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 Bill DeBoer, Director, Corporate Properties & Facilities Management at Kohler Co. for sharing his!

1. Tell us a little bit about you and your background: I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. University studies include obtaining a BS in Business Management from Silver Lake College (Manitowoc, WI) and MBA from UW Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI). I’m the proud father of two girls and grandfather of 3-grandsons and like to spend time with my family. When not taking care of the grandsons I spends time on the golf course and traveling with my wife Pam.
2. Tell us about your path to corporate real estate.  . Crooked path for sure! Started managing a group of facility engineers and project managers. As the team grew, I was asked to create (yes, Kohler did NOT have a Corp R/E group at the time) a RE organization. I built the competency and organization with the help of IAMC (and Paul Bouschard who was in Corporate Purchasing managing the lease portfolio)! The information I gained, and relationships built with the IAMC helped me create a terrific organization.
3. What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization? ? Another Ha! My scope: Hospitality Portfolio Management Group (plan and execute business growth for the Hospitality BU), Project Management Group (help develop the business case and manage projects related to manufacturing), Facilities Engineering Group (Maintain facility health, design and support BU growth), Campus Maintenance Group (Manage all facets of maintaining the Kohler Campus as well as support global maintenance reliability programs and maintenance stores), Energy Management (negotiate and manage global energy contracts), Architecture & Interior Design (design for Retail, Hospitality and enterprise functions), and Corporate Real Estate (maintain existing lease and owned portfolio, acquisition/disposition, negotiate new space (for lease and greenfield opportunities)). This is a Global Organization in both scope and head count.
4. What is your favorite part of your role, or the industry as a whole?The TEAM! My group is so wonderfully eclectic in duties. We influence so many facets of the organization. There is never a dull day.
5. What is one skill specific to your job could you share with the rest of the membership? Influence. Without really “owning” the business, I do not hold back with my opinions on direction. I have learned on how to offer assistance and influence direction without really having the authority.
6. Talk about a CRE or FM project in which you played a role of which you were particularly proud. I was given the task to sell one of our buildings in SF after we divested the business. The location was difficult due to zoning rules. That affected the value. For more than 1 year, I worked the system to learn what could be done and marketed what could be, not what is. We found a partner (developer) and sold them the dream. As a result, we received more than 3X what was expected as a sale price. We almost lost the deal, but I personally flew to SF, met the developers, and ensured the deal closed.
7. Tell us about your tenure in IAMC. I joined the IAMC out of need. I canvassed some professionals with this question: If you were to join a RE organization, which one would it be? I received a list form each person and the IAMC was on each one. It took several months of research and calls with the organization but eventually I joined. The learnings helped me create what I have today. My RE team are all members and continue to learn and develop as a result.
8. Fun Facts: My first job was a reactor operator for a Nuclear Sub in the U.S. Navy.