In 2003, Mike co-founded Campus Advantage a fully integrated commercial real estate firm with a focus on acquisitions, development, property management and consulting. Campus Advantage is one of North America’s largest owners and operators of student housing communities with over $2.5B in assets under management consisting of over 20,000 beds across 34 markets in 22 states. To date, Campus Advantage has acquired or developed communities worth over $1.7B. Campus Advantage’s consulting division has completed over 250 domestic and international engagements. In 2007, Mike oversaw the acquisition of Catalyst a full-service digital marketing and design firm that is an integral part of the company’s operational success.
Mike began his career in student housing in the mid-1980’s as a Resident Assistant. Mike served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the West Indies before going on to earn a Law Degree at the University of Minnesota. He returned to student housing full-time in 1997 as the Director of On-Campus Business Development for American Campus Communities (ACC), and then Executive Vice President of Asset Campus Housing.
Mike has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Minnesota. He served on the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) board and as Co-Chair for the Student Housing Committee of the National Apartment Association (NAA).