Tuesday April 28, 2009

6:00-7:00 PM

240 Wohlers Hall

Topic: Industrial Real Estate

Ken Marino - President, GROBMAR Investments

In 1978 Alfred Klairmont joined Imperial Realty Company, a family business his father Larry Klairmont started in 1956. Today, Al oversees Imperial’s portfolio of more than 65 properties in the Chicagoland Metropolitan Area having over ten million square feet of commercial real estate. Under his leadership Imperial Realty has grown to become one of Chicago’s Largest Real Estate Firms. With an established reputation of integrity and forward thinking and with a long-term viewpoint, Al is hands-on in the process of finding, buying, rehabbing, leasing, managing and maintaining Imperial’s commercial properties. Most acquisitions were purchased as distressed properties and have been subsequently guided to success through rehabilitation and repositioning to meet the needs of the respective marketplaces. Al directs a staff of 30 professionals which includes legal, architectural, space planning, brokerage, leasing, management and maintenance expertise. 

Additionally, in March 2007, Al was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. The Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame recognizes the innovators and leaders in the Chicago area. This distinguished award is given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated entrepreneurial talent by founding and/or growing a business in the Chicagoland area.

Al graduated with his Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Illinois in Urbana. Among his hobbies are the dozen or so civic boards and committees he serves on. 

Al grew up in Chicago’s northern suburbs and still resides there with his wife of 25 years and has three children.