Chad Firsel
Chad Firsel is a Senior Advisor for SCALE Real Estate.
Chad brings considerable skill and experience to his leadership role at Echo Development Group. Prior to starting the firm, he created and managed the investment services practice at Chicago’s Baum Realty Group, Inc., NAI Hiffman and created and runs an investment brokerage based in Chicago, IL.
His primary focus is achieving the optimal value for clients as he advises them in the site selection, lease negotiations, development services, facility management and turnkey solutions for tenants on a national basis. With holistic knowledge and vision of all industry aspects including, legal processes, financing strategy and extensive capital relationships he has guided more than $1.3 billion in commercial real estate development, acquisition and investment brokerage transactions.
Chad’s client list includes institutional owners: Inland Group of Companies, Hudson Advisors, Torchlight, CIII, BMO Harris, RBS Citizens and many others. Chad also prides himself with his ability to work with first time entrepreneurial tenants to large national medical, retail and industrial tenants.
His care for the community is just as inspired as his devotion to real estate. Chad currently commits time and service to the City of Hope, one of the world’s leading biomedical research and treatment centers for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. In addition, he and his wife, a cancer survivor, were the largest fundraisers for the Colon Cancer Coalition, which supports research for colon cancer treatment. In 2013, they established a new foundation to help prevent and find a cure for cancer.
Chad is also a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Jewish United Fund. He mentors future real estate leaders through local universities and nonprofit organizations as well.
Chad graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Kansas
Current Affiliations & Designations
Illinois Real Estate Broker
2006 Investment Sales Broker of the Year, Chicago Association of Realtors
Board Member Emeritus, International Council of Shopping Centers, Next Generation
Director, Chicago Real Estate Council
Member, Real Estate Investment Association
Member, National Association of Realtors
Certified Commercial Investment Member, CCIM Institute
