Craig T. Stevens, CCAM - CEO

Mar West Real Estate Services Principal/Owners Craig Stevens

Responsibilities

Craig has overall responsibility for establishing the vision,
strategic direction and execution of service delivery to
clients of Mar West Real Estate.

Professional Experience

Craig brings to his current assignment a twenty-seven year career encompassing the commercial real estate, financial, and technology industries. His real estate experience has included the broad spectrum and cycles of property acquisition, operations, securitization, and disposition. Craig also has an extensive experience in 1031 tax-deferred exchange transactions.

As the founding Principal of Mar West Ventures, Inc. (dba Mar West Real Estate), Pacific Property Maintenance, Inc., Maverick Marketing Corporation and co-owner of Granite Exchange Corporation, a Qualified 1031 Intermediary firm. Craig brings to the firm extensive experience in a variety of areas and an intense and innovative approach to the business.

Prior to forming Mar West Real Estate, Craig was with CB Richard Ellis, the world’s largest commercial real estate firm, in the capacity of Managing Director-Strategic Accounts, where he held overall responsibility for facilitating and coordinating the integrated and comprehensive performance for assignments undertaken on behalf of four of CBRE’s top ten institutional clients (Koll, Bren, Schreiber Realty Advisors, SSR Realty Advisors (Blackrock), PM Realty Advisors and LNR Property Corporation). Duties encompassing seventy-five client decision makers and over 100 assets valued in excess of $10 Billion.

During his seven year tenure with CBRE, Craig also initiated and /or materially participated in the creation of, led and grew multiple successful national and global initiatives, including the creation of; CBRE's global e-business platform, CBRE’s technology venture investment strategy, national procurement strategy, and CB Richard Ellis 1031 Exchange Services, Inc.

Prior to CBRE, Craig was instrumental in repositioning and growing IPX 1031 Exchange Services (a Fidelity National Financial subsidiary) into the nation’s largest and most respected national 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary.

Previously in his career, Craig co-commanded a fifty-person real estate investment firm (a subsidiary of a large So. Cal. Developer) that packaged and securitized office, retail, multi-family and mixed use real estate projects, using debt and equity limited partnerships. While there, his team innovatively created one of the first broadly marketed, fractionalized 1031 Tenant-In-Common (TIC) securitized ownership structures. Annual equity and non-bank debt funding increased from $10 million to $103 million and the annual value of real estate sold via the above methods, rose from $30 million to $400 million during his tenure.

Education

  • B.S. Business Administration-Finance, San Diego State University, 1982.
  • College for Financial Planning- Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Designation (not active).
  • Numerous industry specific continuing education courses over 28 years.

Licenses, Affiliations, Recognitions & Volunteer work

  • Real Estate Broker license- California
  • SEC/NASD series 7,24,53 & 63 licenses (non-active)
  • Continuing education speaker/teacher in multiple states on real estate, finance and technology.
  • Invited speaker: IREM, BOMA, Real Estate Conference Group, local real estate boards, corporate functions-local, national and international.
  • Orange County Commercial Association of Realtors- Former board member.
  • Southern California Association of Independent Broker Dealers- Former board member.
  • Real Estate Securities and Syndication Institute (RESSI)-Former Board member.
  • Toastmasters International- Former member and chapter President.
  • Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Housing Board- Former Alumni Board member.
  • Hewes Middle School Business Partner (1998- 2001).
  • AYSO boy's U-16 Plus team coach (1991-2005).
  • AYSO Region 96 Board of Directors- Director (2003- 2007).
  • Campfire USA Orange County Council – Volunteer Fundraiser & corporate donor development for after school tutoring of children from low income families (2005- 2006).
  • Foothill High School Baseball Boosters- Vice President - Fundraising (2003- 2007).
  • Storm Water Pollution Protection Programs (SWPPP) - Certification- 2007.
  • Cal State Fullerton- Mihaylo College of Business and Economics- Center for Entrepreneurship- Business Plan/Funding Review Panelist- (2007- present).
  • USD Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate- Institutional/Corporate Member (2008- present)
  • California Association of Community Managers- Certified Community Association Manager (CCAM) Designation- January 2009.
  • San Diego State University Alumni Association-Orange County Chapter- Chairman (2007- present).
  • San Diego State University- Presidents Parents Advisory Board- Board Member (2007- present).
  • San Diego State University- College of Business Administration- Entrepreneurial Management Center- Venture Challenge Business Plan Competition- Judge/Panelist- (2009- present) and Lavin Mentor (2010- present).
  • San Diego State University- College of Business Administration- Board of Directors (2010- present).
  • San Diego State University- The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate- Executive Board (2010- present).