Each year, Midwes Real Estate News runs its Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame issue, honoring the top CRE pros in our region. We also run these profiles online. Today, we look at the career of James Brucato, president of Principle Construction Corp. in Chicago.
Years in the business: 28
A leader in the industry: James Brucato and Mark Augustyn made their mark on the Chicago commercial real estate scene when in 1999 the pair founded Principle Construction Corp. Since that time, the firm has steadily grown, and Brucato has become one of the leaders in the Chicago real estate industry.
To date, Principle has completed more than $500 million in construction projects for more than 300 clients.
Talent matters: Brucato points to a simple but powerful reason for Principle’s success: He and Augustyn have worked hard to attract the top talent to the firm.
Of course, Brucato’s experience in the industry has helped, too. This commercial real estate veteran boasts the knowledge and expertise necessary to guide his teams through each step of the pre-construction process and to provide his clients with top-notch service.
Embracing the creativity: “This business requires training, knowledge and expertise,” Brucato said. “It also demands creativity. Every project comes with its own set of unique challenges. We get to apply our training, knowledge and expertise each and every day. There is no better feeling than when a client comes to me at the end of a project and says, ‘You nailed it!'”
Passion and the right mix of supporters: When asked about his success, Brucato points to the industry professionals with whom he has worked. These professionals, he said, have helped him grow his career. He cited such industry professionals as Mike Luecht, Jeff Raday, Jim McShane, Michael Sullivan, Marty Burke, Jim Avgeris, Ron Nosek, Jim Nance and Sean Spellmnan. He also praised his business partner, Mark Augustyn, for all the work and support that he has given.
Brucato also pointed to the enjoyment that this business gives him as a major reason for his success.
“You have to have a passion for this business,” he said. “That came naturally to me. I took that passion, surrounded myself with the best and worked hard. I challenged myself every day to gain knowledge about every aspect of the business. This is a never-ending quest that continues to this day.”
Tackling an array of projects: Principle might be known for industrial build-to-suits and additions, but this construction company has actually completed a wide range of building types. Principle has worked on retail buildings, churches, food-processing facilities and even a complex culinary college.
Some of Brucato’s clients include big names such as CBRE, IDI, DP Dermody Properties, Rust-Oleum, Sherwin-Williams, Cushman & Wakefield and Kendall College.
Giving back to his community: Despite his busy career, Brucato has found time to give back to his industry as an active member of several Chicago-area industry organizations. He is a member of the Chicago Building Congress, AIRE, SIOR, U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Civil Engineers.