Get to Know Our Team: Kevin Ellis
Kevin Ellis, Commercial Real Estate Broker
I've been with Sturges Property Group... 5 years
I am a native of… Fort Wayne, IN
How did you get into commercial real estate? While working as a special projects manager at a small private equity firm, one day the owner of the firm set a few file boxes on my desk and said, “Here are the property & leasing files for some buildings I own and that you are now handling”. Prior to that, I had never read a lease nor heard of CAMs, expense stops, or a base year.
My favorite part of being a CRE broker at Sturges is that… I am surrounded by a great team who enjoy what we do. As a broker, I enjoy meeting people and learning about their specialized type of business and the path that led them to where they are. The amount of knowledge that can be absorbed by being around different business types (and personality types) is amazing. Generally, we deal with clients who have an entrepreneurial spirit and many of our deals will involve lenders, appraisers, lawyers, architects, contractors, city officials, etc.
What are some of the perks of coming to NE Indiana? It’s certainly no secret that Fort Wayne/NE Indiana is a great place to live and work. A person can be anywhere in town in 20 minutes and typically bump into a familiar face. While we like growth here, it is also apparent that we desire to maintain the small-town feeling.
What is the best advice for anyone looking to buy, sell, lease, and/or invest in NE Indiana? Be prepared to move on a deal quickly. Every investor is looking for a good deal and there are more investors than inventory.
My favorite property we have listed now is... 9910 Dupont Circle – DOC III Office Building because it is an elegant Class A office building that is perfectly located at Dupont Road & I-69.
What do you recommend to a first-time Fort Wayne visitor? Spend time at the History Center to learn Fort Wayne’s unique and interesting history. Fort Wayne was originally a “fort” and trading post out in the frontier at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee Rivers. There were battles with the legendary Miami Indians, the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal system, the railroad, the first plank highway… all because of the location & desirability for the regional distribution and transportation routes. These things remain true today.
Rapid Fire Questions:
Favorite thing to do on the weekend: Relax, reflect, and spend time with family and friends.
I think Fort Wayne could use… a nice cigar bar.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given: Be nice. Listen more. Talk less.
Favorite Fort Wayne restaurant: Catablu Grille
What was your first job? Working at a large commercial bakery after school.
What is a skill you would love to master? Patience and time management.
