Ed Elder is president of Grubb & Ellis | The Winbury Group, a full service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Kansas City with an office in Lawrence. Elder has logged more than two decades in the business, and specializes in the sales and leasing of industrial real estate. K-State fans will remember him from his glory days on the basketball court, playing for the Wildcats for four years, graduating in 1986 and garnering academic honors along the way.
How did Grubb & Ellis fare last year, considering the economic climate and the state of the commercial real estate industry as a whole?
We battled, but given the state of the industry, felt pretty good about where we ended up in’09. Our office guys remain busier than ever sourcing new business. However, looking forward I still anticipate 2010 to be more of a bridge year, with more of the same — a slow burn. I don’t foresee a huge bounce of any kind in the next six to nine months.
What makes Grubb & Ellis stand out in the business?
It’s definitely the people. Sounds corny, but If you have “good athletes” who can anticipate and execute, you will put yourself in a position for success. In times like this, it’s easy to think the sky is falling. In the end, it’s pretty simple - it just comes back to the work and are you willing to commit, showing up a little earlier and staying a little later will pay dividends
As a former K-State basketball player (Elder stands six-foot-nine), are you still involved with the university and its program?
Yes. I stay very close to the program and go back to as many games as possible. I’ve especially enjoyed the resurgence of the program these past years.
What have you been focusing on outside work these days?
Hot Yoga with my wife is my new deal, I can almost touch my toes! Coaching basketball and focusing on not-for-profit work. I’m involved with Notre Dame De Sion High School, and I’m the past president for Genesis School in Kansas City. When my wife, Lynne, was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer about 18 months ago (she is currently cancer free and doing well) I shifted my focus to raising funds for the national Carcinoid Cancer Foundation. My wife and I recently held a fundraiser where we raised more than $80,000 for this cause.
Can you give us a feel for any new or interesting projects you are working on in 2010?
Up to this point, I have been focused on basic transactional work. But, am close to announcing a fairly significant built to suit in the Edwardsville, KS market representing 150,000 square feet. If this happens, it will be one of the few built to suit projects in 2010.