Power Couples

Power Couples

Powerful couples have been an integral part of the history of our humanity and have inspired us since the beginning of time. From Julius Caesar and Cleopatra to Bill and Melinda Gates, money, success, family and happiness are deeply intertwined. Those couples who can channel their relationship into something greater, who can reach their career goals and ambitions while uplifting each other, is a testament to the saying, “two is better than one.” In the next few pages, we’ve focused on four stories of powerful couples in commercial real estate, and how they manage their demanding careers while making their love a priority.

Gary Shaw and Shannon Downs

Gary Shaw and Shannon Downs

Gary Shaw and Shannon Downs, owners of Arcadia Management, have more than one Arcadia reference point in their life. “We first met at Arcadia High School. Gary was a senior and I was a freshman. We were friends, and then we went our separate ways for quite some time,” says Downs. “But we were always part of the same community, and if we saw each other around, we would say hello.” “Then we bumped into each other at the Phoenix Open. It took me a month to work up the courage to ask Shannon out on date, but I am glad that I did,” says Shaw. “We got married in 2017 and have six kids between us, just like the Brady Bunch,” adds Downs.

Shaw serves as president of Arcadia Management Group, one of the nation’s premier commercial property management firms, with a 40-million-square-foot portfolio. “My mom (Peggy Burgess) started this business in 1986,” he says. “When I came to work for Arcadia, it was with an offer from my mom that she would ultimately sell the business to me someday. She calls me her exit strategy.”

As a partner, Downs brings a wealth of insight, expertise and experience to the organization. “Sales and marketing are definitely my primary wheelhouse, so I am applying that to help grow Arcadia Management. I could not be happier,” she says.

From day one, Arcadia’s focus has been exclusively on the property management business. “Our job as property managers is to be proactive, responsive and always on call for our property owners and their tenants,” he says. “It is not always glamourous work like development or brokerage, but it is steady and rewarding, and filled with opportunities to apply the latest advancements to a traditional industry.”

Gary Shaw and Shannon Downs

The firm provides clients with a robust service line offering, which is built on a best-in-class innovation platform. “Incorporating new technology to make the client experience as efficient and effective as possible has been our strategy from the company’s inception,” says Shaw. “That was my mission all those years ago, and it is the same today. I do not see us ever backing down our drive to be on the cutting edge.”

For any family, there is always a challenge in finding the right work/life balance. “With six kids, ages 8 through 17, they are pretty much what we do when we are not working. They are all at the age where their hobbies are our hobbies,” says Downs. “We are building our professional careers and our life on the home front together. The formula there is simple. We are partners in every way.”

As for that fine line between work and home dynamics, the couple believe they have the right mix. “Sometimes you just have to say, ‘We are going to talk about something other than work right now,’” she says. “But ultimately it comes back around to work usually, and that is because we both love what we do. We find it fun and rewarding with the benefits far outweighing the negatives.” The year 2020 looks to be another one of strong growth for Arcadia. “We want to continue to expand our footprint nationwide, especially in our biggest markets: Arizona, Texas, Utah, California, Nevada and North Carolina,” he says.

With the duo’s passion and drive, Arcadia is full speed ahead for years to come. “We will succeed as long as we can continue to maintain our core values, which are to be responsive and to operate according to the Golden Rule,” he says.

Alexandra Loye and Scott Boardman

Alexandra Loye and Scott Boardman

The kiss that started Alexandra Loye and Scott Boardman’s relationship almost never happened. “We were great friends, but Scott was very apprehensive about dating someone in the business,” she says. “One night, he had me over for dinner and I said, “Let’s just kiss and see what happens.’” Happily married since February 2016 with an 18-month-old son, Brock, it seems Loye certainly made the right move.

Loye, senior vice president, Colliers International, and Boardman, senior director, Cushman & Wakefield, are two of the industry’s young standout brokers. Loye operates in the healthcare and senior housing space, while Boardman navigates the office sphere. “Brokerage is both extremely challenging and rewarding, which is what makes having a partner who understands the business such an asset,” she says. “We lean on each other for support, encouragement and advice,” he says.

The couple’s reliance on one another is evident in their personal and professional lives. “Commercial real estate is a social business, which means nights out, networking and building relationships,” says Boardman. “He has introduced me to contacts and vice versa,” she says.

Evenings are dedicated to family enjoying dinner together. Then when Brock goes to bed, work reenters the picture with one or both pounding out a project until the late evening. “We take our professions very seriously and want to be the best representatives for our brands and clients,” she says. “During that time, we also discuss bigpicture CRE strategies, current deals and the market,” he says.

Alexandra Loye and Scott Boardman

The balancing of work and personal space can be challenging, and Loye and Boardman do their best to ensure neither receives short shrift. “It takes work, but our goals are aligned to be successes at home and in our careers,” she says.

A little rivalry goes a long way, and there is no exception with this tandem. “We are two Type A’s,” he says. “He has tried to have me take the Boardman name, but I always say you should have married me before I built my brand,” she chuckles.

Family-centric activities are Loye and Boardman’s passion. “We take walks, play golf together, ski and travel,” she says. “We relish time spent together and with our son,” he says.

Given the vicissitudes of CRE, the pair understand the ebbs and flows of cycles. “This uptrend is in its 11th year, and while the fundamentals are still very solid, you sometimes worry about two breadwinners working in brokerage,” he says. “However, we know we can handle anything as a team and are well prepared,” she says.

