Name/Title/Company:   Brian Adamson, Owner, ICAP Development

NAIOP Member Since/Involvement:  I have been NAIOP member since 2009.  My involvement started with the Developing Leaders committee, which I Co-Chaired for two years.  I then transitioned to the Programs Committee which I Chaired for several years.   I also served 6 years on the Board of Directors and was President in 2020.  I was recently appointed to the Corporate Board of Directors where I am serving a 3-year term as representative of the Wisconsin Chapter of NAIOP. 

Briefly tell us what you do and how long you have been in the Commercial Real Estate industry:

I have been active in the real estate industry since 2006 and started ICAP Development in 2012.   ICAP focuses on ground-up developments and strategic acquisitions of value-add real estate throughout the country.  Since 2012, ICAP has completed over 35 development projects in 9 states, and we currently own a portfolio of 27 properties from Florida to California. 

Which project or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?  

Earlier this month, our project for Children’s Wisconsin opened in the Historic Mitchell Street Neighborhood of Milwaukee.   That project took many twists and turns throughout the design, city approval, and construction phases.   And while we were just the lowly developers of the project, it is extremely rewarding to have played a role in bringing necessary health care to a neighborhood with the highest population of children in the City of Milwaukee. 

How do you hope to contribute to the NAIOP Board and what do you hope to get in return?   

I am excited to represent Wisconsin on the national Board of Directors.   There have been many outstanding individuals who have filled this role for NAIOP-WI and I hope to continue this tradition of strong representation at the national level.   Personally, I hope to utilize this role to learn from the experiences of my peers from other parts of the country.  NAIOP is, after all, an organization built on networking. 

Tell us about your family:

I am the proud father and chauffeur of four boys ages 14, 11, 7 and 6. I have been married to my wife and favorite joint venture partner, Carlee, for 16 years.

What is your Twitter handle? What is your business’s Twitter handle? I may be the only person left in America that doesn’t have any social media accounts, unless LinkedIn counts…

What is your favorite quote?    My favorite quote is from a Wisconsin conservationist named Doug Duren.  When speaking about land management, he says: “It’s not ours, it’s just our turn”.  Having that perspective is a great way to humble anyone in real estate. 

What music are you listening to and what was the first concert and last concert you attended?   The first live concert I ever attended was Don McLean (singer of the 1971 hit “American Pie”).  I was 15 and it was 1999 so he was already way past his prime.  In the last month, my wife and I have seen Turnpike Troubadours at Red Rock in Colorado, AJR (with our older boys) at American Family Amphitheater and Eric Church at Am Fam Field.  That’s musical diversity.

Favorite foods at Summerfest and State Fair?  I love the ice cream sundaes in the Dairy Producers Pavilion at State Fair.  

What’s the last book you read, or you’re favorite as a child and currently?  I’m honestly not much of a book reader.  But I do manage to break out Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac when I have some downtime.  His commentary on the different seasons in Wisconsin is very enjoyable. 

What is your favorite adventure movie?  The Princess Bride.  It’s also my favorite comedy, drama, and Si-Fi movie.  

What are your hobbies?   I only have one hobby: The outdoors.