Kelly Gantner

CFO, Partner

Diversified Partners

30 years in the industry

What initially inspired you to pursue a career in development and who or what influenced you most along the way? 

I’ve been working for more than 30 years in commercial real estate and development, following a career path that’s led me to richly appreciate all aspects of design, planning, construction and property management. I evolved from working in the construction and property management industry to the corporate financial side, and I found the impactful business transactions and partnerships behind every development intriguing, especially as I quickly learned the highly involved processes to successfully advance a project to the construction stage. This sparked a rewarding career centered on executing premier construction projects from start to finish, transforming the communities our development-and-brokerage firm serves. 

My two biggest influencers in construction and development have been my husband Kevin—our firm’s director of construction, who has helped me appreciate firsthand the intensive planning and labor involved in the building process—and our firm’s founder and CEO Walt Brown, who unites our team in a shared commitment to developing high-quality projects that significantly benefit communities.

Can you share a project you’re especially proud of and explain what made it meaningful—either professionally or personally?  

It’s very difficult to pinpoint just one. I’ve led corporate operations, property management and accounting across 54 companies, overseeing $500M+ in development projects. I enjoy the challenge and reward of driving a vast range of development projects’ success from concept to completion by thoughtfully applying my expertise in development, leasing, construction and acquisitions.

As a core team member of Diversified Partners since its founding in 1996, I consider all projects equally meaningful, especially in experiencing the full trajectory of their manifestation from start to finish. They originate as an idea from our CEO Walt Brown, then I take pride in working closely alongside our team to advance it to construction, and have the pleasure of witnessing the finished product that community members then enjoy.  I am always honored to be a part of every project.  

How do you see diversity and inclusion influencing better design outcomes in development today? 

The development industry at its heart is built on creativity, benefiting from ingenuity in business transactions as well as innovative design choices to achieve high-performance and aesthetically exciting buildings. Involving a broad diversity of professionals hailing from many backgrounds and specialties contributes to the evolution of projects in a deeply meaningful way, offering richly different perspectives that lend to new ideas and problem-solving that might otherwise go overlooked or missed entirely.

In addition, with every project, you learn what you could have done better or differently. Reviewing this always helps us make those adjustments to improve and make smarter decisions with each project. Regarding design, we carefully monitor all upcoming ideas, trades and most importantly what makes sense in the particular area we’re developing. We work closely with the municipalities and their ideas and vision, which often impacts our developments.

Have you had mentors or advocates who played a key role in your career growth, and how important is mentorship for women entering the field now? 

I personally haven’t had many women mentors, as I fell into the industry at a time when it was predominantly led by men. I’m proud to now play an active role in shifting that dynamic across today’s real estate and development landscape. I strive to serve as a role model for other women entering the industry, and I consider it critical to mentor rising women in construction and development to expand valuable diversity in a field long dominated by men. Mentorship can help women overcome barriers to success in a wide range of roles, empowering them to contribute to today’s innovations that will solve the building and design problems of tomorrow.

Personally, two men have impacted my career and growth who have been passionate supporters of my success as a woman in this field. My husband Kevin has encouraged and celebrated my role with Diversified Partners, and lent his own professional insights that have helped me to better understand the building industry and help projects evolve.

Our company’s founder and CEO Walt Brown, who I’ve worked alongside in growing this company from the ground up, has continued to strongly believe in me and welcomes my insights and expertise to support a broad scope of projects.

How do you balance creativity with the technical, regulatory, and business demands of architecture development?  

With continuing innovations in building products and materials, there are more options available than ever before in unifying design vision with technical, regulatory and business requirements. In my role with overseeing funding for a multitude of projects, I make a concerted effort to help ensure that financial support is delivered to manifest the full aesthetic scope of a project. I recommend to never take no for an answer, as there is always a way to make something work.

What changes have you seen for women in development over the course of your career, and where do you think progress is still needed? 

There have been a lot of changes and opportunities for women in development, architecture, engineering and all aspects of our industry, even extending to planning roles with municipalities. It is so exciting to see more and more women embracing the development industry, working together in what has always been a male-dominated industry.

We simply need to keep this momentum going. By offering mentorship, outreach and training opportunities, we can expand awareness of the multitude of opportunities for women in this field and support their advancement.

How do you see the conversation on sustainability going in our industry?

Sustainability is increasingly a driving priority for development projects across many markets. Sustainable products and building practices not only reduce a project’s environmental impact, but also provide lower operational costs in the long term by delivering more energy-efficient buildings. Incorporating sustainable products and designs are discussed at many levels of project planning, and our firm feels passionate about helping advance these efforts. 

We have even seen sustainable design impacting the broader community. Our firm recently developed a retail destination in Arizona that includes the largest solar-powered Starbucks in the United States. Its rooftop solar array supplies 80% to 100% of the store’s energy needs, with excess power fed back into the grid to support nearby homes. This achieves the dual function of providing an appealing gathering place for locals, while also delivering a valuable, eco-friendly energy source.

What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career so far, and how did it shape your professional journey? 

There are so many, it’s again very challenging to choose. I am so honored to be able to do what I do with all the support of my family and team at Diversified Partners.

I took great pride in serving an instrumental role in rebuilding Diversified Partners after the 2008 real estate downturn to its current status as a leading, trusted firm managing over 12 million square feet of property nationwide. As the last hire before the crash, I was tasked with leading the turnaround. Under my leadership with restructuring operations, Diversified Partners successfully stabilized, improved efficiency and profitability, and created a foundation for sustained growth—while many others were forced to close.

What advice would you give to young women or girls who are considering a career in development or the broader industry? 

My advice would be to encourage them to read, understand, get involved, ask lots of questions, and find their own path, as there are so many moving parts to the building industry that they can exceed at and advance to even higher levels. It takes time learn, so they need to be patient. 

During International Women’s Month, what does recognition like this mean to you, and how can the industry continue to better support and elevate women’s voices year-round? 

This is amazing and I am so honored to be recognized. This type of recognition is awesome for our women to be showcased and stand out. I think hosting more events and conferences focused on encouraging women to get involved throughout the industry would be ideal to raise awareness of the many job opportunities across different industry sectors.