CRE is a fast-paced world that both professionals enjoy, and in which both have secured great achievements. Whether Brock follows in Mom and Dad’s lead is still up for debate. “He has time, but we tell him he should shoot for the stars in whatever he pursues,” Loye says.

Julie Johnson and Jerry Barnier

Julie Johnson and Jerry Barnier

Julie Johnson and Jerry Barnier agree with the adage that a great marriage endures, because for each, their spouse is also the person they most want to spend time with. “Every day, we say how grateful and fortunate and blessed we are to be together and do lots of fun things with our best friend: our spouse,” says Johnson.

Johnson, executive vice president, Colliers, Healthcare and Seniors Housing, and Barnier, founder, Suntec Concrete, are two of the commercial real estate industry’s premier talents. Johnson has excelled in healthcare real estate for over 25 years, while Barnier has elevated Suntec to a national bestin-class concrete contracting brand. “Julie and I both believe that commercial real estate will continue at the high pace and good market it has been the past years of the recovery, particularly in the last few years,” he says.

As two of the Valley’s most distinguished leaders in their profession, Johnson and Barnier work tirelessly for their clients and understand the importance of encouraging one another in their respective endeavors. “We both know what each other goes through in a day. I have visited Jerry’s jobsites and I know how hard he works each day from early mornings to late nights and all the construction work, meetings, estimates and successes in between,” she says. “And Jerry sees me in my world and becomes Mr. Johnson. But with many people in the industry who know us both, we are just each other’s biggest cheerleaders.”

The workday does not end when the couple come home, as the pair discuss what events occurred in their business. “We do talk work at home, but not a lot,” she says. “We do not purposefully limit it, but just talk about our day like any other couple and be there for support for any rare bad days and be a big cheerleader for sharing in successes.”

Julie Johnson and Jerry Barnier

Some might consider that spouses working in the same industry could be a tough proposition, given the long hours and stressful conditions from time to time. Not so with Johnson and Barnier. “We have not had any challenges, but the benefits are many. We speak the same language, understand and support having to work late or attend events after work and always have a date for work events,” he says. “Also, I can help promote Suntec Concrete to anyone I know who needs construction,” she says.

Moments together are an essential element of the pair’s happiness. “Our time as a couple is very precious and we love just hanging out together − it is our favorite cherished time,” she says. “We have six super fun grandkids, all in California, that we love to spend time with (and their parents),” he says. “We love to hike, bike, ski, watch football and other sports, garden, cook together, go to wine tastings, share special times with friends and spend time at our cabin in Colorado.”

Johnson and Barnier are excited about the future of their careers and their family. “When you have your best friend by your side, life is great,” she says.

Abby and Curt Kremer

Abby and Curt Kremer

Mark Boisclair Photography

Successful entrepreneurs possess a deep reservoir of motivation and inspiration. For Curt and Abby Kremer, the passion for their commercial real estate development and design firms emanate from a powerful place: family. “Our twin boys’ names are George and Oliver. They were less than a year old when I made the decision to break out on my own,” he says. “Seeing them start their journey of life, I quickly realized my new journey was not one I was going about alone, so I decided to name the company after them.”

Since its inception in 2017, George Oliver has been garnering attention for their innovative designs and workspaces including The Quad, Casa, The Alexander, The Johnathan and Lofts at the District. “Our success has come from building the right team and trusting in our product. I have had the fortune over the past 10 years to spend a lot of time traveling to other markets, big and small, and learning firsthand what works and does not work in those marketplaces,” he says. “It has been a huge benefit to the George Oliver team to take inspiration from every hotel, office building, restaurant and airport that Abby and I have traveled through over the years.”

Both graduates of Arizona State University, Abby followed up her bachelor’s degree in marketing with an interior design degree from Scottsdale Community College. “My passion for design actually started with fashion, beginning with jobs in clothing boutiques and then transitioning into home décor,” she says. “I knew that was what I wanted to do for the long term, so at 30 I went back to school to study interior design. I have been able to work under some great minds and am so thankful that I made that decision.”

For Curt, his architecture degree landed him at Opus West overseeing large development projects and subsequently at EverWest Real Estate Partners, before his pursuit of George Oliver. “When I started George Oliver, I knew I was finally at a place professionally that I could take that risk and execute my lifelong goal,” he says. “I have worked at some very successful companies and had some great mentors along the way, but I never felt that I was able to leave my mark on those companies the way I am at George Oliver.”

Curt and Abby Kremer

Mark Boisclair Photography

Curt is the founder and managing partner at George Oliver, which purchases, repositions and operates buildings. Abby is the founder and lead designer at George Oliver Design, which oversees the design on all George Oliver buildings along with a number of high-end residential new-build projects. Their teamwork and passion for the business runs deep, as does their love for family and each other. “Because we are so passionate about what we do, it is easy for us to be sitting at the dinner table having a work conversation, which is not fair to our kids or our friends,” says Curt. “On the upside, we are fortunate to be doing what we love, and when that happens it is tough to turn off work at home.”

There is no set formula for achieving work/life balance, but like all great partnerships, Abby and Curt rely on each other for assistance. “As you can imagine, having young twin boys at home requires a lot of flexibility, but owning our own company gives us the freedom to handle whatever life brings us at home,” she says. “We also work hard to keep track of each other’s workloads. This helps us to plan and support each other when one of us is facing an upcoming deadline, and to pick and choose who is manning the ship at home those late nights.”

Both George Oliver business are off and running with a great deal of momentum, and the future looks bright for the businesses and their owners. It seems there is only one possible issue. “If we had a third child, we might have some explaining to do regarding the name of our companies,” he says.