The Real Estate Scene in SE Michigan in the COVID and Post COVID Era....What happened. What to expect.

Andrew (Andy) L. Gutman, President of Farbman Group and related companies, oversees the myriad   of Farbman companies, its > 25,000,000 rsf of commercial real estate and its 200 + employees. Andy worked for much of his career in the arenas of Accounting, Finance and Asset Management and previously held the title of Chief Financial Officer. He has spent over 27 years of commercial real estate working for international and family owned, multi- generational commercial real estate companies.

Andy has financed and overseen assets in excess of billions of dollars and has been  an  active part of the structuring of the ownership and financing of these assets. With a focus on client service, customer satisfaction and maximizing asset value, he derives pleasure from problem solving and finding opportunities that provide appreciated value, additional revenue and cost savings for the organization and its client. Andy Gutman cares about people, processes, community and is committed to the corporate vision of operating with ethics and integrity.

A strong proponent of, and participant in, community activities, Mr. Gutman served for over a  decade as  an advisor for BBYO, Inc. working with hundreds of youth group teenagers and now serves on the Board of Directors of BBYO International. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission and was Chairman of the Master Plan and Zoning Committee for the City of Novi. Andy served on the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Tax Committee, the Detroit Workforce Development Board, and served as Chairman of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Owners Advisory Council. He currently serves on the Midtown Detroit, Inc.’s Board of Directors, Detroit Chinese Business Association’s Board of Directors, Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Chaldean Community Foundation’s Executive Committee and a member of EO Detroit. He has received the Crain’s  Detroit  Business  CFO of the Year Award, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA Detroit) President’s Award, the American Business Award’s Financial Executive  of the Year Award  and  Maverick  of  the  Year Award, an inductee in the  Midwest Real Estate  News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame, he has been named multiple times to the Detroit 500, a list of the 500 Most Powerful Business people in Detroit, and has received BBYO‘s Distinguished Alumni of  the Year Award. Under his leadership, Farbman Group and its companies and properties have received awards and accolades including Crain’s Cool Places to Work in Michigan, National Best  and  Brightest Companies to Work For (for the past decade +), National Best  and Brightest in Wellness, When Work Works (Sloan) Award for over a decade in row, a litany of American Business Awards in numerous categories, Corp.! magazine’s Economic Bright Spot and numerous TOBY Awards presented by BOMA for The Office Building of the Year.

Michigan State University, B.A. Accounting

Andy is a song writer and an author. He has licensed numerous songs to companies for  commercial  use and is the proud author of five (5) Children’s Books that include: Charlie the Caterpillar, Pop Lullaby, Even, Charlie the Caterpillar: What can I be Today, and Be Kind.

Throughout his 20+ years’ experience in Commercial Real Estate, Brandon has demonstrated significant hands-on transaction experience and proven leadership directing debt and equity investments in retail, multifamily, parking, office, industrial and hospitality properties. He has held senior positions structuring and originating debt and equity investments, including restructuring, asset redevelopment and loan sales at Fifth Third Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and a boutique brokerage firm acquired by GMAC, with applied expertise in the following areas:

•Origination, Underwriting & Structuring for Portfolio and Securitization – Debt & Equity

•Commercial Real Estate Investment Management, Acquisitions, Operations & Dispositions

•Advisory and Placement

•Distressed Asset Resolution and Loan Workouts

Frank T. Mamat is a well-respected labor law attorney known for his accessibility and responsiveness to clients. Because Frank, who is the attorney-in-charge of the Detroit Metro office, knows that labor and employment matters can arise any at time, he strives to make himself readily available to his clients around the clock for their most pressing labor issues. A range of entities, from the United Nations to small, two-person businesses, along with construction companies, and trade and business associations – come to Frank because of his nearly 45 years of deep experience helping companies, contractors and employers with their complex labor and union matters. Through the years, Frank has successfully counseled clients on virtually every type of labor matter. He also helped the Michigan Senate in 2012 prepare Michigan's "Right to Work" law. In particular, he provides counsel and assistance regarding union matters such as contract negotiations, elections, union avoidance, and labor arbitrations; noncompetes; unfair labor practice litigation; harassment suits; wage and hour issues; National Labor Relations Board cases; organizing attempts by unions, mass picketing and violence, secondary boycotts and pressure; and OSHA-MIOSHA and safety matters. He also advises clients on ERISA trust funds and related fiduciary liabilities. Frank is sought after in greater Detroit and around the country and serves as labor counsel for several major employer associations and nonprofit trade associations, as well as on local and national boards of directors. He also is frequently asked to speak to major trade groups about various labor and employment law issues. He also has represented and advised businesses, political groups and governments in legislative and political issues. In the course of his career, Frank has advised a former U.S. president, as well as multiple governors, U.S. and state senators, congressmen, mayors, and county executives, along with dozens of candidate campaigns and political parties. He was special counsel to the Attorney General and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder regarding enforcement of anti-mandatory PLA statutes and special campaign counsel for Michigan to President Donald Trump. He was also considered by four U.S. presidents to serve as a federal judge in Michigan (1986-1988), as assistant secretary of labor (1992), as chair of the National Labor Relations Board (2001), and as chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (2017). 

With a clear vision, compelling energy and extensive experience, Michael is helping the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan (HBA) members address the challenges of economic recovery and growth. Headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan, HBA has a membership of over 1,450 home builders, remodelers, subcontractors, suppliers, and multifamily property owners. Prior to joining HBA in 2008, Michael held various positions with Granger Construction, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the MITRE Corporation and the US Air Force. He earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Michigan State University in 1985. Michael lives in Williamston with Wendi, his wife of 31 years. They have grown children. When Michael is not working he enjoys time with his family, travel and sports.