A college roommate of Corey Ramey’s started working at an industrial real estate firm, giving him his first exposure to the industry. Ramey thought it seemed interesting, and began working there too, as he quickly realized it meshed well with his marketing and analytical strengths, and kept with it.
“I like commercial real estate because I enjoy helping people and companies solve problems,” said Ramey, broker at john greene Commercial. “It’s really that simple. And as a native Illinoisan, it’s particularly satisfying to provide that help here at home. Another great part about industrial real estate is that you get to meet a lot of great people along the way.”
There are also rewards to working in the industry as well. “When you’re able to help someone solve a problem through a real estate transaction, it’s a very satisfying feeling,” he said. “And the nature of industrial real estate means that you’re helping firms that impact jobs, so the rewards don’t end at the closing table or when the lease is signed.”
Ramey met john greene Commercial’s CEO, Tim Greene, a few years ago at a Bear’s game, and noted that it was a definitive meeting.
“It was one of those moments when you feel a real camaraderie with fellow brokers in the industry,” Ramey said. “I’ve made a lot of friends and professional relationships over the past 15 years, so it’s always felt like a natural fit for me professionally and personally.”
Recently, Ramey was chosen to lead john greene’s industrial division—which he notes is a natural extension of his skills and fits perfectly within the firm’s expertise.
“It feels great to be part of john greene Commercial,” he said. “The firm has been synonymous with commercial real estate in the I-55 and I-88 corridors, where I have focused my career, so it’s right in my sweet spot. But perhaps the biggest reason I’m excited to be part of john greene is because it’s such a natural fit in terms of culture and goals.”
“Tim Greene is roughly my age and most of my colleagues are under forty,” Ramey continued. “When you consider all of the brokers who left the industry after the market crash, never to come back, it’s rare to find colleagues as experienced as this team is, and as young as they are. It really positions john greene Commercial very well for the future, and I’m excited to have an opportunity to contribute to that growth.”
Ramey shared that his primary goal at john greene Commercial is to leverage his experience in the industrial real estate industry, and lead the firm’s industrial division. “When you consider john greene has been at the forefront of the commercial real estate business for nearly four decades, it’s clear this is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m excited to get started.”
So what are Ramey’s expectations for the industrial industry in 2015? “There’s been significant demand for industrial spec in the western suburbs, particularly in the I-88 corridor, as developers look for key land positions. There are still opportunities in that area, making it a hot spot for development, and we’re currently above 2007 pricing for land. I expect this demand to continue through 2015.”
Once Chicago’s weather breaks for good, Ramey said he’ll definitely enjoy it!
“The first thing I’ll do is go fishing,” he said. “Also, when I’m not working I like to stay local and spend time with family.”
