Stephen Smith
Partner & Co-Founder, Strategic Property Services, LLC
Troy, MI 48085
Phone (248) 312-7200
Property Types
Retail
Markets
Detroit
Languages
English
Bio
Stephen Smith has more than twenty years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. He graduated with a BBA in finance from the University of Michigan and a JD from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is currently licensed to practice law in Michigan and is a certified general appraiser licensed to appraise all types of commercial property. Mr. Smith began his career as an attorney, specializing in commercial real estate at a corporate law firm. Later, he joined Kmart Corporation where he was responsible for developing the chain’s specialty retail program in the Southwest, Midwest, and Eastern United States. While at Kmart, he traveled extensively to markets throughout the United States negotiating leases, purchase agreements, and development and operating agreements with the top real estate companies in the nation. He was also in charge of selecting and negotiating locations for Kmart anchored regional shopping centers. After Kmart Mr. Smith joined General Motors where he oversaw the company’s real estate assets in Southern California and Arizona, developed automobile dealership malls, and repositioned and redeveloped surplus manufacturing facilities. Then, in 1991, Mr. Smith joined Kohl’s Department Stores as Director of Real Estate just as Kohl’s was conducting its initial public offering. The company was a regional retailer with 60 stores. During his tenure, Mr. Smith helped transform the company into a national retailer with over 500 stores. He selected the real estate locations, negotiated the deals, handled the legal documentation and government approvals, and oversaw the construction process through the grand opening of the store. As a member of the Company’s Management Board, Mr. Smith touched every aspect of the business and worked directly with the Chairman, and Chief Operating Officer of Kohl’s. Mr. Smith was responsible for strategizing and executing new Kohl’s store development programs in ten major metropolitan markets including New York City, Washington DC, Detroit, St. Louis and Kansas City. He also valued and negotiated the purchase of the real estate assets of three major retailers through the bankruptcy process giving Kohl’s its first stores in New York City and Boston. In 2001, Stephen joined Vince Pangle to form Strategic Property Services, LLC where they have developed shopping centers for Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s Department Stores, Michaels, TJ Maxx, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Best Buy, Petsmart, and many other national retailers. Together, Mr. Smith and Mr. Pangle lead a team of professionals with a unified mission to exceed expectations and deliver value.
