Tips and Tricks for Property Managers to Handle Tenant Improvement Projects

Property Managers are now being asked to be construction managers. Owners are looking for ways to reduce costs and many believe that since they pay a management fee why pay an additional construction manager fee when the property manager is already on the “payroll.” Many property managers already run large projects, so these skills are transferable. This ability to handle construction projects is a value enhanced service that property managers can offer their clients and will provide the property manager with better control over the project and how it impacts the asset.

At the end of the session, participants will:

Describe the project process steps from beginning to completion
Discuss how this additional construction management skill set will provide a value enhanced service that third party providers can offer their clients
Highlight how fees earned will make the property management unit more profitable and not go to another entity

Matthew Roberts

Vice President, Regional Asset Management, Midwest

Duke Realty

As Vice President, Regional Asset Management for Duke Realty in the Midwest, Matt oversees the management of the company's office and industrial portfolios in Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis, including asset management, budgeting, personnel supervision, client relations functions, and continuing Duke Realty’s proven Complete Customer Service program. In total, Matt is responsible for a portfolio exceeding 20 million square feet.

Matt joined Duke Realty in 1999 as Property Manager for the Chicago Region. As Property Manager, he was responsible for the property management of Duke Realty's entire industrial portfolio in Chicago. Prior to joining Duke Realty, he was a Portfolio Manager with Grubb & Ellis for three years and a District Manager with the RREEF Funds for five years. He was promoted to Vice President, Regional Asset Management in 2013.

Bill Casassa

Assistant Vice President, Property Manager – Columbus

Duke Realty

As Assistant Vice President of Property Management, Bill is responsible for the management of all Duke Realty industrial buildings and parks in Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding suburban markets. He is responsible for budgeting, reporting, capital planning, collections, contracting services and customer relations for each building and tenant, as well as for seven associations representing 25 different third-party owners.Bill joined Duke Realty in 1987 as a Tenant Finish Coordinator in Indianapolis. He transferred to Duke Realty’s Nashville office in 1988 and, in 1991, added property management to his tenant finish responsibilities.Between 2012 and 2015, Bill was Asset Manager for Hackman Capital, overseeing its Ohio properties and performing due diligence on its acquisitions across the country. Bill returned to Duke Realty in 2015.

Natalie Tyler-Martin (Moderator)

Vice President - Regional Asset Manager

Duke Realty

As Vice President, Regional Asset Manager for Duke Realty, Natalie is responsible for a 24 millionsquare foot portfolio of logistics properties in Atlanta, Savannah and Raleigh with a focus on building management and customer satisfaction. Her duties also include seeking ways to maintain properties at a high level while reducing costs to maximize value at all times.

Natalie joined Duke Realty in 2003 after two summer internships through INROADS with the company. Following graduation from college, Natalie began working full time for Duke Realty in Orlando, Florida as an Assistant Property Manager. She returned to the Atlanta office in 2010 and was promoted to Vice President, Regional Asset Manager in 2019. Throughout her career she has managed multiple products types from Class A Office to Class A Industrial all through the lens of providing quality customer service and impactful solutions for our tenants and stakeholders.