Mark D. Bethel 1424-26 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, USA Tel. 502 893 4295 [email protected] www.markbethel.com
International leader in executive real estate development management & strategic planning in multiple product types such as: large scale retail, mixed-use, hospitality, residential & office. Managed an extensive real estate portfolio for top international & Fortune 500 real estate companies for over 30 years. His career has taken him throughout the US, the Middle East & he is now active in China. Collective work experience has resulted in over $7 billion in real estate activities & over $2 billion in acquisitions. Several of his projects have won acclaim for excellence from various real estate & architectural institutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
President Transect Properties, LLC , Chicago, IL 2007 to Present
Founder & President of real estate advisory company focused on international real estate development, strategic planning & visioning, financial analysis, acquisitions & dispositions, due diligence, and proforma preparation.
Provided leadership for a portfolio of large-scale real estate properties. Focus on business, organization, & product development for major retail/entertainment projects. Product development includes an array of multi billion dollar properties including: hotel, office, residential with emphasis on place-making, connectivity, entertainment, culture & meeting the needs of the 21st century customer. Regional focus primarily in the USA, MENA, Southeast Asia & China. Recent China market & project efforts in: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen, Tianjin, Harbin, Nanjing, Suzhou, Xian, Kunming, Ningbo, Chongqing, Southeast Asia & numerous other markets. Capital sourcing for numerous real estate institutions related to opportunities in the commercial sectors throughout the United States & China.
Currently have 2 large mixed-use projects in the development phase in Chongqing and Shanghai, China. Both projects are over 20 million SF; include a retail podium with hospitality, commercial office, residential and entertainment anchors. These projects will create a smart community for sustainable living focused on a “Whole Living” experience of an enduring quality. It will be integrated and synergistic in a way that supports, connects, engages, and inspires the human spirit, establishing an environment to live, learn, work, shop, and play in a one- of-a-kind environment.
Business restructuring for multiple Dubai regional offices of the Majid al Futtaim Company. Repositioned the organization & teams for corporate offices out of Dubai, UAE into: Egypt, Syria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, & Lebanon. As a result of the restructuring, the Majid al Futtaim Investment Board approved multiple projects valued at over $1.0 billion. Completion last year of Fujairah Community Center, a 300,000SF center, AED 325M, anchored by Carrefour & 100 small shops, and Beirut City Centre, AED 1.8B, a 300,000SF 7 level vertically oriented center anchored by Carrefour with 3 levels of small shops, outdoor dining & leisure facilities. 2 other approved projects in Egypt and Syria are currently on hold.
Led the development team for Nakheel Retail in establishing the retail hierarchy for Nakheel’s entire real estate portfolio. Director for the development of Ibn Batutta Mall, Palm Deira, Palm Jumeirah & developed a series of community mall proto-types for neighborhoods within the properties. These projects totaled 10 million square feet of retail development. Completed the expansion planning and approval for Dragon Mart and Ibn Batutta Mall, which are both currently under construction. Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee & the Steering Committee for Nakheel Retail.
Completed the development feasibility for a 16-block district of the downtown Louisville, Kentucky known as the Iron Quarter with a team focused on a riverfront site & several other adjacent properties. The pre-development study was performed to establish a major destination and connect the adjacent city districts of the medical community and the Central Business District.
First Vice President General Growth Properties, Chicago, IL 2003 to 2007
Had senior level responsibility for the highest & best use of a 28 mall portfolio through-out the western United States that was responsible for 20% of the company’s NOI. Maintained investment partner relations through reporting & presentations on a quarterly basis of his portfolio.
Director of a team of 8 developers completed the re-development strategy for Newpark Mall, San Jose, CA; Arizona Center, Phoenix, AZ; Glendale Galleria, and completed the renovation & addition to Eastridge Mall, San Jose, CA; also managed the expenditure and completion of an additional $500M of smaller projects throughout the west coast. In the first year as a Vice President the completion of the entitlements for the addition & renovation of the Natick Mall was received, a $600M expansion program that was the first mixed use project for General Growth Properties, which was completed in 2008.
