Each year, Midwest Real Estate News runs its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame issue, highlighting the careers of the region’s most successful CRE pros. This year, we are running these profiles online, too. Today, we look at the thriving business created by Patrick Dempsey, managing director of capital markets with Walker & Dunlop in the Milwaukee suburb of Hartland, Wisconsin.
A key player: Patrick Dempsey has played an integral part in the success of the Wisconsin office of Walker & Dunlop. During his career here, Dempsey has consistently ranked as a top producer at the company. He has originated more than $5 billion of permanent, construction, structured-debt and equity placements throughout his real estate career.
Dempsey’s success isn’t limited to his work with Walker & Dunlop, either. Before joining the company, he was a principal and partner with Collateral Real Estate Capital. He helped grow that company into a top-performing mortgage banking firm before its sale to BB&T in 2007.
Forming long relationships: Commercial real estate has been the perfect fit for Dempsey. Part of the reason? He’s skilled at creating long relationships with his clients, the kind of relationships that generate a steady stream of referral business.
“I enjoy the relationships with customers, lenders and my co-workers,” Dempsey said. “I also really enjoy getting to know our customers’ longterm objectives, and helping them accomplish those objectives.”
Meeting the challenges: Any career in commercial real estate comes with its own set of challenges. It’s how you react to these challenges that determines how successful you’ll be.
Dempsey knows this well. He says that the biggest challenges today in financing commercial real estate is the always changing environment in the financial space.
“Commercial real estate requires us to continue to improvise and change how we do business,” Dempsey said.
The right focus: Dempsey credits his success to his willingness to always focus on the needs of his customers. He believes in providing great service and exceeding the expectations of his customers.
Other steps to success? “Hire great people,” Dempsey said. “Create a positive work environment, and make sure that our team’s success is tied to the successful execution of our customers’ goals.”
Out-of-office time: When he’s not working, Dempsey enjoys spending time with his family. He’s also a fan of downhill skiing, wake-surfing, playing piano, working out and golfing. He coaches fastpitch softball, and has been to take on ping-pong challenges.
And most of all? Dempsey says that enjoys “the benefits of being happily married to an intelligent, beautiful and health-conscious wife.”