A senior vice president at The Boulder Group, John Feeney assists clients in the acquisition and disposition of net lease properties. Additionally, as the head of The Boulder Group’s research division, he has published over 50 net lease investment research reports.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up, where did you go to school?
I grew up in Boulder, Colorado and attended college in Milwaukee at Marquette University. At Marquette, I majored in commercial real estate and finance.
When you were young, what did you aspire to be?
Not young, but in college I initially thought I wanted to go into public accounting. I’m happy to say that was just a phase.
How did you get your start in the industry?
When I was at Marquette, I joined the real estate club and was lucky enough to get an internship with commercial real estate firm in Milwaukee. Those two events really springboarded my interest in real estate. As part of the real estate club, we were able to attend events including NAIOP’s national conference and Eisenberg Career Day which helped to build a network in commercial real estate. Following graduation, I joined The Boulder Group and haven’t looked back since.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
Outside of Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman at Boulder Group who have mentored me for the past decade, there isn’t just one person. Real estate is really about your network, and I’m grateful to those who have been part of my network and helped me carve my niche in real estate.
What does a day in the life of John Feeney look like?
If there was a typical day, it wouldn’t be fun. On any given day you can find me discussing acquisition/disposition strategies with clients and overseeing our research division. Eventually I get pulled in a thousand different directions and it becomes a time management game.
What do you like most about your job?
Every day brings its own set of challenges. Overcoming these obstacles to get a deal done is very fulfilling. No transaction is ever the same and the continual deal flow is one of my favorite parts of being an investment sales broker.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve/work on that you haven’t already?
Continuing to grow The Boulder Group’s footprint in the net lease space and developing strong client relationships. This business is all about client trust and performance.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
With a young family, a lot of my time outside of the office is spent with my wife and two girls. We try to spend as much of the free time we have doing activities that my daughters enjoy. Outside of personal time, I’m heavily involved with Marquette’s Center for Real Estate through their advisory board and alumni association.
What is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Where do you hope to go next?
This past summer we made the decision to try and take advantage of some of the local amenities that we take for granted. Family favorites include the Lake Forest Beach and Elawa Farms. I’m not a big traveler, so I don’t have a short list currently.
Who would you like to see answer these questions?
Andy Hunt, Center for Real Estate at Marquette University.
