After a storied, 44-year career in Chicago’s commercial real estate industry, Colliers Executive Vice President Lynn Reich announced her retirement.
“Lynn has long reigned as one of the area’s foremost brokerage professionals, a true pioneer and incredible mentor to so many. I think I speak for all of us here at Colliers when I say we are proud to have witnessed her work over the years as colleagues and honored to call her a friend,” said Colliers Executive Managing Director and Chicago Market Leader Jim Carris. “We wish her much happiness as she embarks on her newest new chapter which we know she will tackle with her usual zest and enthusiasm.”
A tenacious trailblazer in a niche long dominated by men, Lynn launched her industrial real estate career four plus decades ago and achieved unparalleled success along the way. Through grit and determination, her local practice grew into national practice as she arranged deals coast to coast for some of the most notable corporate names. Her brokerage statistics are enviable. In the last 10 years alone, she completed hundreds of transactions totaling more than 33,000,000 square feet and valued at $1.0 billion plus.
Over the years Lynn’s dominance in the business has been recognized with the industry’s most distinguished awards for top dealmakers including:
- SIOR largest Number of Industrial Inter-Chapter Transactions
- SIOR Largest International Transaction
- Greater Chicago Food Depository’s “Broker of the Year” Award
- Colliers’ Everest Club (Top 10% of producers company wide)
- Colliers’ Top Industrial Producer, Chicago
- Colliers’ Largest Number of Industrial Transactions
In addition to being a trusted partner to her clients, Lynn was a friend and mentor to many young up and comers in the business, especially young women trying to break into commercial real estate. She has helped young professionals over the years through SIOR Global, The Goldie Initiative, CREW and Colliers, along with serving in leadership roles with countless organizations aimed at bettering the industry.
“I have never met a real estate organization that I didn’t like and served as president of many,” said Reich. “It’s really about paying it forward and I truly believe in giving back to the industry that has given me such a wonderful life.”
Lynn served as president (2009-10) and operations director (2015-2017) of SIOR International. She is also past president of the SIOR Foundation (2006) and currently serves on its board of trustees. She is a past president of CREW Chicago and was one of its 50 founding members. Her service to others has been recognized with the most prestigious industry honors including (but not all):
- SIOR’s Millie Award
- SIOR’s Instructor of the Year Award (a two-time winner)
- CREW’s Lifetime Achievement Award
- The Goldie Initiative’s Shero Award
As Lynn settles into retirement, she will continue her involvement with SIOR while providing mentorship via The Goldie Initiative.
“All of my wonderful business experiences and advice are in my head. I will still be involved in the industry helping those who feel it may be beneficial to tap into that knowledge.”
