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 Bob Kontur, director of real estate for EnerSys, for sharing his!
- Tell us a little bit about you:
Full name Robert Kontur, but everyone calls me Bob. I currently manage approx. 3.5M SF of owned and leased assets throughout the globe. My position as director of real estate is from A – Z. I begin with gathering the requirement from the given Stakeholders and then deciding which outside vendor is the right fit for the project. I work with the brokerage community on negotiations and then move into the financial justification for project approval. Behind the scenes I engage legal on either the lease or PSA agreement. Once approved I work with the construction team on build out while working. Life does not stop there unfortunately, there is still HR, IT, Audit, AP, EHS, and other groups making sure on day one we are ready to go. If we leave a facility, I have to make sure that, as good stewards of a property, we leave the property the best we can. So, there is restoration and remediation that takes place before we hand the keys to the new owner or landlord.
I attended Purdue University as an undergraduate with a degree in Computer Technology. This is very similar to what I do today in just a bit of a different arena. I gather information based on the requirement and see the project from inception to move in depending on the scope.
- Tell us about your path to corporate real estate.
I began my career in real estate on the residential side briefly. Selecting paint colors in new construction was not my cup of tea, and I knew I could do more in my life. I was playing golf one day with a buddy who was in the hotel brokerage business and asked if I would be interested in commercial real estate as a tenant rep for a large privately held national company. I could not resist the idea of truly working for myself and deciding my own destiny in what projects I chose to work on depending on my client sector. I have never been one for suit and ties, so the office environment did not appeal to me.
In college I was an intern at Caterpillar within the Large Engine Center “LEC” in West Lafayette, IN. I was a computer programmer there, but one of my assignments was to go out to the nine different plants onsite and install Lotus notes on all the computers. I was fascinated with all aspects of building and assembling an engine that was the size of a double wide! I would go there on weekends and watch the robots on the floor - with no human interaction - complete their tasks which amazed me. This experience took me back to my days of playing with my Legos, only this was real life. I always liked to see how things were built and then implemented into the real world. I knew from that moment on the industrial side of real estate was enticing to me.
Fast forward: while working as an Industrial RE Broker one of my mine clients presented an opportunity to head up their US operations for the portfolio. I had been working with them for nine years prior, knew how the company operated, and I decided it was time for a change with a young family in tow.
I have been with the organization now almost a decade, I have enjoyed working on varying projects and scope, and I am currently working on taking over the global operations now.Although it is a publicly traded company, it feels like a family-run organization where I can always pick the phone up and call anyone - from the CEO down - to ask questions when needed.
- What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization?
I currently manage U.S., Canada and Mexico with select global projects.
My responsibilities include: lease negotiations; partnering with brokerage on a “as need” basis; lease administration; accounts payable; construction oversight; EHS oversight; legal review; and financial modeling.
- What is your favorite part of your role, or the industry as a whole?
No project is ever the same. My role is not a 9-5 job, which I love. Sometimes I have to get up in the middle of the night to talk to a group oversees on a project or travel to a new location.
I look at my role as an important “cog in the wheel.” Without my role we could not create new power solutions for various businesses. We have assisted with putting individuals into outer space, and when I go to select stores, I see our product knowing that we are making a difference and helping others out.
- What is one skill specific to your job could you share with the rest of the membership?
What we do is not rocket science, but the phrase I try to always remember is: “the goal is to educate and not alienate.” This can go a long way with internal stakeholders, team members, municipalities and attorneys.
We in corporate real estate all speak the same language, but others sometimes do not grasp the difficulties of the role we are in. The stakeholders may need to understand market dynamics (now more than ever) while municipal groups may need to understand why we would be a benefit to their communities. Sometimes it is not always about dollars and cents.
- What led you to join IAMC?
I joined via a broker I was working with on another project. I had not heard about the organization before. I was engaged with another group for a short time. However, exchanging business cards and worrying about “state of the art” office cubicles did nothing for me or my organization.
I can always pick the phone up or look at the IAMC Knowledge Center for advice and guidance on a given subject. It does help to live in Georgia where IAMC is headquartered, so if I don’t hear back, I can knock on their door directly!
From my experience, it does not matter your age or how large or small a company is, all members try to assist each other. If business takes place that is a bonus, but the goal is to help one another with the challenges we face as end-users on a daily basis.
The forums are a great way to put names with a faces and to hear what is going on with different facets of the industrial world.
- Fun Facts:
Tell us about one thing you have on your bucket list.
I have jumped off of cliffs and out of planes … I swam with sharks … so I’ve done enough to not be allowed anymore life insurance. I am an avid golfer and have taken my son to various courses. I have a couple more that I would like to enjoy just him and me with a double caddy and nice walk: Cypress Point and Augusta National. I know I will lose either way, but it would be a treat.
What was your first job?
I was a caddy in Chicago, IL, from age 13 to 21. That was the only job I had before graduating college. You can learn a lot from your player that you can take back to the board room. Learning how to adapt to any given situation has been key in business.
What would your superpower be?
The ability to breathe underwater would be amazing. There is so much we have not seen below the surface, and it would be amazing to explore. Oh, and the ability to not need to wear a wet suit in cold water as well!
Again, we thank you Bob Kontur for letting us know more about his path to corporate real estate and IAMC.