Our Team - Twin Cities | Lee & Associates, Inc. |

Duane Poppe, SIOR, CCIM
Managing Principal
Chris Garcia, SIOR
Principal
Kai Thomsen
Principal
Jeff Minea
Principal
Nathan Arnold, CCIM
Principal
Chris Jacobson, CCIM
Vice President, Healthcare
Susan Wilson, CCIM, MBA
Vice President, Healthcare
Luke Schammel
Associate
Tom Dunsmore, SIOR
Vice President
Lois Stanfield
Office Manager / Marketing
Ronald R. Scholder, SIOR

Managing Principal

Duane Poppe, SIOR, CCIM

Direct: 952.223.6721 Cell: 612.201.4498
Email: dpoppe@lee-associates.com

Duane Poppe, Managing Principal SIOR CCIM with Lee & Associates brings an impressive background of industrial sales, leasing, and real estate to the Twin Cities market. Prior to Lee & Associates, Duane was the Vice President with Transwestern’s Minneapolis office specializing in industrial sales and leasing within the North Metro of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Duane also spent nine years with Cassidy Turley where he headed the industrial Department, while playing an active role on the firm’s Corporate Services team and the Management Committee. In 2005 Duane was recognized with the Cassidy Turley Rising Star Award, Dorsey Circle of Excellence Award for production, and the MNCAR Rising Star of the Year. He has been named a CoStar Power Broker on several occasions, and consistently been a finalist for the MNCAR Transaction of the Year. He began his career as an investment executive with Piper Jaffray in 1995, after he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Concordia College.

Duane also helps to improve his community through many leadership roles, most notably as the current Mayor and past City Council Official of the City of Osseo. He is also a member of the Osseo Economic Development Authority and the ISD Core Planning Team. Duane additionally finds time to lead the Osseo Maple Grove Hockey Association Hockey Team as head coach, as well as plan mission trips as trip leader for the Osseo Methodist Church Mission Commission.

Professional Affiliations/Certifications:

  • Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)
  • Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
  • Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors (MNCAR) current President, past Board Member, Sponsorship Committee, Market Research Contributor
  • NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP)
  • National Association of Realtors (NAR)

Noteworthy clients served include:

  • AMB Corporation
  • First Industrial Property
  • Cobalt Capital Partners
  • CORE Real Estate Holdings
  • Ecolab
  • Hines
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Travelers
  • Meritex

Principal

Chris Garcia, SIOR

Direct: 952.223.6720 Cell: 651.253.6395
Email: cgarcia@lee-associates.com

Chris Garcia, Principal with Lee & Associates, has been a leader in the commercial and industrial industry for over 12 years. With his strong background and vast knowledge of the Twin Cities market place, Chris has grown an impressive portfolio of reputable clients. Chris graduated from New Mexico State University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He began his career at Northmarq (now Cushman & Wakefield) in 2002, where he was a lead leasing agent on a 750,000 square foot portfolio owned by Great Point Investors LLC. Chris left Northmarq in 2010 to establish his own brokerage firm, CGC Commercial. CGC specialized in industrial tenant representation, and through Chris’s marketing efforts the company grew to become a key player in the local and regional industrial brokerage market.

Some of his notable transactions include:

  • 330,000 SF Walgreens- Rogers
  • 450,000 SF Nilfisk Advance- Plymouth
  • 100,000 SF Target- Brooklyn Park
  • 100,000 SF ADS Group- Plymouth
  • 750,000 SF Great Point Portfolio in Plymouth

Chris built CGC, now Lee & Associates, to be a successful business with a solid foundation.

  • 2011 – 150,000 SF Leased/Sold
  • 2012 – 300,000 SF Leased/Sold
  • 2013 – 600,000 SF Leased/Sold
  • 2014 – 800,000 SF Leased/Sold

As a current member of the Plymouth Rotary Club, and the Latino Economic Development Center, Chris remains active in the community. He also sits on the board for multiple organizations, including, the Midwest Minority Supplier Diversity Council, MNCAR, and the MNCAR Industrial Advisory Group.

