The Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame, established in 2010 by the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, will add five new members in a ceremony Thursday, Oct. 24, on the university’s downtown Minneapolis campus.
The five were chosen for their outstanding business performance, high standards of ethics and sense of community. They are:
As president of Bisanz Brothers Development Co., Leonard Bisanz was responsible for developing many of the homes in St. Paul’s Highland Park. His impact can still be seen today in the community.
As one of the first female leaders in the Twin Cities real estate community, Helen Brooks paved the way for women in commercial real estate. An entrepreneur, she started her own business before moving to Towle Real Estate Co. (now the Minneapolis office of Cassidy Turley). Brooks was the third woman to obtain the respected SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) designation.
Described by his peers as the pre-eminent mortgage broker in the Twin Cities, Thomas Crowley has directed countless financing projects in the real estate community. Known for his ability to make each deal a win-win situation for all involved, he is described as consistently high-achieving, well-respected and unrivaled as a mortgage broker.
M.A. Mortenson Sr. (1905-1986)
After nearly 60 years in the business, Mortenson Construction, which started from humble beginnings around a Richfield kitchen table, has grown to an international enterprise with revenues of more than $2 billion per year.
Ken Stensby’s passion for adventure was a trait that influenced him both personally and professionally. Through strategic leadership, Stensby helped build United Properties, once a small company of four employees, to a booming enterprise with more than $100 million net worth.
The Oct. 24 induction ceremony includes a 5:30 p.m. reception and a 6:30 p.m. program in the auditorium of Schulze Hall at 11th Street and Harmon Place in downtown Minneapolis.
The event is open to the public, and the cost is $50. More information is available on the Shenehon website.
Inducted into the inaugural Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame in 2010 were Tony Bernardi, Lloyd Engelsma, Gerald Rauenhorst, William Reiling, Jim Ryan and Sam Thorpe Sr.
Inducted in 2011 were Robert Hoffman, Darrel Holt, Bernard Rice, Emma Rovick and five members of the Dayton family: Bruce and the late Douglas, Donald, Kenneth and Wallace.
Inducted in 2012 were David Bekk, Robert Boblett Sr., Philip Smaby and Boyd Stofer.