When you talk about longevity and impact in American real estate, few names carry the weight of Ray Garfield. From flying jets for the U.S. Navy to restructuring billion-dollar companies and advising the Rockefellers, Ray’s six-decade career has crossed every frontier of commercial real estate, finance, syndication, capital markets, and public infrastructure.

He’s seen every cycle since the 1970s, from 18% mortgage rates to the birth of CMBS and the rise of public-private partnerships. He’s led billion-dollar restructurings, sold companies to Merrill Lynch and Syntex, and helped pioneer modern design-build and tax-exempt financing models that have reshaped how America builds courthouses, hotels, and convention centers.

In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Garfield to unpack:

- How a former naval aviator went from Dallas land syndications to underwriting the first commercial mortgage securities on Wall Street.

- The inside story of rescuing Vista Properties from bankruptcy and turning $1.5 billion in losses into strategic leverage.

- Why design-build-finance revolutionized how Turner Construction and other giants win public-sector deals.

- How Garfield Public Private became the quiet force behind hundreds of millions in city, county, and state projects nationwide.

- The future of public infrastructure, real estate finance, and AI in underwriting—from one of the few people who has successfully bridged Wall Street, Main Street, and City Hall.

Ray Garfield’s story isn’t just about success: it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the kind of decades-long excellence that defines what a real estate career can look like when purpose meets precision.

If you’ve ever wondered how great developers think, how billion-dollar public projects actually get financed, or how to build trust between the private and public sectors. This is the masterclass.

🔗 Watch the full episode on The Real Finds Podcast with Gordon Lamphere.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For more from our team of Chicago commercial real estate agents 🔗

Downtown office vacancy is stuck near record highs. O’Hare and Elk Grove industrial areas can’t build fast enough. Suburban landlords are dangling a year of free rent just to keep tenants, while industrial outdoor storage, basically fenced asphalt, is suddenly a $200 billion institutional asset class.

In this solo breakdown, Gordon Lamphere, broker of 100+ Chicagoland deals a year, unpacks the narratives that don’t line up and shows you where the real opportunities are hiding. From office conversions downtown to scarcity-driven industrial in Elk Grove to IOS and infill redevelopment, Gordon walks you through what’s really happening on the ground in Q3 2025.

But this isn’t just another market update. It’s a perspective grounded in the legacy and deal flow of Van Vlissingen & Co.

Reach Our Team of Commercial Real Estate Agents In Chicago: https://www.vvco.com/commercial-real-estate-agent-in-chicago/

Why listen to Gordon’s Team?

- 145 years of heritage. Founded in 1879, Van Vlissingen is one of America’s oldest continuously operating CRE firms. Longevity backed by execution.

- 100+ transactions a year. Gordon and his team aren’t speculating. They’re in the middle of the market daily, across office, industrial, land, and redevelopment.

- Boutique focus + broad reach. High-touch advisory paired with a proprietary marketing engine that reaches 50,000+ investors, developers, and occupiers.

- Actionable insights. On The Real Finds Podcast, Gordon brings clarity to complex deals, distilling market noise into investor-ready takeaways.

Key Topics This Episode Covers

- Office: CBD vacancy ~27% → LaSalle conversions (1,700+ units planned; 349 at 30 N. LaSalle) mean it’s a land play, not a rent recovery.

- O’Hare/Elk Grove industrial: Vacancy under 2%. Power infrastructure (ComEd’s 260 MW substation) + $8.5B O’Hare modernization = gold-plated stability.

- Suburban office: Oak Brook holds, North Suburbs slip. B/C stock is essentially covered land.

- Lake County: $1.78B investment since 2021, 4,000 new jobs → execution-friendly growth node.

- Multifamily: Pipeline cresting in ’25 → firmer rents into ’26/’27. - IOS: Now a $200B institutionalized niche. Scarce, sticky, premium-priced.

- Redevelopment: The real long-term value. From Allstate’s Glenview campus to LaSalle Street, less invasive, community-compatible plays win approvals and value.

The Takeaway

Chicago’s CRE market is splitting. Downtown commodity office is headed for conversion. O’Hare industrial is a scarcity fortress. Suburban office is bifurcated—winners like Oak Brook, losers facing redevelopment. Lake County is the quiet success story. IOS is institutional gold. And across all asset classes, the real upside is in infill redevelopment that municipalities will support.