Principal

Kai Thomsen

Direct: 952.223.6724 Cell: 612.239.4747
Email: kthomsen@lee-associates.com

Kai Thomsen joined Lee & Associates Twin Cities in April of 2016 as one of four founding partners. His role is to lead the firm’s landlord representation services by building on a successful career of providing strategic marketing and leasing programs to landlords throughout the Twin Cities marketplace. 

Previously, Kai joined Cassidy Turley Martin Tucker (CTMT) in 2005 and remained with the company through three mergers (Cassidy Turley, DTZ and Cushman & Wakefield). During his tenure, he specialized in office leasing and sales within the west metro. Kai has represented landlords for more than 2 million square feet of space and has been involved in more than 250 transactions in the last ten years. In 2007, he was named the Office Broker of the Year. Prior to joining CTMT, Kai was an office broker with Welsh Companies for five years. 

Major Transactions Include:

  • Buffalo Wild Wings Corporate Headquarters
  • US Energy Services: 30,561 SF
  • RJF: 50,000 SF Northland Corporate Center
  • Wayzata Executive Park: 101,716 SF Investment Sale
  • Sale of Sycamore Plaza to Vascular Solutions
  • Receivership of Boatworks Building in Wayzata, MN
  • North Memorial Health Care, 43,000 SF

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Iowa
  • International Business Certificate

Principal

Jeff Minea

Direct: 952.955.6196 Cell: 612.701.7741
Email: jminea@lee-associates.com

Jeff Minea, Principal with Lee & Associates, got his start in the commercial real estate business at Welsh Companies, where he worked for 22 years. He initially managed a large portfolio of office, industrial and retail properties and eventually transitioned to brokerage, where he quickly earned the position of vice president. Jeff has represented landlords in marketing industrial space for lease throughout the Twin Cities and played the leading role on several major business park listing assignments with square footage from 250,000 to 1,000,000+ of industrial space. Jeff also successfully lead the development and marketing of a 2-building multi-tenant industrial property (124,000 SF), managing all aspects of hiring, budgeting and design, all municipal approvals, construction, and progress payments. Jeff went on to serve as senior director with Cushman & Wakefield for five years, exclusively representing industrial, med-tech and office companies in their search and selection of property for lease and sale. With an emphasis on measurable results, Jeff reduced base rent for five clients in 2009 by 19.95% up to as much as 46.15%. He was a member of the team hired to market the former Delta Airlines headquarters office building, along with the development of the land.

Some of his notable transactions include:

  • Plymouth Business Center 900,000 SF Business Park Lead role
  • Plymouth Business Center 124,000 SF Lead Developer/Leasing
  • Lund Industries, Anoka 331,000 SF/Sale
  • Graybow Daniels 210,000 SF/Lease
  • International Paper 128,000 SF/Lease
  • Gyrus Medical 115,000 SF/Lease
  • Schneiderman’s Furniture 106,000 SF/Lease
  • Northcross Partners 38 Acre/Sale

Notable awards include:

  • Voted Top 5– Twin Cities Industrial Brokers award, 2007
  • Voted Top 5– Minneapolis Cushman & Wakefield producer, 2010
  • 2 Years– Minnesota Commercial Assoc. of Realtors, Board of Directors
  • 2x Expert Speaker– NAIOP Twin Cities Annual Industrial update

Principal

Nathan Arnold, CCIM

Direct: 952.800.2272  Cell: 612.578.2848
Email: narnold@lee-associates.com

Nathan Arnold, Principal with Lee and Associates in its Twin Cities office, is responsible for providing expert real estate services to his clients with a focus on national corporate office and industrial users. He provides reliable advice as well as tailored plans and strategies to each of his clients.

Nathan has over 20 years of corporate real estate experience and has handled some of the largest industrial and office transactions in the Twin Cities. His clients span across numerous industries including but not limited to medical technology, printing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and general technology companies to name a few. Prior to joining Lee & Associates, he worked at Mohr Partners, Inc., and with CBRE, consulting with corporations on their real estate transactions on national, regional, and local levels focusing on industrial, office and retail sectors.

