About MPOChicago
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.... Make big plans... aim high in hope and work."
~ Daniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA
MPOChicago is about bold plans, visionary innovation, and best-in-class results for its clients in Corporate Facilities Management, Retail and Office Property Management, and creating a living Sustainable Real Estate Ecosystem that supports the organizations and people who work, live, shop, and play within them.
Michael O'Connell, FMP
Founder and Principal
Michael O'Connell is a designated Facility Management Professional (FMP) by the International Facility Management
Association. Michael has been active in Facility, Property, and Sustainability Management since 2004, across multiple
asset classes including retail, mixed-use, multi-family residential, parking facilities, warehouse, and distribution centers.
Facility Management
In 2004, Michael began his property/facility management career with Standard Parking Corporation (SP+) as Facility Manager for Cook County Hospital and Health Systems [John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Ruth M. Rothstein C.O.R.E. Center, and Fantus Clinic] within the Illinois Medical District.
In 2005, Mr. O'Connell was recruited to join the start-up team at Retail Properties of America Inc. [RPAI] - the successor company to Inland Western Retail Real Estate Investment Trust then under the sponsorship of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc. - during its $4.2 Billion capital raise and initial asset acquisition, as Manager of Business Administration for its Property Management unit, RPAI HOLDCO Management LLC. In this role he oversaw the administrative management activities for the company.
In 2007, RPAI became a self-administered independent REIT and had grown with a portfolio of more than 300 properties with an aggregate of over 35 Million square feet of retail, mixed-use, and office assets in 39 states with
over $10 Billion AUM. At that time, O'Connell assumed the role of Vice President Business Management and Insurance. This role included management of facility and office services for more than 200,000 square feet of RPAI corporate headquarters and 20+ regional and site office spaces around the country.
The Facility Management and Office Services role included site selection, lease negotiation, Space planning, move management, and sourcing of all FF&E (furniture, computers, printers and multi-function [print/scan/fax/e-mail] devices), conference/training facilities audio-visual equipment and collaboration tools/IT platforms, mobility services and devices [cellular carriers, handhelds and tablets].
Leadership of internal and external resources for all office construction, build-outs, and capital improvements was a significant function of this role, as well as overall construction project management, scheduling control, budget monitoring, and progress reporting to senior staff.
Property Management
Between 2005 and 2015. O'Connell progressively advanced to Property Manager, Director of Property Support Services, Assistant Vice President | Property Management, and Vice President | Property Management - at various times managing an individual property portfolio in excess of 2 MM square feet of gross leaseable area [GLA] and regional portfolios of up to 10 MM square feet of GLA, while leading regional teams of up to 25 people in multiple locations.
Working directly with the President of Property Management, O'Connell was responsible for implementing corporate initiatives in Onboarding, Training, and Development for Property Management, Marketing, Leasing, and Operations teams.
Sustainability Management
Within the Retail Property Operating Platform, O'Connell initiated tactical Sustainability programs focusing on Energy Management, Energy Efficient Lighting Technology (primarily HID - LED conversions) and Control Systems, Waste Stream Management, and Potable Water use.
The convergence of successful Sustainability pilot projects, increased affordability of energy efficient sustainable technologies, specifically LED Lighting and Control Systems, and accelerated capital project ROI, enabled Mr. O'Connell to apply lessons learned in developing a five-year strategic sustainability plan for implementation throughout all company offices, and across its full portfolio of investment properties.
Lifelong Learning
Michael attended DePaul University as a Bachelor of Arts candidate majoring Music Education and Communications while simultaneously embarking upon his "first career" in the Hospitality / Meetings and Conventions industry, and is currently completing his Bachelor of Science in Business at DePaul's School for Continuing Professional Studies. [Anticipated Graduation 2021]
In 2014-2015 Mr. O'Connell completed a one-year Leadership in Sustainability Management program at The University of Chicago Graham School. The program focused on six pillars of sustainability management: Environmental Economics; Environmental Law and Policy; Green Messaging; Science of Sustainability; Sustainable Development; and Sustainability Leadership & Change Management.
Michael received his IFMA training for the Facility Management Professional (FMP) credential at Northern Illinois University in 2018.
As a newcomer to the retail real estate industry, O'Connell took advantage of education opportunities offered by the International Council of Shopping Centers completing course tracks at the ICSC University of Shopping Centers in the School of Operations and Marketing and School of Asset Management and General Studies. In addition to, Marketing Institutes I & II and Management Institutes I & II at the ICSC John T. Riordan School for Professional Development between 2005 and 2009.
