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ABOUT CONOPCO|
ABOUT BILL CONOPEOTIS|
CONTACT ConopCo is proud to have served many of the Midwest's -- and the nations -- most prestigious firms. Many of our clients have generously offered written thanks for our efforts, and we offer a selection of their kind words. ConopCo -- The Quiet Force Behind Projects -- delivers on its commitments. Contact Bill Conopeotis to learn how ConopCo can serve your interests and help you achieve your goals. Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Administration Orbitz The Orbitz Project "After Orbitz finished negotiating its lease for our 141,000 square feet facility, with 1200 workstations in 500 West Madison Street, we realized that we simply did not have the experience or time to manage a construction project of this magnitude...Bill Conopeotis and his company, ConopCo Realty and Development, Inc. proved to be the perfect choice." "Orbitz had a 7-month total schedule with a very ambitious construction schedule of 16 weeks. I was impressed from the outset with Bill’s organizational qualities, his leadership, and his absolute dedication to getting the project on schedule and on budget and his steadfast devotion to Orbitz." Dan Ternes Vice President, Global Facilities & Securities Travelport The Orbitz Project "Bill's extensive experience in the Chicago market allowed us to assemble a team of the very best contractors & service providers. Bill's recommendations in vendor selection were one very important key to our success. Once the team was assembled, Bill kept everyone focused on the project and continual progress to the finish line. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Bill and would not hesitate to recommend ConopCo for any future project." "Bill’s project management expertise ensured that the project was completed within a very aggressive timeframe and that the project was completed below budget. I’m certain that without Bill and the rest of the ConopCo team this project would never have been completed within the time frame we were working within." Henry H. Cox Senior Vice President CBRE The Corptax Headquarters Project "...Bill was the ultimate “team player”. As a broker representing CorpTax I always felt that I was completely apprised of the Project Management related issues of this transaction. This was of course invaluable to my ability to represent CorpTax; his superb communication made it possible to navigate difficult tenant improvement issues such as meeting the client’s expectations on budget costs. I am very grateful for Bill as I thought there were a number of times this transaction could go sideways, but Bill kept everyone positive and instilled the confidence and vision of success." Jeffery J. Keith, M.B.A. Chief Financial Officer The Chicago School of Professional Psychology The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Project "Bill Conopeotis has been the driving force behind our facility expansion. On one specific project...Bill not only completed the project on time, he saved the school over $15,000 by prompting an engineer to find another solution to an HVAC issue. On another project, Bill oversaw the value engineering and saved the school over $150,000. (Bill) has worked effectively with contractors to keep projects moving (and) has kept pricing of all expenses to a minimum. Bill has become an integral part of our development success." Anthony R. Karmin Executive Vice President Transwestern The APICS Project "I had the privilege of working with Bill on an extremely fast-tracked 32,300 SF corporate headquarters relocation project for American Production and inventory Control (APICS)...Bill's attention to detail, attendance at every meeting and requirement that milestones be adhered to or “bettered” by all consultants involved, allowed APICS to truly realize “Speed to Market”. He took on the task with high energy and challenged the entire team of contractors and consultants to perform services in unique and unexpected ways in order to meet the client’s objective of getting into the space on time and on budget. Within seven months of the lease signing, Bill and his team at Conopco flawlessly handled every aspect of the build out, including installation of furniture fixtures and equipment from raw space, and successfully moved 150 people across the country to Citicorp Plaza 8430 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, Illinois, on time and BELOW budget. Bill’s personal involvement was critical to the success of this project. ConopCo clearly is a leader in Project Management in Chicago with a tremendous reputation, which was the main reason he was hired on this project. APICS was extremely satisfied with their decision to hire Bill." Abe Eshkenazi Chief Executive Officer APICS The APICS Project "...we had very little experience with office relocation or management of a build out for our new offices. Based on a recommendation we retained the services of Bill Conopeotis as an owner’s representative. This was perhaps one of the best decisions we made regarding the move of the organization....from the first meeting to the last, Bill made us feel as if we were the most important client to him. While supported by his firm, his personal attention to detail was extraordinary. Bill was instrumental at every stage of the project: from initial contract negotiations to final sign off. His relationships with all the players – architects, contractors, building management, etc. were always professional and considerate. It was obvious from the numerous meetings that I attended that Bill had earned the respect from all individuals involved in the process...surprises were kept to a minimum with communication channels respected at all times...Bill was on top of the entire project and we were confident that our interests were always considered in every decision...Primarily because of Bill’s leadership, the entire project was done on time and under budget." Geoffrey M. Euston Senior Vice President U.S. Equities Realty The Erikson Institute Project "We most recently worked with Bill on the Erikson Institute’s successful relocation to 111 West Illinois, where we can not overstate the value he provided. The project combined the complexities of a purchase under a vertical subdivision with an anchor tenant taking delivery of and constructing its space in a new building. These two complicating factors were aggravated by an extremely tight time frame, late delivery of the core and shell, and the need to close on the purchase of the space prior to Bill beginning any substantial interior construction work...Bill not only brought the interior construction project in on time and under budget, he was with us every step of the way: negotiating with the developer from the inception of the project regarding design, materials and mechanicals; renegotiating with the developer when design changes occurred and the core and shell work became delayed; and mitigating discrepancies in the