Vice President, Healthcare

Chris Jacobson, CCIM

Direct: 952.800.2374  Cell: 651.231.1234
Email: cjacobson@lee-associates.com

PROFILE

With over 30 years of real estate experience, Chris has a depth of understanding that is apparent to healthcare providers who draw from his insight of the market. Chris understands the issues facing healthcare today. The healthcare real estate component includes many factors such as location selection, patient experience, staff and physician retention, timing, and economics. He leverages all of these factors as they have a tremendous impact on the real estate terms. Chris takes a very similar approach with medical facility investment regarding tenant mix, gap analysis and investment values. Prior to joining Lee & Associates, Chris worked in the Healthcare Services Group at Northmarq and then at CBRE’s Healthcare Services Group.

Chris Jacobson works alongside Susan Wilson to form the Lee & Associates Healthcare Group. As a team, they provide real estate advisory services to health systems, clinics, physician groups, and independent practices. In addition, they assist investors with the disposal of their medical assets and portfolios. Susan and Chris each have very different skill sets which makes the team able to service a wide variety of client needs. Chris’ exclusive focus on real estate solutions for those providing medical care ensures outcomes that are specifically aligned with the practice’s value.

Notable Awards Include:

  • 2020 Globe Street Healthcare Influencer
  • 2020 CCIM JW Levine Leadership Development Academy
  • 2019 CCIM Presidents Cup Award

 

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Development, focusing in Architecture, Public Affairs, and Housing

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Member of MMGMA (Minnesota Medical Group Management Association)
  • Communication Committee member of MMGMA
  • Member of CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
  • Past President CCIM Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter

Past 5 years MN REJournal Medical Facilities Conference Panelist & Moderator

Vice President, Healthcare

Susan Wilson, CCIM, MBA

Direct: 952.800.2372  Cell: 612.791.3897
Email: swilson@lee-associates.com

PROFILE

Susan brings over 15 years of commercial real estate experience and has expertise in medical facility investment valuation. In 2008, Susan joined the CBRE Healthcare Services Group

and combined her past retail brokerage experience with her medical sales and marketing experience. Prior to this, Susan worked as a commercial appraiser where she completed appraisal assignments for tax appeal and financing purposes for all property types. She brings a unique perspective from her retail experience as many healthcare providers have chosen retail locations. Susan has strong relationships with medical and retail brokers and landlords as well as vendors who specialize in medical.

Susan Wilson works alongside Chris Jacobson to form the Lee & Associates Healthcare Group. As a team, they provide real estate advisory services to health systems, clinics, physician groups, and independent practices. In addition, they assist investors with the disposal of their medical assets and portfolios. Susan and Chris each have very different skill sets which makes the team able to service a wide variety of client needs.

Recent Notable Awards Include:

  • 2020 Globe Street Healthcare Influencer

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse
  • Master of Business Administration, Concentration on Marketing, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
  • Additional Coursework Architectural Drawing and Design and Architectural History, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Member of MNCREW (Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women)
  • Past Co-Chair of MNCREW Membership Committee
  • Past Co-Chair of MNCREW Community Services Committee
  • Member of CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)

Associate

Luke Schammel

Direct: 952.219.7900 Cell: 612.760.1536
Email: lschammel@lee-associates.com

PROFILE 

Luke Schammel joined Lee & Associates in January of 2021. He earned a BBA in real estate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s nationally recognized Real Estate Program in December 2020 (Ranked #1 Public Real Estate Program in the United States – usnews.com). At UWM, Luke advanced the Real Estate program as a member of the Real Estate Club’s executive board during his senior year. In his academic life, Luke was selected to compete in the Cornell University International Case Competition in the fall of 2020 and founded the Real Estate Club’s podcast, “Cash-on- Cash Connections”, which regularly interviews established real estate professionals about what it takes to be successful in the industry. 

