Gregg Witt has joined Cresa as a principal with the Chicago office. An expert on nonprofit real estate issues, Witt will lead the firm’s local nonprofit practice group and participate as a member of its national group.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Gregg to our expanding team,” said Tad Laws, director of U.S. recruiting and Chicago market leader. “As the largest tenant-only advisory firm in the world, Cresa is uniquely positioned to attract top-tier advisors like Gregg—not only in Chicago but throughout the country—and we expect to make many more significant hires over the next 12 to 18 months.”
Witt, a veteran of the Chicago commercial real estate industry, was most recently a senior vice president with CBRE’s office occupier group. His longtime commitment to serving his community led to the formation of the firm’s nonprofit practice group which he co-founded and co-led during his tenure at the company. His skillset and understanding of the very unique needs of these organizations have made him a trusted insider and advisor for those seeking real estate advisory services in this arena.
Notable tenants who have recently engaged Witt for their assignments include Environmental Systems Design (51,447 square feet at Willis Tower), National Restaurant Association (50,852 square feet at Willis Tower), The American College of Healthcare Advisors (36,189 square feet at 300 S. Riverside Plaza), Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (18,511 square feet at 125 S. Wacker Drive) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (20,575 square feet at 633 N. St. Clair Street). He has represented more than 50 nonprofit organizations on real estate projects over the past decade. During his career he has negotiated more than 1,200 transactions valued at more than $2 billion.
A lifelong volunteer who credits his parents for instilling the importance of paying it forward, Witt also has extensive hands-on philanthropic experience. For the past three decades, he has been an active community leader, serving on the boards and in leadership positions of numerous professional, social service and educational organizations such as Jewish Child & Family Services, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Zeta Beta Tau Foundation and Zeta Beta Tau National Housing, Inc. He is also a past president of the Chicago Office Leasing Broker Association (COLBA).
Witt is a past finalist for the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s “Office Broker of the Year” award and is a past recipient of ONCOR Internationals’ President’s Award. While at Insignia/ESG, he was named “Midwest Region Broker of the Year.”
Witt is a graduate of the University of Denver and holds an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business.
“Over the years, Cresa has steadily built a fabulous, entrepreneurial culture that allows its professionals to flourish,” said Witt. “I’m really looking forward to being part of such a terrific organization.”
