What You Don't Know About Darren Sloniger
Darren is part of Bisnow's Ascent community of up-and-coming commercial real estate leaders. The top developers and investors under the age of 40 descend on the Ritz Carlton in South Beach Nov. 2-4. See who's attending and apply to be considered for one of the few remaining spots here.
Photo explanation: My wife Shelby and I backpacking through the Tetons last month.
Job title: President at The Marquette Cos.
What that means: Everything from washing the floors to overseeing the staff to doing developments to negotiating deals.
What your company does: We’re an entirely multifamily-focused firm. About 70% of our business is value-add apartments deals we buy as acquisitions and 30% is ground-up development. We also have 11,000 units under management in the central US.
Memorable project: We just had the grand opening for Catalyst, a deal we closed long before the West Loop was cool. It’s nice the West Loop has matured like it has with Google coming in and other offices and restaurants. (Timing is everything.) Our target renter is pretty diverse, but everyone works in the Loop and walks to work.
Hometown: Chicago Heights.
School: Master’s at UIC.
First job: Political activist in South Africa in 1989 and 1990. I believed in the cause and went to work for the anti-apartheid movement, living in the black townships just outside of Pretoria.
Lifelong takeaway: Transition is very difficult and always a tough road... but always worth it.
