Developer of the Year

Irgens works to unite his industry

By Rebecca R. Konya

In the last 20 years, Mark Irgens has helped build Irgens Development Partners LLC into a multifaceted, real estate services and development company.

The Milwaukee-based firm annually develops, leases and finances more than $600 million in commercial real-estate projects, including medical facilities, corporate offices and industrial buildings. Under Irgens' guidance, the company has been involved in several high-profile projects, from the ASQ Center in the former Marshall Fields department store in downtown Milwaukee to Midwest Airlines' corporate headquarters.

But Irgens' commitment to his industry and community goes further than development. He serves on the board of directors of the Legacy Redevelopment Corp. (a nonprofit community redevelopment group in Milwaukee) and is a former member of the board of directors of the Waukesha County Economic Development Corp.

And, in the last year, he's turned his attention to helping his colleagues. Throughout his career, Irgens competed with several high-quality developers in southeastern Wisconsin and the Madison area. But when he saw there was no dedicated industry association to represent their interests, he spearheaded the effort to create unity among local developers. A member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties for 10 years, Irgens made it a top priority to bring a local chapter to Wisconsin.

"We saw some of the rules, regulations and laws that were coming out of the state Legislature and realized that there was no one looking out for our interests," said Jerry Franke, president of WisPark LLC and president-elect of the Wisconsin NAIOP chapter.

A national association of developers and owners of industrial, office and related commercial real estate, NAIOP provides communication, networking and business opportunities for real estate-related professionals.

The organization also provides a forum for continuing education and promotes effective public policy.

"Mark dedicated a lot of time and resources to bring the organization to Wisconsin," said Gina Hansen, a government affairs associate with the Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee, which provides staff support to the Wisconsin NAIOP chapter.

Since the Wisconsin chapter was formally chartered in October 2003, it has sprouted into a group of 115 members under Irgens, who serves as chapter president.

"We jumped right over being a small chapter," said Hansen, who described the local NAIOP chapter as a who's who in commercial development in southeastern Wisconsin. "We've attracted the best and the brightest."

Franke said the organization's founders are very pleased with the membership roster.

"Mark planted the seed and nurtured it over the last several years," said Franke. "He worked hard to get national to recognize the potential here."

Irgens' efforts to found the Wisconsin NAIOP chapter have not gone unnoticed by the national organization.

According to Franke, Irgens was recently elected to the organization's national board.

"I believe that makes him the first national board member from Wisconsin ever," he said.