As I reflect on the year at Investors Realty, I have a sense of gratitude for our clients and their continued trust in our company.

One of the highlights of 2015 was celebrating our 40th anniversary and all of the clients, employees and partners who made that milestone possible. I am especially grateful for my colleagues Steve Farrell and Jerry Heinrichs who founded IRI in 1975. In recognition for their industry leadership, Steve and Jerry were inducted into the Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame at this year’s CRE Summit in April, an exciting moment for us all.

All business is good business, but some projects are both fun and unique. A sampling of interesting projects that IRI worked on in 2015 includes:

• The grand opening of KETV Channel 7’s new office at Omaha’s historic Burlington Station. The restoration and transformation of this building is a real gift to Omaha. An article on this project appears inside this issue.
• Future Forward, LLC is a project we have worked on for six years to help jumpstart development in the area north of TD Ameritrade Park. The purpose of the project is to make property in that area affordable to entrepreneurs, artisans, craftsmen, techies and other creative minds. Current tenants include Bench, Reclaimed Enterprises and Habitat for Humanity.
• Selling a cemetery. We’ve sold golf courses, but never a cemetery!
• Our work on the Pacific Life Building at Aksarben Village, which resulted in Tim Kerrigan, CCIM, SIOR, and J.P. Raynor, JD, earning recognition for Omaha’s 2015 Deal of the Year.
• Completing many large and small investment deals in 2015. It is especially satisfying to see some of our younger brokers create new investment partnerships. This is the way our company started 40 years ago.

As we finish out the year, 90 percent of our brokers are on pace to exceed their goals for 2015, some by over 300 percent. This is the result of hard work, a dynamic Omaha economy and some good luck.

Our property management portfolio has expanded significantly in 2015, and now includes some of the most visible and prestigious properties in town. Our growth is a direct result of our employees’ hard work, education and commitment to serving our clients.

We have evolved in size and scope after 40 years, but our culture and primary objective remain the same: “Help the client first and the business will take care of itself.” We strive to meet that objective every day under the guidance of our core values: service, integrity, accountability, learning and gratitude.

The loss of the ConAgra Foods headquarters was a highly publicized event that dominated headlines and conversation. It hurt Omaha. However, we are proud to do business in a city that creates opportunity out of chaos. We are looking forward to 2016, and to creating ways to keep our city growing and moving forward.

In summary, in 2015 we have engaged in interesting and fulfilling work, met or exceeded our goals, carried on our culture of putting our clients first and continuous improvement, and given back to our community. I am proud of our team and grateful to have the opportunity to serve our city.

R.J. Neary, President