Partner Davis Street Land Company, Evanston, IL 2000 to 2003
Led the due diligence and entitlement team for the acquisition of Greens Hills Mall, Nashville, TN and The Gardens at El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA. These two projects provided over 70% of the NOI of the company. Completed a re-development of Green Hills Mall & completed the mixed-use development of Renaissance Place, Highland Park, IL.
Vice President Swerdlow Real Estate Group, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1998 to 2000
Managed a team of 20 that completed the entitlements, design and construction of the 1.6MSF, $300M Dolphin Mall in Miami, FL & the acquisition & re-development of the Great Mall of the Bay. These two centers provided 90% of the NOI of the company.
Senior Vice President Heitman Retail Properties, Chicago, IL 1988 to 1998
Led the due diligence & acquisition team for the newly formed company, building a 26-mall portfolio. This led to an expansion & upgrade program for the entire portfolio valued at $1.8B in acquisitions, $500M in expansions & renovations & $5M annually in deferred maintenance. Maintained investment partner relations through reporting and presentations on a quarterly basis of his portfolio.
Responsibilities included development, design & construction & tenant coordination. Responsible for over $600M in acquisitions & expansions of office, industrial & residential properties of the company’s $4B portfolio in the Eastern United States. This included the ground up development of the Louisville Gas & Electric building in Louisville, KY, a 230,000SF, 23-story office tower.
Project Manager David Hocker & Associates, Owensboro, Kentucky 1986 to 1988
Began retail career as a Tenant Coordinator for the entire portfolio & was then promoted to Project Manager for development and completion of $66M urban vertical shopping mall, Church Street Center in Nashville, TN and the $20M re-development of University Mall, Carbondale, IL.
Project Engineer Park Suite Hotel Corporation, Nashville, Tennessee 1986
Provided assistance to the project manager in development of a 400 suite hotel with restaurant, meeting rooms, banquet hall, swimming pool and recreation area valued at $24M.
2 Mark D. Bethel Cell. +86-138-1070-1704; +1-312-952-3233 [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:
NCARB Certification Licensed Architect Real Estate License
EDUCATION & TEACHING:
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky Bachelor of Architecture DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois Adjunct Professor, Finance Department
COMMUNITY SERVICE, LECTURES, PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS:
The Henderson Project: Personally co-funded & coordinated a project for my hometown of Henderson, Kentucky involving two schools of architecture, from Kentucky (University of Kentucky College of Design) & California (Southern California Institute of Design, SCI-ARC) bringing students to Henderson to meet with citizens & assess potential future development & execution of urban planning principals through a visioning charrette. This has been a multi year commitment resulting in an award & participation in the 2012 International Architecture Biennale, Rotterdam, Netherlands. This project is now the foundation for the master’s level program in Urban Planning in the College of Design at the University of Kentucky. They will be studying the revitalization of small towns across the tri-state area. Developed a training manual for General Growth for young new developers in the development process & the companies’ expectations & the procedures they need to use during the process.
Lectures: 11th Annual Conference of Mall China International Symposium, Beijing, China; 3rd Asian Shopping Center Conference, Bangkok, Thailand; 25th Anniversary Summit China Construction Industry Association, Yinchuan, China; 11th & 12th China International Outstanding Project Manager evaluation ceremony, Beijing, China; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; University of Kentucky, College of Design; University of Louisville, School of Urban Planning.
Co-authored & Produced “Old Henderson Homes & Buildings,” in 1985, with Boynton Merrill, author of “Jefferson’s Nephews,” & Gail King, Wall Street Journal contributor & author of “Currents: Henderson’s River Book.” He has previously served on the Program Committee for the ICSC, membership committee for the Urban Land Institute, CCIM candidate.
Awards: acclaim for excellence from various real estate & architectural institutions including: The Falls Shopping Center: Best Design Award, Miami, Florida; Renaissance Place, Illinois; Dolphin Mall: Top Design Award, Miami, Florida; & Natick Mall, Natick Massachusetts; 2012 International Biennale, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
3 Mark D. Bethel Cell. +86-138-1070-1704; +1-312-952-3233 [email protected]