EDUCATION 

• University of Wisconsin Madison, Real Estate Program 

Vice President

Tom Dunsmore, SIOR

Cell: 651.775.4282    Direct: 952.666.6607
Email: tdunsmore@lee-associates.com

Investment | Turnaround Specialist | Occupier Management | USA–Minneapolis

Tom has just joined the Lee & Associates Twin Cities group in January 2023. Previously
a Senior Vice President with Avison Young since December 2015, Tom has lead a
team specializing in property turnarounds, transaction management, and investment
sales. He has over 30 years of commercial real estate experience in many of the
industry’s core service categories. Tom has extensive experience with representing
occupiers, ground-up development, and asset disposition. His clients benefit from his
keen construction knowledge, which is usually combined with his sales and project
management skills. Tom’s process-driven approach consistently creates value for his
teammates and clients.

Learning to work with a team of property managers and owners, he initiated many
strategies and processes to help create a clear project direction with milestones,
along with a sense of urgency to benefit his clients. Tom has been the lead on many
successful investment sales. Some of the notable investment sales would be the
371,100 SF U.S. Bank Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, and recently the two-building
120,000 SF complex, AV Commons I and AV Commons II, located in Apple Valley,
Minnesota. In addition, Minnetonka Plaza is a three-story, 36,000 SF office facility that
Tom has leased and sold for three separate owners. Tom managed the entire Soleo
Healthcare building portfolio across the country as it related to its renewals, new site
selections, and overall project management.

Credentials and Professional Affiliations
• Winner of the 2021 TMA Turnaround Project of the year
• Minnesota Association of Commercial Realtors
• MN Brokers License
• Florida Broker License 2023

Partial Client List
• Ron Clark
• Century Link
• Lumens
• Soleo Health – USA
• Theomke & Sons
• BD – Becton Dickinson
• Allied Parking
• Chase Real Estate
• Menasha
• Sun Country Airlines
• Swervo
• Polaris
• Coram Healthcare
• Philips Consumer Electronics
• Lighthouse Management

Office Manager / Marketing

Lois Stanfield

Office  952.955.4400
Mobile  612.269.0705
lstanfield@lee-associates.com

Lois Stanfield has an extensive background in graphic design, photography, and project management, serving the needs of a broad variety of clients from publishing to corporate marketing.

Her role as Office Manager / Marketing Coordinator for Lee & Associates in the Twin Cities includes keeping the office running smoothly and assisting the brokers with Buildout and MNCAR to list properties and create flyers; designing and producing BOVs, Tour Books, and various pitch books; social media, email blasts, and direct mail advertising; and event planning. Strategic thinking and creating a more effective workflow has been an integral part of her responsibilities.

Ronald R. Scholder, SIOR

Cell: 612.867.4766    Direct: 952.373.4833
Email: rscholder@lee-associates.com

PROFILE
With over 30 years of experience helping business owners and corporations with their real estate solutions, Ron Scholder brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients and to his team. He has represented clients within the retail, office, industrial, manufacturing, and distribution facility sectors throughout the United States. He professionally and diligently helps clients navigate their real estate needs while providing extensive knowledge in all areas of the tenant, buyer, and seller representation sectors of the market. Ron brings his innate leadership skills and passion for creating winning solutions to meeting his clients real estate needs, while delivering a high level of service. He is an expert in commercial real estate representation, with a focus on business development and strategy.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
With an aggregate transaction value of over $1.5 billion, Ron’s level of expertise offers the client a diverse wealth of knowledge. During his career, Ron has been recognized as a leading producer by a variety of organizations and publications. Most recently, he was recognized as Carlson Partners’ 2022 Advisor of the Year.

Partial Client List
•  Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota
•  Smart Express
•  Nabisco Food Company
•  Grace Management
•  The Goodman Group
•  Atlas Realty
•  Brennan Investment Group
•  Theros Realty
•  Pentair/Hoffman Engineering
•  British Petroleum America
•  Minneapolis Parks & Recreation
•  Regis Corporation