ROBIN DOUGLAS | CONTRIBUTOR

We are introducing you to this year’s Most Admired CEO honorees. Ethan Conrad is an honoree in the large business category.

Ethan Conrad — CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties — was at a barbecue when a friend’s 5-year-old daughter approached him, saying that she saw his signs everywhere.

Those signs, advertising his business, are ubiquitous across the Sacramento area. Yellow and blue, they catch the eye — exactly what Conrad wanted when he conceived of them decades ago.

“What’s funny is, it actually works,” Conrad said. “Everyone notices them. They say, ‘I see your signs everywhere.'”

Conrad is the CEO of one of the most well-known commercial real estate companies in the region. Starting his career in 1989, Conrad made his first commercial real estate purchase in 1995. Over the years he’s grown his company to 200 employees. It owns more than 10 million square feet across 160 properties with 1,800 tenants.

Initially considering a career in law, Conrad changed his mind and knew at a young age he wanted to pursue commercial real estate. He likes that aspect of the business because, typically, both sides are happy.

“I can have win-wins,” Conrad said. “I have both people happy.”

Starting at an investment brokerage, Conrad said being a broker is the best education for a commercial real estate owner.

Conrad started small. With his first purchase, he got a lender to provide financing. A seller provided financing on his second purchase.

A cycle began to emerge. Conrad would buy buildings with under 50% occupancy and with deferred maintenance. He’d remodel, put money into them and then refinance. After that, he’d pull his equity out and buy more.

The investments have helped certain areas thrive, said Jenna Abbott, senior vice president of strategic initiatives with the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Abbott has known Conrad for about a decade. Before coming to the chamber, Abbott worked with property and business improvement districts. Conrad, she said, has put money in parts of town that needed investment.

“I think PBIDs help with economic development,” Abbott said. “Property owners like Mr. Conrad are important to a region and a city.”

Conrad will look at what’s needed to help improve an area. He’s an investor who understands that thoughtful investment is what makes an area thrive.

“Generally, he’s known throughout the region as an astute businessman,” Abbott said. “I’d say that his brand is well known.”

Ethan Conrad Properties is a vertically integrated commercial real estate company that has four main divisions: brokerage, construction, property management and facilities maintenance. Conrad has in-depth knowledge of all four, which he’s used to make his business the fastest-growing commercial real estate company in the Sacramento region.

As Conrad’s company has grown, his work has shifted. He’s now focused more on building protocols and having good managers. He helps when people need assistance, but then will ask if a protocol exists for the situation.

The best use of his time now is the bigger deals. That includes convincing people of their property’s best use and then making that vision work.

“It goes back to the win-win concept, too — making something better,” Conrad said.

The Essentials

Age: 58

Company name: Ethan Conrad Properties

Title: CEO

Time in position: 28 years

Family life: Single, with a daughter

Education: B.A. from California State University Sacramento

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