Rick DeKam, CCIM

Personal History

Rick DeKam was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He attended Portage Northern High School and Western Michigan University. Rick has been self-employed his entire professional career - prior to his involvement in real estate, Rick operated an asphalt maintenance and paving company in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, which he sold to develop a chain of video rental stores in Michigan and Illinois.

Rick was married in 1982 to a Chicago native, Valerie (Volkman) DeKam. They have three grown children, Katie, Andy and Bill, and reside in Portage, Michigan, a southern suburb of Kalamazoo. In Rick’s spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors and volunteering for the local Boy Scout Council.

Career path

Rick began his brokerage career with Preferred Carlson Realtors in 1988. He has worked in a variety of capacities, but has concentrated his efforts in retail and investment property brokerage. In 1992, Rick partnered with Preferred and took over the company's property management division. Five years later, Rick left Preferred to form Midwest Realty Group, L.L.C., in an effort to focus on buyer/tenant representation and concentrate on site selection and land assemblage throughout the Midwest. This work has also provided Rick with a unique opportunity to begin investing in and developing property.

Business Concentration

Rick has spent much of his real estate career working with and studying investment-grade property. Rick is well acquainted with all aspects of property ownership, including: due diligence, ownership structure, contract language, planning and entitlement, loan procurement, construction and delivery, project valuation and return analysis, effective marketing, property and asset management, and other similar disciplines.

Memberships and Designations

ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers)
CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
Michigan CCIM Chapter
RLI (Realtors Land Institute)
NAR (National Association of Realtors)
MAR (Michigan Association of Realtors)