That’s why investors, developers, and occupiers listen to Gordon Lamphere and Van Vlissingen & Co. They’re not chasing headlines. They’re closing the deals that will become tomorrow’s case studies.

Reach Our Team of Commercial Real Estate Agents In Chicago

What happens when a university’s classrooms, labs, and dorms sit half-empty, while its budget bleeds red?

On this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Chris Morett, founder of Coheer Campus & Workplace and longtime higher-ed real estate strategist, to unpack one of the most overlooked corners of the built world: college campuses as real estate assets.

Chris spent a decade as Director of Scheduling and Space Management at Rutgers University before launching his consulting practice. Few people understand the messy realities of campus utilization or how much money is lost when academic buildings are misused. In this conversation, Gordon and Chris dive deep into:

• The utilization myth: Why classrooms and labs are chronically underused — and how centralized scheduling makes all the difference.
• Incentive structures: How universities owning their buildings warps efficiency compared to private companies leasing space.
• Leasing trends: Why some universities quietly lease space off campus, or even rent out their own space to startups and biotech partners.
• Urban vs. rural campuses: Why Northwestern and Rutgers operate differently than small regional colleges in Idaho or Montana.
• The demographic cliff: Shrinking enrollment, tuition discounting, and which institutions are most at risk of closure or merger.
• Developer opportunities: Where private investors can partner with universities to unlock hidden value, adaptive reuse, and innovation hubs.
• Policy shocks: From NIH grant cuts to visa restrictions, how Washington decisions ripple through labs, student housing, and construction budgets.
• The future of labs vs. data centers: Why labs may be the “accessible” frontier for developers compared to the capital intensity of AI infrastructure.

For commercial real estate professionals, developers, and investors, this episode offers a rare lens on higher education’s role as both economic driver and real estate powerhouse. Universities may be nonprofit, but their campuses are multi-billion-dollar portfolios — and how they adapt will reshape communities across the country.

📚 Chris also shares timeless advice for young professionals: focus on your hidden strengths, even the things that come naturally and don’t feel like “work.”

🔗 Learn more about Chris and his work at Team Coheer or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-morett/

Learn more about more untapped potential commercial real estate opportunities at www.vvco.com.

👉 If you’re interested in how campuses, developers, and communities intersect — and what’s next for higher ed real estate — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

What is work really supposed to look like in the 21st century, and why do so many workplaces still feel broken? On this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Corinne Murray and Sara Escobar, co-authors of Work, Then Place, to challenge assumptions about productivity, workplace strategy, and the evolving relationship between people, culture, and space.

Corinne and Sara bring a rare mix of perspectives:

Corinne Murray (https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnejmurray/) has built a career spanning commercial real estate, consulting, coworking, and workplace strategy, from WeWork to RXR. She’s obsessed with defining “what makes work work” and helping leaders design environments where people can truly thrive.

Sara Escobar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraescoux/) started as employee #2 at Hulu, where she helped create one of the first culture-driven workplace teams before leading strategy at Netflix. With a background in organizational development, she’s focused on how physical, digital, and cultural environments interact to shape performance.

Together, they break down some of the toughest questions facing leaders, HR professionals, and real estate executives today:

🔥 Key Topics We Cover:

- Why “the workplace” isn’t just about the office, it’s a balance of physical, digital, and cultural environments.

- How to think about the four modes of knowledge work: individual focus, asynchronous collaboration, synchronous collaboration, and socializing.

- Why outputs vs. outcomes is the real test of productivity and how to design for effectiveness, not just busyness.

- The hidden “meeting tax” slowing organizations down, and what companies like Shopify and Dropbox have done about it.

- Generational friction in the workplace, from Silent Generation to Gen Alpha, and how leaders can build trust across age groups.

- The future of AI and work: why the hybrid workforce of tomorrow is really human + machine, and what that means for managers.

- The carpenter vs. gardener paradigm for leadership and why it’s time to shift from rigid outcomes to adaptive growth.

- How workplace design lessons from Hulu’s snack culture to Netflix’s digital pivot can help any company spark creativity.

💡 Big Takeaway:

Work doesn’t have to suck. The future isn’t about ping pong tables or free lunches; it’s about creating environments that reduce friction, enable people to be effective, and give them the energy to pursue what matters outside of work.

If you’re a CEO, HR leader, real estate strategist, or anyone rethinking workplace design, this episode is packed with practical insights, tough questions, and a roadmap for making work better.

