personal and professional basis.
What does an average day in the life of Jacob look like?
In a fast-paced environment with multiple target markets and investment strategies, each day feels new and exciting. That being said, it’s safe to say my average day has some combination of deal sourcing and underwriting, meetings with brokers and discussing investments with lenders and equity partners.
What do you like most about your job?
I feel that the acquisitions seat is the perfect crossroads of creativity, entrepreneurship, and disciplined investment thesis execution. Working specifically on the industrial asset class, I thoroughly enjoy getting the opportunity to learn about and meet with key stakeholders ranging from small business owners to executives of Fortune 500 companies across virtually every sector of business.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve that you have not already?
I look forward to continuing to build upon Clear Height’s success by acquiring industrial real estate through our core-plus and value-add investment platforms.
What kind of changes do you hope to see in the industry in the near future?
Besides stability in this wildly volatile capital markets environment, I am looking forward to further expansion within the industrial asset-class. It has been fascinating to watch the classification and infusion of institutional capital in the Industrial Service Facilities (ISF) sector.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
I spend my free time hanging out with friends and family, reading, traveling and watching UFC.
