In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, Jeff Deehan of Dymaxion Development shares how his passion for city-building (first sparked by playing SimCity as a kid) evolved into a career in real-world development. Based in Lansing, Michigan, Deehan’s firm takes a hyper-local, mixed-asset approach, developing multifamily, industrial, and even community-scale projects within a 100-mile radius. Rather than chasing population or job growth trends, he starts with a property or area that’s underutilized and reimagines how it can be integrated into the broader economic and social fabric of the region. His firm simultaneously tackles construction, development, and asset management, giving them long-term flexibility and the ability to solve problems in real time.

Deehan discusses the difference between multifamily and industrial development, noting that industrial is typically easier to construct and manage but often faces more public resistance when outside traditional industrial zones. Conversely, multifamily projects generally face less pushback but come with different financing and entitlement dynamics. He also stresses the value of relationship-building in his market, spending hours each day speaking with brokers and local businesses to understand their needs and uncover opportunities.

When it comes to capital deployment, Dymaxion maintains a 50/50 balance between acquisitions and development, focusing on long-term value creation rather than speculative growth. For those looking to get into development, Deehan offers frank advice: start small, avoid overleveraging, and ensure you’re creating value you can live with—because development is rewarding, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Connect with Jeff:

Website: https://www.dymaxionde...

X: https://x.com/Jeffdeehan

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In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, Chad Griffiths welcomes returning guest Deren Huang, an industrial investor based in Tulsa. The interview kicks off with a fun lightning-round game where Deren challenges Chad to blindly rank various investments (from gold and Bitcoin to Olive Garden leases and drive-thru wedding chapels). The playful setup leads to insightful discussions about risk tolerance, asset classes, and how personal experience and logic influence investment preferences. Chad consistently favors predictable, scalable investments like the S&P 500 and industrial real estate, while expressing skepticism about novelty concepts and collectibles like vintage guitars.

The conversation then shifts into a deeper dive on Darren’s evolution from owning over 100 single-family homes to now managing over 200,000 square feet of industrial real estate in Tulsa. He shares candid lessons from early mistakes (such as overvaluing clear height at the expense of location and functionality) and emphasizes key attributes like geometry, site coverage, and access. Darren outlines his buy-box, investment strategy, and how he creatively financed properties during volatile interest rate shifts. He also discusses his transition from residential to industrial, the operational benefits of triple net leases, and his plans to pursue infill development. The interview closes with thoughtful advice to aspiring investors: start by learning the fundamentals, get to know your local market, and always remember that even in commercial real estate, you’re still dealing with people.

Connect with Deren:

Website: https://www.derenhuang.com/tulsa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derenhuang

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🚨 New! "Industrialize: The Insider's Guide to Industrial Real Estate" is now available: https://mybook.to/industrialize

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In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, Chad Griffiths is joined by co-host Matt Carroll and returning guest Dr. Jim Tompkins to discuss the current state of global trade, tariffs, and how these issues are impacting supply chains and industrial real estate. Dr. Tompkins breaks down the rationale behind U.S. tariffs under President Trump, arguing that while they have caused short-term pain, they are strategically aimed at rebalancing decades of trade deficits. He explains that tariffs, when combined with tax and regulatory strategies, can strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on adversarial trade relationships. He compares this approach to adjusting a basketball strategy at halftime—adaptability, not inconsistency, is the goal.

The conversation transitions into a broader discussion of “reglobalization,” where supply chains are being restructured for resilience instead of just low cost. Dr. Tompkins outlines how companies should evaluate where to locate operations based on industry clusters, such as semiconductors in Phoenix, Austin, and Columbus, or pharmaceuticals in Boston, New Jersey, and North Carolina. He stresses the importance of optionality—diversifying suppliers and manufacturing locations—and points out how tools and government resources can help small and mid-sized businesses adapt. He concludes on an optimistic note, saying uncertainty is lifting and businesses should stop waiting and start preparing.

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🚨 New! "Industrialize: The Insider's Guide to Industrial Real Estate" is now available: https://mybook.to/industrialize

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With over a decade of experience in Office and Industrial Real Estate Tenant/User Representation across Costa Rica and Central America, Alvaro has worked closely with leading multinational companies such as Roche, Microsoft, Penumbra, Pfizer, Auxis, DHL, and others with operations in the region.

He has collaborated both within his global firm and alongside competing firms that lack a direct presence in these markets—always respecting the source of business and prioritizing strong, long-term broker-to-broker relationships, regardless of the CRE firm involved. His specialties include site selection, buyer representation, build-to-suit (BTS) projects, and lease negotiations, all with the goal of helping companies secure the right space to support their growth and operations.

Recognized as a top producer in the region, he is actively expanding his network and building partnerships with brokers and companies interested in nearshoring to Costa Rica and Central America.

