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Michael Brennan

Michael Brennan
Executive Director, Graaskamp Center for Real Estate | Graaskamp Center For Real Estate
Irgens Executive Director of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate
608-263-4392
4440 Grainger Hall

Biography

Michael W. Brennan has served as Irgens Executive Director of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate since 2008. He is also a Co-Founder, Chairman, and Managing Principal of Brennan Investment Group. Prior to forming Brennan Investment Group, Mr. Brennan co-founded First Industrial Realty Trust (NYSE: FR) in 1994, and served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors until late 2008. Under his direction, the company assisted many of the nation’s largest industrial real estate users in completing complex multi-market supply chain reconfigurations, and attracted investment partners including The Carlyle Group, the Kuwait Finance House, Union Bank of Switzerland, ING, and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System.

Before joining First Industrial, Brennan was a President and Partner in The Shidler Group. He was also a founding investor of Tri-Net Property (NYSE: TRI) and Bermuda-based reinsurer CGA.

Brennan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Notre Dame University. He currently serves on two boards: Pacific Office Properties (NYSE: PCE) and The Chicago Public Library Foundation.