|  Walter
Nielsen, a FOCUS Managing Director, has considerable transaction
and direct operating experience with all types of real estate
assets. Mr. Nielsen formed and has directed Midwest
Property Advisors, LLC for nearly twenty years, providing
integrated consulting, development, equity and debt financing,
legal, and brokerage services to clients owning investment
grade real estate assets. Mr. Nielsen handles complete IRS
Section 1031 like-kind exchange transactions from the sale
negotiations through closing the purchase of qualifying replacement
properties.
Prior positions were as President of
FIA, a national pension plan advisor with over $2.5 billion
under management on behalf of CALPERS together with state
teacher pension plans for the states of Texas, Illinois,
Utah, Kentucky, and Ohio and as Senior Vice President heading
the Investments Management Department of The Balcor Company,
the nation’s largest
volume limited partnership syndication company, responsible
for over $7.5 billion of both public and private partnerships
holding both equity and debt portfolios. As part of his responsibilities
at Balcor, Mr. Nielsen oversaw the national pre-acquisition
underwriting function, construction group, re-financings,
and the fund valuations liaison with the national investment
services and the brokerage industry. In addition to directing
a large staff, Mr. Nielsen took direct project responsibility
for properties as diverse as hotels, storage facilities,
office parks, recreation sites, and large multi-phase residential
low- and high-rise projects located nation-wide.
Previously, as Vice President and General
Counsel at the holding company for Inland Steel Company’s real estate
group comprised of national development companies, property
management, limited partnership investment structures, and
both modular and panelized residential manufacturing companies,
Mr. Nielsen was responsible for numerous transactions and
operating management functions as he transitioned from the
inside counsel role to general management. Prior thereto,
Mr. Nielsen was an Associate Attorney with the Chicago law
firm McBride, Baker, Wienke & Schlosser where he practiced
in the areas of civil litigation, real estate, and general
business transactions.
Following active service as an officer
in the US Navy, Mr. Nielsen began his business career at
the Harris Bank in Chicago where he headed the group which
set up the marketing and operating programs for the introduction
of all correspondent bank charge cards systems in Illinois,
Indiana, and Michigan (now Master Card).
Mr. Nielsen holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago
Graduate School of Business, a J.D. from Northwestern University
School of Law, and a B.A. degree from DePauw University.
Contact Information:
Walter W. Nielsen
875 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 3100
Chicago, IL 60611
Home Office: 847-234-3590
walt.nielsen@focusbankers.com
|
