Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame: The Boulder Group’s John Feeney

Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame: The Boulder Group’s John Feeney

John FeeneySenior Vice PresidentThe Boulder GroupWilmette, Illinois John Feeney is a Senior Vice President with The Boulder Group, a boutique investment real estate service firm specializing in single tenant net lease properties. Throughout his time at The Boulder Group, Feeney has been involved in the acquisition and disposition of approximately $3 billion worth of single tenant properties. Feeney has been able to develop long-lasting strong client relationships ranging from high-net-worth individuals to publicly traded REITs and Fortune 500 companies. The personal attention paid in each transaction has resulted in ongoing relationships with many clients. “The variety and challenges of each deal keep things exciting,” Feeney said. “No deal is ever the same. However, deals close and deals die, but the relationships built over time are by far the most enjoyable. Long-term client relationships that turn into friendships are truly the best part of this business.” In an industry where many brokers advise clients based on gut reactions, Feeney has taken an approach to make decisions based on empirical facts utilizing the research The Boulder Group provides, even in instances where the advice provided results in a client not pursuing a particular property. “Brokerage can sometimes feel like a transactional business given its commission-driven nature,” Feeney said. “Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s significantly more important to take a long-term approach and put clients’ needs ahead of everything else. Sometimes that means recommending against a deal or passing on immediate business that is not a fit.” The commercial real estate brokerage industry has been historically viewed as short-sighted in its client relationships due to the transactional nature of the industry’s compensation structure. Feeney has been able to have a long-term vision with client relationships that have greatly impacted the company’s growth. “Success in net lease brokerage is all about performing for your clients and managing expectations regardless of the market conditions,” Feeney said. “I have very strong partners at The Boulder Group with Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman. It’s amazing to have the two of them to lean on for advice when difficult situations arise.” Beyond transactions, Feeney oversees The Boulder Group’s net lease research division, where he has authored and published over 70 quarterly and specialty reports on the sector. These reports provide market trends for the single tenant net lease sector and have been featured by prominent organizations including CCIM, CoStar, Globe Street, ICSC, NAIOP, and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Feeney has also served as a featured speaker at the Net Lease Summit Conference in Chicago. Outside of the office, Feeney is heavily involved in Marquette University’s Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership. Feeney serves on the Vieth Institute’s Advisory Board and is a Co-Chair for the board’s structure committee. Feeney is a member of Marquette University’s President’s Society and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Feeney was a recipient of REJournal’s CRE Future Leaders (2019), Chain Store Age’s 10 Under 40 (2020) and Connect CRE’s Next Generation Awards (2021). When not working, Feeney enjoys spending time with his family, taking vacations, cooking and golfing.