IAMC Member Spotlight: Matt Boehlke Director, Real Estate Services, Xcel Energy

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 Matt Boehlke, Director of Real Estate Services, Xcel Energy for sharing his!

1. Tell us a little bit about you. 
   I was born and raised in Buffalo, MN on a small horse ranch.  I attended the prestigious Moorhead State University also often referred to as the Yale of the Midwest. I later received an MBA from Capella University the Stanford of online higher learning institutions.
    
2. Tell us about your path to corporate real estate. 
   I started my professional career as a securities trader for what is now Ameriprise.  After two years I transferred over to their Corporate Real Estate team as a Project Coordinator where I was responsible for roughly 200 leased offices in the Southeast US.  I left Ameriprise to join the Commercial Brokerage world with a local Grubb & Ellis affiliate.  I was lured back into the Corporate side of the industry by the Regus Group where I was responsible for identifying and negotiating new co-working opportunities for them throughout the Midwest.  After a few years I ended up being recruited by Xcel Energy to lead their corporate real estate team.
    
3. What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization?
   I currently lead a team of ten.  We would be the equivalent of an internal asset management group.  We are responsible for all acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and project/construction management for roughly five-million square feet of space across Xcel Energy’s eight state region (MN, WI, ND, SD, MI, CO, TX, and NM).
    
4. What is your favorite part of your role, or the industry as a whole?  
   My favorite aspect of commercial real estate is that everything is negotiable.
    
5. What is one skill specific to your job that you could share with the rest of the membership?
   Effective leadership and negotiation skills.
    
6. What led you to join IAMC? 
   I was encouraged to join by my counterparts at other utility companies who were currently involved. I greatly appreciate the networking with other Corporate Real Estate professionals as it’s helpful to know what struggles they are experiencing.  It’s cathartic as well as educational.
    
7. Fun Facts:
   1. Tell us about one thing you have on your bucket list.  Retire early!
   2. What was your first job?  Corn Detasseler/Hay Baler
   3. What would your superpower be?   Don’t need one.

Thank you again to Matt Boehlke for letting us know more about his path to corporate real estate and IAMC.