Principals - Robert B. Orkin

Career Highlights

Responsible for the redevelopment and sale of two Greenway Plaza area buildings to Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

• Negotiated contact to sell 35 acres in Greenway Plaza to Mobil Oil Land Development and managed extensive due diligence process.
• Responsible for the $3 million acquisition of Block 298, downtown Houston for the Frederick Carl Flick family of West Germany (former owner of Mercedes-Benz). Three years later, managed sale of the property for $12 million.
• Project manager for the proposed 82 story $440 million Southwest Center office building planned for Block 142 in downtown Houston. After two year predevelopment work, project put on hold.
• Project manager for the 30 story $85 million NBC Bank Plaza building in downtown San Antonio. Project built on-time and in-budget.
• Created idea and started Century Insurance Agency. Negotiated contact with Anco Insurance Co. to manage the Century managing general agency. Organized with $10 million in initial insurance premiums.
• Responsible for the acquisition and business structure for Industrial Commercial Enterprises, Ltd., an asbestos abatement company.
• Renegotiated 175,000 square foot NBC Bank lease on behalf of NBC and Equimark Bank.
• Restructured $30 million partnership between BSL Golf Corp. and Houston Municipal Employees Pension System. Represented related entities in front of the State Pension Review Board and City of Houston Audit Committee. Prepared position paper on pension fund investments in golf courses and master planned communities.
• Represented Houston Police Officer Pension System in $3 million mortgage commitment for retirement housing project in College Station, TX.
• Renegotiated and restructured $10 million loan on behalf of Century/University State Bank, Ltd. with Union Carbide Pension Fund.
• Responsible for the due diligence and feasibility study for Century Development and Senterra Development of 92 acres at Nasa Road 1 and Space Center Boulevard.
• Responsible for creating approximately $5,000,000 in added value for Rice University's 92 acres at Nasa Road 1 and Space Center Boulevard by negotiating pipeline relocation easement with major energy companies, drill site designation with Exxon, release of reversionary rights with Exxon and Friendswood Development Co., relocation of Lunar and Planetary Institute, designation of lake to private lake status, secured utility rights with Clear Lake City Water Authority, and secured utility rights with City of Pasadena. Previous attempts by George Brown, Rice University Board and Exxon to resolve some of these same matters had been unsuccessful. Land eventually sold to Pappas family.
• Negotiated for Tejas Power a 30,000 square foot sublease agreement from British Petroleum at BP Plaza. Rental value of over $3,000,000.
• Represented Williams Bailey Law Firm in acquisition of 80,000 square foot office building at 8441 Gulf Freeway. Work included negotiation of Letter of Intent and Earnest Money Contract , selecting outside counsel, managing the due diligence process and closing the deal. Later became the asset manager and then property manager and leasing agent.
• Negotiated the sale of the Old Cotton Exchange Building in downtown Houston to Spire Realty.
• Handled leasing of Gulf States Toyota's facility at 8806 Mississippi St. to UPS Truck Leasing and Rollins Truck Leasing.
• In joint venture with Moody-Rambin, lease the Bank of America-East Houston building at I-10 East and Federal Road.
• Leasing agent for Koll Bren Schreiber's Bank of America-Pasadena building at 213 W. Southmore.
• Worked with several State of Texas agencies to negotiate and secure 65,000 square feet of office space.
• Recently selected as tenant representative for a Fortune 100 company.

Civic Involvement

• Former Trustee of Rehab Mission, the only shelter in Houston dedicated exclusively to the elderly homeless
• Lt. Governor, 1998-1999, of Division 3 (Houston) of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis
• Vice President of Kiwanis Club of Southeast Houston, 1999
• Member of Downtown Kiwanis Club. Active Sponsored Youth
• Volunteer for Shiner Bike Ride, Houston to Austin. Event raises money for underprivileged children
• Member East End Area Chamber of Commerce
• Member North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce
• Treasurer, Atrium Society at the Gerald Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston. Raises money for student scholarships.
• Guest Lecturer at University of Texas Business School, University of Houston Law School, Houston Baptist University MBA School and The Kinkaid School.
• Leadership Houston Class XX Graduate 2002
• Co-Chairman Kinkaid Alumni Phon-A-Thon 2003-2004
• Member Elect Kinkaid Alumni Board of Trustrees 2003-2006

Summary

Bob Orkin has been actively engaged in the real estate business for 23 years. He has been responsible for the development, management, leasing and marketing, construction, legal and financial aspects of 2-3 million square feet of commercial and industrial real estate.

Professional Organizations

• Houston Association of Realtors BOMA ULI
• ICSC

Personal

• Married to Debra Frankel Orkin, registered dental hygienist
• One son, Jared Benjamin Orkin