Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Matthew Swantko Joins Grubb & Ellis Company as Vice President, Retail Group

SOUTHFIELD, MI,  (Ma.  3, 2010) – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that 21-year commercial real estate veteran Matthew Swantko (top right photo)  has joined the firm as vice president, Retail Group, effective immediately.

In this role, Swantko will be responsible for building Grubb & Ellis’ retail team in Southeast Michigan, as well as providing retail real estate services to investors and tenants.

“Matt brings excellent relationships and experience to Grubb & Ellis,” said Fred Liesveld, (bottom left photo)  executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Detroit office. “Having someone of Matt’s reputation and talents lead our retail practice positions us well to capitalize on the recovery of the sector once the economy begins to improve.”

Swantko was most recently president and a founding partner of Source Real Estate & Investment Company, a Southeast Michigan-based boutique retail real estate firm providing investor/landlord and tenant representation services.

In this position, which he held since 1994, he provided local retail real estate services for clients including Qdoba Mexican Grill, GE Capital, Darden Restaurant Group, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, TGIFridays, Marshall Fields, Culver’s, Chili’s and Lone Star Steakhouse.

“Being in a position to carefully and thoughtfully grow the retail practice of a respected firm like Grubb & Ellis is an incredible opportunity for me,” said Swantko. “I also look forward to seeing the impact that the company’s resources and national platform will have on my ability to serve my clients.”

Prior to founding Source Real Estate, Swantko was an associate with D.A. Swantko & Associates, where he began his career in retail tenant representation and leasing in 1989. He is a licensed real estate professional in the State of Michigan and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Contact: Erin Mays, Phone: 312.698.6735, Email: erin.mays@grubb-ellis.com