Connect with Alvaro:

LinkedIn: https://cr.linkedin.com/in/ajcortes

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In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, Chad Griffiths interviews Charlie Stanton of Valley Advisory and Management to unpack the often overlooked but critical role of property management. With over 1.5 million square feet under management across Texas and Arizona, Charlie explains how property managers are the “catch-all” for maintaining properties, enforcing leases, resolving tenant issues, and mitigating risk, especially in industrial settings where unexpected problems like roof leaks, unauthorized modifications, and illegal dumping are more common than many owners realize.

Charlie emphasizes that great property management requires not just responsiveness but also deep knowledge of leases, maintenance, and financial reporting. He highlights how the industry has evolved from handwritten ledgers to sophisticated platforms like Yardi, which improve documentation and transparency. He also stresses the importance of regular site visits, clear communication with tenants, and understanding the full scope of responsibilities tied to commercial leases, especially for smaller tenants who often underestimate their obligations.

The conversation wraps with tips for landlords interviewing potential managers: ask about their workload, team structure, tenure, and software tools. Charlie also shares wild stories from the field, including discovering unauthorized mezzanine builds, dealing with vacant buildings, and handling risk scenarios like pothole claims. The big takeaway? Property management is far more complex (and influential) than most people think, especially in industrial real estate.

Connect with Charlie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-stanton-cfa-b8172591

Valley Advisory & Management: https://www.vamcre.com/

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In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, investor Kip Northrup shares the remarkable story of how he built a 14-property industrial portfolio in Michigan from the ground up, starting with a childhood passion for aquariums that evolved into a water feature business and eventually led him into real estate. Kip explains how early financial struggles pushed him to buy his first property out of necessity, and over time, he grew both his business and real estate holdings by purchasing underutilized or vacant buildings, fixing them up, and holding them long-term. He discusses his hands-on approach to property management with his wife, their preference for owning nearby assets, the emotional ups and downs of investing, and lessons learned from both wins and missteps—including a failed bowling alley redevelopment. Kip emphasizes simplicity in deal analysis, the power of cost segregation for tax advantages, and his passion for working directly with tenants to support small businesses. Now targeting a 50-property portfolio, Kip is cautiously expanding into retail while maintaining his core industrial strategy and values.

Connect with Kip:

LinkedIn: / kipnorthrup

Website: https://pbddevelopment.com/

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In this week's episode of the Industrial Real Estate Show I was pleased to be joined by industry veteran Ned Mahic to do a deep dive into Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS)!

About Ned:

Ned is an experienced real estate developer and investor.

He has accumulated more than 20 years’ experience in acquiring, financing, developing, and investing in various real estate properties, ranging from condos, student housing, and self-storage to light industrial properties across North America.

As a business veteran, Ned is widely recognized for his ability to create stellar growth in a sustainable manner. Believing in the power of people, he has developed his own success formula: growth = scalable system + empowered employees. His leadership skills in constructing scalable “corporate machines” and unlocking people’s potentials will significantly contribute to the success of the firm.

He holds a Bachelor in Information Technology degree from American Intercontinental University.

Connect with Ned:

Website: https://www.9606capital.com/

LinkedIn: https://pr.linkedin.com/in/ned-mahic-a468a18

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In this wide-ranging and insightful conversation, economist Todd Hirsch joins Chad Griffiths to discuss the economic uncertainty facing North America in 2025, emphasizing that the global landscape is marked by chaos driven by unpredictable tariffs, geopolitical instability, and technological disruption.

Todd argues that traditional forecasting has become futile and that businesses must prepare for a range of outcomes rather than fixed predictions. He notes that while tariffs may incentivize reshoring, the timeline for such shifts is misaligned with their short-term impacts, leaving many companies in a holding pattern.

They also explore how AI, autonomous vehicles, and shifting global trade dynamics could reshape labor markets and real estate, though adoption is proving slower than expected. Despite the uncertainty, Todd encourages optimism, adaptability, and a renewed focus on human connection and long-term resilience.

About Todd:

Todd is a leading expert on adaptability and managing the transition in a complex and unpredictable global economy. A visionary in his field, he inspires audiences around the world to re-think the modern economy, and directs leaders to re-imagine how to survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.

He demystifies today's volatile and colliding economic factors and interprets their impact, illustrated by relevant and memorable examples valued by industry leaders. His expert assessments map global trends to deliver a fresh, insights-fuelled outlook that enables his audiences to adapt to the emerging economic forces affecting their world, industries and careers.

With three TEDx Talks, hundreds of presentations and four books, Todd delivers well-researched presentations with compelling examples, metaphors and images replacing the traditional deluge of charts and graphs. He represents a modern approach to current economic trends that take into account the past, present, and most importantly the future. Take-aways for attendees include tools to navigate their business, their team and even their personal lives through a world that is in constant flux.

Connect with Todd:

Website

LinkedIn

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