📘 Grab the Book: Work, Then Place is available on Amazon and in bookstores everywhere. Learn more at workthenplace.com and check out their Substack: workthenplace.substack.com

👉 Connect with the Guests:

Corinne Murray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnejmurray/

Sara Escobar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraescoux/

👉 Connect with Gordon Lamphere & Van Vlissingen & Co.: Learn more: www.vvco.com

Illinois has become ground zero in America’s housing debate. Families feel squeezed by rising rents and mortgages, developers complain about endless delays and red tape, and policymakers face pressure from every side to “fix” the problem. At the heart of this struggle is a simple but profound question: why is it so difficult to build in Illinois compared to other states? And more importantly, what would it actually take to create real housing abundance?

That’s the conversation we tackle on this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, where I sit down with Josh Bandoch, Senior Policy Advisor at the Illinois Policy Institute and author of the upcoming book How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion. Josh brings a data-driven and candid perspective on housing policy, highlighting how Illinois falls far behind peers like North Carolina, Texas, and Florida when it comes to approving new units—and why Chicago in particular has become a case study in regulatory gridlock.

This is not just a policy chat. It’s a deep dive into how Illinois’ housing challenges intersect with real estate development, capital flows, and the future of our communities. We unpack the role of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Cut the Tape initiative and Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Missing Middle report, both of which signal that leaders are beginning to recognize the scale of the crisis. And we explore whether Illinois can follow the lead of cities like Minneapolis and Los Angeles, which have cut barriers and seen measurable progress.

📘 Check out Josh’s new book, How to Get What You Want, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-What-You-Want-ebook/dp/B0FDBGV22N

In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover:

- Why housing costs are straining families across Illinois and beyond.

- How Chicago’s zoning restrictions and permitting delays push development elsewhere.

- Why Illinois authorizes far fewer new housing units per capita than states like North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. - What “housing abundance” actually means—and how to get there.

- The real barriers to adaptive reuse in Chicago’s office and retail corridors.

- What Brandon Johnson and J.B. Pritzker are doing to cut red tape.

- Why accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and reduced parking minimums could unlock thousands of units.

- Lessons from Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Montana on successful housing reform.

📌 Resources & Links: Josh’s book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-What-You-Want-ebook/dp/B0FDBGV22N

Hardcover listing: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-What-You-Want/dp/1637748302

Author website: https://www.joshuabandoch.com/

Publisher author page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Joshua-Bandoch/244700930 I

llinois Policy Institute: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/

Learn more about Gordon’s Chicago Commercial Brokerage Team

In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Clifford Booth, founder and CEO of Westmount Realty Capital, one of the earliest pioneers in cold storage investment. With more than four decades of experience in industrial and multifamily real estate, Cliff has seen it all, from buying his first property to house his family’s antique business in Dallas to building one of the most respected private real estate investment firms in America.

Together, they dive deep into how value-add investing has evolved, why cold storage remains one of the most misunderstood yet lucrative asset classes, and what it takes to compete in today’s hyper-competitive industrial market. Cliff shares stories of turning a modest Dallas warehouse into a refrigerated food facility in the 1980s, lessons learned from repositioning million-square-foot properties, and why infill locations and multi-tenant flexibility are the future of cold storage development.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

- How Cliff transitioned from antiques and art to building a national real estate platform

- The parallels between antiques and real estate: every piece is unique

- Why Westmount has always focused on value-add and opportunistic investments

- How cold storage went from niche to necessity and why COVID accelerated demand

- Why speculative cold storage development is both risky and rewarding

- The critical role of site selection: power, trucking, labor, and last-mile logistics

- Lessons in aligning incentives with contractors to control construction costs

- Why multi-tenant cold storage could be the next major shift in the industry

- The resilience of industrial real estate and why it’s no longer the “Rodney Dangerfield” of asset classes

- Strategies for managing insurance costs, capex, and portfolio risk in today’s market

Whether you’re an investor curious about cold storage, a developer navigating rising construction costs, or a broker tracking industrial demand, this conversation offers rare insight into one of CRE’s most specialized and fastest-growing sectors.

📚 Cliff’s book recommendation: An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin

👤 Guest: Clifford A. Booth, Founder & CEO of Westmount Realty Capital

🎙️ Host: Gordon Lamphere – Commercial Real Estate Agent, Van Vlissingen & Co.

