Eva Stevens, president, United Properties Investment, to retire at year-end

Company plans search for a replacement

MINNEAPOLIS, (June 28, 2018)  – Eva Stevens, president of United Properties Investment (UPI) and chief operating officer, says she will retire as of Dec. 31, 2018, ending a 17-year tenure with the company and a 40-year career as a trailblazer in the commercial real estate industry.

Since beginning her commercial real estate career in 1978, Stevens has been a standout professional, rising through the ranks and succeeding at a time when few women led commercial real estate firms.

Since 2015, Stevens, 63, has co-led United Properties with Bill Katter, president of United Properties Development and chief investment officer. In her role as president and chief operating officer of UPI, Stevens is directly responsible for portfolio and asset management of United Properties’ 7 million sq. ft. of owned assets. She also oversees all aspects of company operations, including accounting, financial analysis, insurance, IT, governance, administration and human resources and is a member of the Investment Committee and the Board of Governors.

“Eva has been an outstanding leader in our organization since day one,” said Bert Colianni, CEO, Marquette Companies, LLC, the Pohlad family company that in turn owns UPI. “We look forward to her continuing leadership and guidance as we move into the second half of an important year for United Properties. And, when the time comes, we will wish her well in her retirement.” The company plans to search for a replacement, he said.

“I have loved working closely with Eva on all aspects of United Properties as co-presidents,” Katter said. “She is one of best and brightest commercial real estate leaders in the country today, and it will be difficult to find someone who can fill her shoes.”

Within United Properties, Stevens has led a number of innovative initiatives designed to drive productivity, increase transaction efficiency and reduce financial risk. A natural teacher, she has been a champion for developing the next generation of leaders for the organization as well as mentoring many outside of UPI.

When Stevens joined the real estate industry and didn’t see many women at industry events, she joined a small women’s networking group – Women in Real Estate – that still meets monthly to this day. She has been an active member of NAIOP, having served for several years on boards and committees at both the local and national levels. The NAIOP Minnesota chapter honored Stevens with the 2014 President’s Award, the association’s highest honor for individuals.

In the Twin Cities community, Stevens has parlayed a personal experience fighting cancer into a mission of helping others. A 29-year breast cancer survivor, she led the charge in the real estate community to help build Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and chair of the Clubhouse Committee. Today she continues her board involvement with Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, and recently joined the board of CommonBond Communities.

“I have absolutely loved my job, the company and, most of all, my colleagues at United Properties,” Stevens said. “But it’s time for me to make room for the next generation of leaders ready to embrace rapid change in our industry with curiosity, agility and energy. I look forward to spending more time with my family and nurturing my interests outside of work.” She is looking forward to continuing her nonprofit board work; fishing with her dad; riding her horse, Doogin; and spending time with her husband, Dick, as he builds their new home in Ely, Minnesota.