IAMC Member Spotlight
As an organization, IAMC fosters relationships that turn into both business partnerships and long-term friendships. The path to corporate real estate varies widely, and our members come from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds.
We thank Richard Tyler, Director of Real Estate & Facilities for Smurfit Westrock, for sharing his!
- Tell us a little bit about you:
I was born in NYC but grew up in Atlanta. I attended GA Tech, Industrial & Systems Engineering, then GA State University, MBA, International Business.
- Tell us about your path to corporate real estate.
My path to corporate real estate is a bit out of the ordinary. My first job out of college was working on the planning for the 1996 Olympics, for the Olympic Villages in particular, which involved the building of thousands of units of new student housing and some land transactions.
After 5 years in that incredible experience and ending as Deputy Director, I was asked to lead the Olympic and Paralympic Villages for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where I moved with my wife at the end of 1996. In mid-2002, I obtained my real estate license and actually began working in residential real estate. I was also consulting with and served as real estate director for neighborhood redevelopment group Salt Lake Neighborworks.
At the end of 2004, I was recruited to come back to ATL as a regional manager of real estate with Lafarge, a global construction materials company. By 2008, I was director of land management and mining engineering for the U.S. That company relocated to Chicago, and in 2016, I went to Rollins where I became its director of real estate, which is also when I was introduced to IAMC. I came to Smurfit Westrock in 2023.
- What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization?
I have general oversight over all of our real estate for owned and leased locations, 700+ globally, and facilities services for our 9+ corporate locations in North America. We also have oil and gas assets and leases and stream and wetlands bank credits under our purview. Facilities Services includes office services, security/access control, and general office planning.
- What is your favorite part of your role, or the industry as a whole?
The variety. Every day is different, ranging from the complex to the routine, from the outrageous to the mundane. I love all things real estate and the fact that so many companies are actually in the real estate business, they just happen to, in our case, make paper and packaging. I appreciate the variety of people I get to work with inside the company and outs, and the enormous range of personalities!
- What is one skill specific to your job could you share with the rest of the membership?
Patient persistence. I learned a while ago that most things would be easy if it weren’t for people. But most things would not be possible if it weren’t for people. So, we need to be patient but persistent to work things through. Treat everyone with respect – this does not mean take mess.
- What led you to join IAMC? What do you enjoy most out of the organization? If IAMC has helped you in your career in any way, and you’re able to share, please let us know.
My former colleague Mark Bowen ushered me to IAMC. I enjoy the forums, the camaraderie, the lack of pressure and the professionalism. I’ve taken away a lot from the sessions, email features, community questions, and tried to contribute to those as well.
- Fun Facts:
- Tell us about one thing you have on your bucket list.
Learn to play the harmonica. I’ve not made much progress though I have 3 and lessons.
- What was your first job?
Working at the Atlanta airport duty free warehouse fulfilling orders at age 15. I was Amazon before there was Amazon. They also taught me how to drive a stick shift pickup which I would drive to the gates to deliver orders (you did not need a drivers license) until I accidentally drove under a plane’s wing one time …
- What would your superpower be?
Invisibility. It would be incredible to be the invisible party in certain rooms and then show up unannounced!