Chicago

Jim Carris is the Executive Managing Director and Market Leader for Colliers International | Chicago. Jim brings more than 30 years’ experience to Colliers, where he leads the Colliers team in Chicago and drives the firm’s overall regional operations and business strategy. In this role, Jim provides direct oversight for the firm’s Rosemont and downtown Chicago offices, overseeing the office advisory, industrial advisory, agency leasing, land, retail and investment groups. 

Prior to joining Colliers in 2018, Jim was Senior Managing Director of CBRE’s Chicago region, where he was a member of the Executive Committee and drove the firm's overall regional operations and business strategy. In addition, Jim had direct oversight for several of CBRE’s largest business lines.

Before joining CBRE in 2011, Jim was a Senior Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), where he provided strategic oversight and management of various account teams that completed more than 400 transactions, involving 13 million square feet of space, $250 million of invested capital and sustainable cost savings of more than $50 million. He was also a member of the firm's Integrated Program Management Advisory Board, helping drive improvements and best practices. 

Prior to joining JLL, Jim oversaw global real estate operations – including numerous office, industrial and land transactions in Europe, Asia and the U.S. – for BP's former chemical subsidiary, Innovene. Prior to that, he managed award-winning redevelopments of several refineries, terminals and other large contaminated properties for BP. As part of his responsibilities, he was also project executive for BP's 640-acre multi-use commercial development, Cantera, in Chicago's west suburbs. In the decade prior to joining BP, he was the Chief Executive of Dos Griegos Corporation, a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based privately held, multi-use real estate development company, and, before that, he served as a practicing attorney with the Amoco Oil Company and Homart Development Company. 

A resident of Lake Forest, Jim served as a member of the city's Planning Commission and is active with numerous community and charitable organizations including serving on the Boards of NAIOP Chicago, The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, Lurie Children’s Hospital Pro-Am Golf Committee and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and, as the executive sponsor of various charitable events, raising over $5,000,000 for local charities.

As Chief Operating Officer for Colliers International | Chicago, I oversee overall business operations for more than 275 professionals in Colliers’ Chicago-area offices, including business development, client service, finance, human resources, marketing and strategic direction.

In addition, I co-lead Colliers’ Real Estate Management Services division in the Chicago area, including responsibility for more than 45 million square feet in 300+ properties. The division includes a staff of 138 property management, engineering and construction personnel in 20 local offices. I have demonstrated success integrating Colliers’ teams across divisions – including marketing, leasing, advisory and investment sales – to provide clients with exceptional, value-added service.

Prior to Colliers, I was the director of property management for the Chicago Suburban Market with Lincoln Property Company Commercial, providing property management, construction management and acquisition due diligence services for corporate clients and joint venture partners.  My oversight included daily operations, execution of capital programs, contract administration, service specifications, fiscal/financial controls, lease administration and budgeting. 
 
Prior to Lincoln Property Company, I worked as a portfolio manager for Prentiss Properties Limited, where I oversaw property and construction management of a 2 million-square-foot office and industrial portfolio in Chicago, including the operation and redevelopment of 123 North Wacker Drive. It involved fast-paced due diligence and acquisitions often leading to redevelopment of acquired properties through capital programs.

I also previously worked as a project architect with VOA Associates providing commercial property development services in Illinois, Ohio and Florida. I also worked as a software programmer for the Army Corps of Engineers Construction Research Laboratory.