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Melvin W. “Win” Warren, Jr.
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Melvin (“Win”) Warren, Jr. is a highly accomplished and nationally recognized business executive, real estate developer, educator and entrepreneur. With over 40 years of experience in business and real estate, he has led multiple companies to financial and market success. As the founder of The LaSalle Group, Win has been closely involved in every facet of the company since its inception, including development, management, investment, and finance.
Under Win’s leadership, the original objective of The LaSalle Group has been fulfilled, with over 20 successful real estate projects of various types throughout the United States. In his current role as chairman, Win stays in constant communication with the president of the company, providing guidance to ensure the goals of the business are well-executed. In conjunction with the president and board of directors, he oversees strategic planning and manages corporate growth at a smart and steady pace while preserving the company’s commitment to family values and service. In addition, Win is active in the senior living and real estate industry, interacts with investors and financial institutions, attends conferences and events, and accepts invitations from a variety of organizations to represent The LaSalle Group and speak on its behalf. He serves as an advisor for Signature Bank in Dallas, Texas, and is an active member of the National Investment Council.
Win’s natural entrepreneurial skills and ability to identify a market opportunity then successfully fill the need, became evident when he was a 16-year-old high school student. With support from his parents, he found land and designed and built a miniature golf course in his home town. Every summer throughout his remaining high school years and college, Win ran the business with his brother. After graduating from Michigan State University with a B.A. in business administration and marketing, and a Masters in economics, Win joined General Motors Corporation and was on the Organizational Development staff of the General Motors Institute. In 1974 he formed a business consulting firm to provide services to fortune 500 companies as well as educational services that offered college credits for its courses in business administration, management and marketing.
In the mid-1970’s Win became CEO of a real estate development corporation he worked with through his consulting business, at the request of its owner. He successfully led the company, learning all aspects of the business including financing and multi-dwelling unit development. From 1981 to 1989, Win was president of Warren Real Estate and Town and Country Management, companies that developed, constructed and managed over 40 apartment properties in seven states.
In 1990, Win and several other businessmen and entrepreneurs in the Chicago area joined to form a new, privately held corporation, The LaSalle Group. Combining their synergistic talents, the founders created a national commercial and residential real estate firm that initially raised equity for the syndication of real estate tax credits. The properties included multi-family apartment complexes, several of which were age-restricted for senior adults. Working with these properties, Win recognized that an unprecedented market demand for high quality care for independent, aging adults would be created as “baby boomers” reached retirement. As a result, he adjusted the focus of The LaSalle Group in 1998 to the development and management of assisted and independent living communities. During this transition, proven specialists in the senior living industry were added to the company. Win also brought in family members, recognizing the importance of creating a “family business” dedicated to serving the needs of LaSalle’s independent and assisted living residents and their families, and the growth and development of its employees.
Throughout his career, Win Warren has put the needs of others and family first. He spends a lot of time with his five grandchildren and five children, volunteering and supporting the causes of his children, and is actively involved in senior living organizations. Win resides in Florida with his wife Laura, and has residences in Dallas and Chicago. He also makes frequent trips to Michigan to help care for his parents.