Bob Brasler, Principal
Robert M. Brasler is the captain of the team, raising capital, negotiating leases with tenants, qualifying brokerage relationships and working with government organizations on development related activities. As a member of Governor Rendell's transition team for Community affairs, Bob was able to amplify the Brasler Properties mission of redeveloping qualified Brownfield properties in Pennsylvania as a response to the urban sprawl issues focused on by the current administration. He is actively guiding both the brokerage and the development sides of the business, drawing from over fifty years of experience in the industrial real estate community.
His most recent completed development is the Butterfly Project, better known as the "York Business Center" a complete transformation of a 1.5 million square foot, 126 acres, former Caterpillar Manufacturing Plant in York, Pennsylvania into a mixed use distribution, manufacturing, office and retail center.
In 1994 Bob took a leave of absence from business to become the Founding President and CEO of the National Constitution Center (www.constitutioncenter.org) - in Independence National Historical Park. He raised initial capital, established a site and concept for the museum, and created an honorary board of directors that included all of the living former United States Presidents and other national figures prior to handing off the reigns to then Mayor of Philadelphia, now Governor of PA, Ed Rendell. The Congressionally authorized, non-partisan, non-profit $160 million National Constitution Center opened to rave reviews on July 4, 2003 and has hosted over four million visitors in its first four years of operations.
He served as Chairman of the Dickinson Board of Advisors and as a Trustee of Dickinson College from 1981 to 2001 and is currently an Emeritus Trustee. In 2007 Bob along with a Chief Justice and past president of the US was selected as one of the 25 most influential alumni of Dickinson.
Bob was recently a co-chair of a successful ten year effort to build the new $12 million Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center in Fairmount Park, a program that benefits over ten thousand children in Greater Philadelphia.
In another world, Bob backed several Broadway shows including THE KING AND I with Yul Brenner, and was one of the investors in the very successful film UNMARRIED WOMAN with Jill Clayburgh. He is currently the Associate Producer for a "Philly Thriller" an un-titled film from award winning film-maker Zhenya Kiperman.
In the Industrial Real Estate industry since leaving the U.S. Marine Corps Air Reserve and joining the Binswanger Company in 1961, Bob Brasler has been involved in sales, leasing, management, planning, development and re-development of industrial properties throughout the United States . Starting with door to door canvassing in Philadelphia's older industrial neighborhoods, Brasler built up a clientele for relocating industrial firms.. In the 60's Binswanger partnered with The Tishman Organization to develop the 600 acre Philadelphia Industrial Park, the largest planned industrial development within a major city in the U.S. Absorption set records of almost 100 acres per year.
In the 70's Bob became the only non family partner in the firm and moved out to cover the towns and cities of Pennsylvania including transactions in York, Carlisle, Oaks and Doylestown and then to Ohio for the sale for Midland Ross of its 450,000 sq ft frame plant to Ford Motor Company in Maumee, Roper in Newark and Firestone in Dayton, and then to Michigan for a sale for Clark Corp in Battle Creek and for Firestone in Dearborn. Also during the 70's Bob opened the firm's first international offices with a partner in Paris to cover Europe and then in Tokyo, after a visit sponsored by the U.S. State and Commerce Departments to encourage investment in the U.S.
During that period Bob organized and chaired the Mantua Industrial Center, a two hundred thousand square foot incubator facility for minority owned firms in West Philadelphia.
In the 80's Bob continued to expand the firms coverage in the U.S., adding offices to the firms historic strength in the East to a total of 17 offices covering strategic regions of the country and building it's specialty of marketing large industrial buildings in the small towns of North America.
In the late 80's and early 90's Bob reorganized the Investment Division of Binswanger that focused on the sale and financing of income property. Transactions included over a thousand apartment units in North and South Carolina, a freezer building in Oregon, the sale-leaseback of 20 supermarkets in the Mid South and a 1.4 million square foot industrial center in St Louis. During this period, Bob also assisted in building the new Corporate Services Division of Binswanger as partner and Vice chairman before leaving to lead the National Constitution Center in 1994.
In addition to his activities at Dickinson College, and Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, Bob and his wife Sibby have served on numerous non-profit boards and volunteer committees. Sibby was a trustee of Drexel University for over 25 years and has led numerous committees of the Philadelphia Orchestra, while running an event planning business, which among other affairs has coordinated the AAYTE Annual Benefit. This event, considered for many years to be one of Philadelphia's most successful, has under her management raised over $10 million during her 15 years of service.
In 1997 Bob returned to the private sector to re-establish, with his son Chris, the family business founded by his father in 1917 to concentrate on rehabbing large industrial properties as a principal and provide consulting and brokerage services to selected clients.
