It was great to attend the Illinois Real Estate Journal (IREJ) Awards last night and see all of the incredible companies and people in our industry be recognized for their accomplishments.

A big congratulations to Lamar Johnson Collaborative for winning the Office Interior Design award for their work with Horizon Therapeutics. The Grand Logan Lodge won in the Multifamily category and Mohawk Redevelopment earned its title in Industrial Redevelopment. USA Fire Protection won Building Service Company of the Year and Goettsch Partners was awarded Architecture Firm of the Year. ​​There were also individuals acknowledged for their work on inclusion, such as Alba Colavitti from CRG who earned Volunteer of the Year, and Keiana Barrett from Sterling Bay who received the title of Champion of Diversity. These innovators do all that they can to build our communities back better!

My good friend Bob Wislow, Chairman & CEO of Parkside Realty Inc., presented me with a recognition that I am humbled to accept – IREJ’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award! No one will ever truly know the influence Bob has had on me throughout both my professional and personal life, and being there to honor this moment with me is a culmination of the tragedies and successes he has helped me endure. I was thankful he was there along with my supportive family and Clayco team. I'd like to thank Brandon and Jimmy Kisner for stopping by.

I am very proud of everything Clayco and our teams have worked so hard to create and attain. Our company is made up of 3500 of the best and brightest people, and they are the reason I was awarded this recognition. A big thank you to IREJ, the judges, and the sponsors of the event. They did an amazing job of recognizing so many leaders and how many people it takes to put projects together. We work in a complicated business, but we all make it happen together, and no award could have been won without every person in the room.

Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners, it was a wonderful evening with a lot to celebrate. Let’s keep going!