Learn About Gordon's Industry-Leading Commercial Real Estate Practice In Chicago

In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Rob Kress, founder of Waypost Advisors, to explore how mid-market manufacturers and distributors can strengthen supply chains, mitigate geopolitical risks, and boost operational efficiency in a world defined by tariffs, uncertainty, and shifting trade policies.

Rob draws on more than two decades of leadership in large international corporations to explain why middle-market companies, those under $1B in revenue, face unique supply chain challenges, from scarce resources and limited hiring power to the high costs of supplier diversification. He shares real-world case studies, including a medical device manufacturer that successfully implemented a dual-source strategy to reduce reliance on China, and a Midwest industrial client that saved $3M through network optimization.

They dig into the tough trade-offs between resiliency and efficiency, the real barriers to automation and AI adoption for mid-sized firms, and how companies can cut costs without layoffs by improving internal processes. Rob also offers guidance on spotting “AI snake oil” in a crowded market, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and building the operational muscle needed to navigate tariff shocks and global disruptions.

🔍 Key Topics Covered: - Why mid-market supply chains fail when scaling from $50M to $300M+ in revenue - Practical steps to de-risk global sourcing without destroying margins - How dual-sourcing and nearshoring can work—if you plan 6–18 months ahead - The role of automation and AI in cutting costs and improving supply chain agility - How to avoid AI hype and choose the right partners for real ROI - Building a culture of continuous operational improvement - How tariff policy, Mexico’s role, and incentive-driven site selection will shape U.S. industrial real estate

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

- Why mid-market supply chains fail when scaling from $50M to $300M+ in revenue

- Practical steps to de-risk global sourcing without destroying margins

- How dual-sourcing and nearshoring can work—if you plan 6–18 months ahead

- The role of automation and AI in cutting costs and improving supply chain agility

- How to avoid AI hype and choose the right partners for real ROI

- Building a culture of continuous operational improvement

- How tariff policy, Mexico’s role, and incentive-driven site selection will shape U.S. industrial real estate

Whether you’re an industrial real estate investor, manufacturing executive, or supply chain leader, this episode offers actionable insights for navigating one of the most volatile business landscapes in decades.

📚 Rob’s Recommended Read:

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss — a masterclass in negotiation and empathy.

📍 Learn More About Rob & Waypost Advisors: https://www.waypostadvisors.com

📍 Learn More About Commercial Real Estate

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to The Real Finds Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere welcomes AK Schultz, co-founder of SVT Robotics, to explore the early innings of warehouse automation and robotics integration and why most real estate investors and operators still don't understand the scope (or risks) of what’s coming.

AK’s career arc is anything but traditional: former Army tank and reconnaissance officer, nuclear engineer, and now a leading voice in modular robotics and systems interoperability. As the co-founder of SVT Robotics, AK has spent the past two decades building solutions that simplify the orchestration of automation across complex supply chains. His writing on the SVT blog and deep expertise in abstraction, data normalization, and brownfield automation have made him a key thought leader in the field.

Together, Gordon and AK get into the gritty, high-stakes reality of deploying robotics at scale from reducing walking time in warehouses to avoiding the integration deadlock of overly complex systems.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

- Why warehouse automation is still in its infancy

- How brownfield automation offers the biggest ROI and why it’s so hard

- The hidden cybersecurity risks of tightly-coupled systems

- What abstraction really means (and why it's the future)

- The real-world impact of reducing “walking” in a fulfillment center

- What real estate developers, investors, and landlords are getting wrong about robotics

- Why data normalization is the key to unlocking multi-system optimization

- The challenge of “digital pollution” and how companies can clean up their data lakes

- How Amazon changed the game on SKU velocity and what that means for the rest of us

- Why the most effective automation systems are invisible, flexible, and modular

📘 AK’s Book Recs:

- The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt – The classic on throughput and constraint theory

- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman – A masterclass in intuitive product design

- Brain Rules by John Medina – A digestible guide to how the brain really works

💡 If you’re a supply chain leader, warehouse operator, logistics investor, or real estate developer wondering how to future-proof your facility or your portfolio, this conversation is a must-listen.

🔗 Learn more about Van Vlissingen and Co.

🔗 Read AK’s blog posts

🔗 Connect with AK on LinkedIn

🔗 Explore SVT Robotics

🔗 Explore Our Commercial Real Estate Services

🔗 Explore Our Property Management Services