Chris Brasler, President and CEO
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Brasler Properties, Chris is the vanguard of the third generation in Brasler Properties. He has overseen the acquisition and development of over 3 Million Square Feet of Industrial space in Lancaster, Reading, Lewistown, York and Philadelphia. In the process, Chris has been responsible for acquisition, operations and development budgets totaling over $50 Million. Chris's hands-on approach to the due diligence process through acquisition, redevelopment, lease-up and disposition was honed through his entrepreneurial ventures prior to joining the firm. These include a start-up telecommunications company in the early 90's and the coordination of an investment syndicate, as well as the day-to-day operations, for a marine archeological survey and salvage firm. A licensed PA real estate professional since 1997 with advanced study in financing, construction, and business management, Chris manages the acquisition, rehab, leasing and fit up requirements of the properties. In addition, he constantly monitors market activities affecting the company's assets and adjusts the Brasler Operational Management and Investment Portfolio accordingly. Chris continues to be active in the business while residing with his wife and 2 daughters in Sydney, Australia.
"Brasler team 2006"
Mark Bobb, Facilities Director
Mark joined the team in 1999 and is responsible for day-to-day facility management, development construction and tenant improvements for the Brasler Portfolio as well as in a third party consulting role for several similarly positioned large industrial property owners. Drawing from over 25 years experience overseeing the maintenance and operations of large industrial facilities, including significant manufacturing operations, Mark supervises the Brasler on-site teams and contractors. His ability to run multiple teams of servicing vendors in varying sub-markets with a keen eye toward necessary capital planning has led to savings in construction projects and ongoing operations while delivering consistent high quality output enjoyed by Brasler’s demanding tenants. Mark also oversees the capital budgets for new projects, spec writing, bidding, hiring, and ongoing operation of the physical assets. Utility metering design and optimization coupled with utility supplier deregulation pricing/contract negotiating is a role Mark has taken on and flourished in over the past few years saving tenants and Brasler significant money. In 2007/08, among regular work duties, Mark oversaw the installation of over 1.3 million square feet in various re-roofing projects.
Renee Kyle, Office Manager
Renee joined the team in 2001 and currently oversees all in house operations as well as management of the day to day communications link to tenants, lenders and servicing banking institutions. Renee has an extensive background in accounting and operations which she draws upon when managing the accounts payable, payroll, taxes, lease administration and other operating duties pertaining to both the core Brasler Properties entity and the individual properties. Her attention to detail and responsiveness has created an efficient flow of information to and from all parties Brasler Properties does business with.
"Past integral members of the Brasler Team"
Brett Brasler
Brett became a member of the Brasler Properties Team at the start of 2004. Having assisted in the management of the opening and on-going operations of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and subsequently the National Constitution Center, both in Philadelphia, he brought a strong hospitality industry project management background to the company. In addition, his extensive experience in sales and client relations enhanced Brasler Properties’ ability to engage, maintain and enhance its tenant and brokerage relationships. Brett, was overseeing all leasing and sales for commercial and industrial clients in the Philadelphia region. Through a committed focus on research he was resident expert on both the Governors latest incentive packages for developers and potential tenants as well as the Foreign Trade Zone and other programs that have been applicable at the Brasler facilities. Since the sale of the York Business Center, Brett has consulted on several private equity real estate transactions and has provided assistance to long held hospitality relationships.
Bob Cartwright
Bob was on the team for the entire YBC transformation from acquisition through Brasler's transitional management for the new owner Equity Industrial, who Bob now works with. For Brasler, Bob managed the site, oversaw contractor and tenant safety compliance and was the face of the project on a day to day basis. Significant managerial experience, grace under pressure and 100% commitment to the project's successful outcome are all attributes to this truly special friend and past work colleague.
Gary McMillan
Gary was brought onto the team in 2005 to oversee tenant relations at all of the Brasler owned and managed facilities. Gary used his skills from a logistics management background to project manage tenant improvements, coordinate the tenant transition process for design, IT, telecom, labor, utilities, etc. His focus on problem solving and follow through were integral to the success of many of the Brasler's new tenancies and this added service offering distanced Brasler from it's peers in the competitive leasing market place. Gary is now consulting full time for quity Industrial for their portfolio of Industrial properties from New Jersey to Indiana.
Jeff Miller
Jeff worked with Brasler properties as a project manager and property supervisor for several years before passing in a hunting accident in February 2007. He had a very diligent work ethic and a super personality- a good friend who is missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.
Wally Lancaster
Wally, aka the 'gator' managed the YBC site in York, PA from 2002 until succumbing to cancer in the spring of 2006. His kind attitude and realistic take on life made him a very special person to be around and positive force influencing the ultimate success of the YBC. The tenants, contractors and ownership of the YBC miss him greatly.
