Bio
Blake Potolicchio, Co-Chief Investment Officer
More than a dozen years of experience in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing, asset management, and leasing. Prior to Open Industrial Blake spent 15 years spearheading a local private equity real estate fund’s strategic direction focused on acquisitions, entitlement, leasing and asset management.
Show Notes
- Introduction and Welcome (00:04:30)
- Blake is welcomed to the show and expresses gratitude for the invitation.
- Blake’s Role and Responsibilities (00:04:40)
- Blake describes his role as co-chief investment officer at Open Industrial.
- Investment Strategy Overview (00:04:50)
- Discussion on acquiring heavy industrial zoned land for outdoor storage and its significance.
- Average Deal Size (00:05:15)
- Blake shares insights on the average deal size and the strategy of high volume, small check sizes.
- Impact of COVID-19 (00:05:50)
- The importance of their tenants during COVID-19 and the supply chain disruptions experienced.
- Challenges in Finding Suitable Sites (00:06:15)
- Blake discusses the difficulties in finding sites that meet zoning and user requirements.
- Motivation Behind Founding Open Industrial (00:06:45)
- Personal motivations and the market conditions that led to the establishment of Open Industrial.
- Identifying Market Opportunities (00:07:30)
- Blake explains how zoning and limited availability create market opportunities for outdoor storage.
- Economic Viability and Investment Perspective (00:08:15)
- Discussion on the economic aspects and long-term viability of their investment strategy.
- Acquisition Strategy and Market Focus (00:10:30)
- Blake outlines the geographic focus and strategy of the acquisitions team at Open Industrial.
- Background and Education (00:11:15)
- Blake shares his upbringing, education, and the importance of learning in his early years.
- Family Background (00:12:00)
- Details about Blake’s family, including his mother’s real estate career and father’s medical profession.
- College Experience (00:12:15)
- Blake discusses his college experience at the College of the Holy Cross and his athletic involvement.
- Career Aspirations Post-College (00:14:00)
- Blake reflects on his uncertainty about career paths after college and his initial interest in medicine.
- Internship Experience (00:15:30)
- Blake describes his internship at JLL and the various aspects of real estate he explored.
- Interest in Real Estate (00:16:15)
- Discussion on what spa...