ultimate delivery condition of the space...After all of this, Bill began the work that most know him for -- leading the team that constructs interior space. Needless to say, the finished product is beautiful and exceeds our client’s expectations." Jeanne Lockridge Vice President for Administration and Enrollment Erikson Institute The Erikson Institute Project "...I chose Bill, for a number of reasons: his hands-on knowledge of the construction field; his patience with a neophyte; his clear attention to detail; his appreciation for careful budgeting and value engineering; and his toughness...Bill hung in there with us and kept the project moving when we seemed at an impasse...Having Bill and his ConopCo colleagues in my corner was one of the best decisions I've ever made...the project is an outstanding success." Nancy A. Pacher President and Chief Operating Officer U.S. Equities Realty The Lord Bissell Brook Project "Bill is THE most organized person I know, and without him the project may have floundered at several junctures. Bill...acts as Army General, as THE person who guides the team members and makes each accountable for doing the job right, and as important, the right job on time." "Bill was outstanding, more than earned his fee, saving (us) way more in time and money than (he) charged...Since then I have recommended Bill for several large relocations..." Lawrence Gray Managing Partner Lord Bissell & Brook LLP The Lord Bissell & Brook Project "We made Bill's job more challenging by making some significant midstream changes in our project...His persistence and thoroughness was critical in getting us through this situation..." "Mr. Conopeotis was fully involved in every decision and we relied on his judgment and insight. Bill was unflappable. He performed flawlessly, protecting our interests each step of the way." The Honorable Neil F. Hartigan Chairman World Trade Center Chicago The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce & World Trade Center of Chicago Project "What at first seemed a daunting task to simultaneously manage two company moves was made seamless and efficient by our project manager, Mr. Bill Conopeotis." "From the beginning, our team was entirely impressed by Mr. Conopeotis. We were thoroughly satisfied with the work performed and are indeed grateful to him for exceeding our expectations on the project." Andrew Maychruk Managing Director & Director of Information Technology The PrivateBank The PrivateBank Project "When The PrivateBank sought a project manager we were looking for someone with experience, exceptional organizational skills and most importantly someone who would represent our interests and understand the image of The PrivateBank. The service that Bill provided far surpassed all expectations. Bill’s passion for his work comes through in all he does and his dedication to the project kept it on schedule and budget." "Bill’s ability to guide his team members through the stages of the project made it a success and The PrivateBank headquarters was completed in 13 months. His commitment to the project and exemplary customer service made it a joy to work with Bill and the members of ConopCo. Realty and Development, Inc." Frederick J. Schmidt Managing Principal TheEnvironmentsGroup (Architect for The PrivateBank) The PrivateBank Project "Bill ran the PrivateBank’s project weekly meetings and tracked all the details necessary to bring this complicated project to completion, and did it with grace and professionalism. His positive energy and focus contributed to the overall success of this project for all parties concerned. We completed our work on time and on budget, and the beauty of the final result speaks for itself. Mr. Conopeotis’ level of effort and attention to detail made him a highly effective manager for this project." Robert W. Schoder EVP and Principal U.S. Equities Realty Broker for The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce & World Trade Center of Chicago Project "Bill is the consummate professional, tenacious in his advocacy for the tenant, while always conducting himself in a manner that produces a win-win for the tenant and landlord. The net result is that he gets projects done on time and on or under budget, which satisfies everyone involved." "Bill was a tour de force. In 25 years in the business I have never seen anyone drive the process and motivate the subs, the GC, the suppliers – the entire team – to work harder for less money to get the most for the clients, as well as Billy C. did on this project." "The tenant build out project management field is still coming into its own. Although more sophisticated than it was 10 years ago, several players stand above the rest of the tenant project managers in Chicago. This year Bill demonstrated why he should be singled out for recognition as number one among Chicago’s elite project managers." Meg Osman Principal OWP/P (Architect for the Orbitz Project) The Orbitz Project "The wonderful thing about ConopCo is that you get Bill! His reputation and success ride purely on his own shoulders and that is evidenced by the enormous success he has had in the City of Chicago and surrounding areas..." "This year, I had the privilege of working with Bill on an extremely fast-tracked 141,000 SF headquarters relocation project for Orbitz. Within seven months of beginning design, 900 employees began moving in." "Bill’s attention to detail, attendance at every meeting, and requirement that milestones be adhered to or "bettered" by all consultants involved allowed Orbitz to truly realize "Speed-to-Market." James Terrell Director Real Estate Operations Sears Holdings Corporation Prairie Stone Business Park "Bill's project management and organizational skills have been a great benefit to us by ensuring timely closings of transactions and timely approvals of each project...Bill's dedication and efforts have been part of what has made 2005 an unparalleled success for Prairie Stone Business Park." John F. McKinney President JFMcKinney & Associates Prairie Stone Business Park "Bill is committed to a high level of quality and detail in his work. His organizational skills, excellent communication skills, constant focus on details, along with his solid experience in budget and schedule management are the solid foundations for all of ConopCo. Projects." "If the panel could only experience the leadership and management traits of Bill first hand, there would be no question in your mind that he is the right choice for the "Project Manager Of The Year" award." Philip R. Utigard Executive Vice President Transwestern The Transwestern Project "The success of Bill Conopeotis is that he personally attends every meeting. His process holds everyone accountable and trust me; you don't want to miss performing an assigned task...He also has exceptional attention to detail and communicates very well. I consider Bill to be the true professional and very integral to my team. He makes my clients happy which is all I can ask for! There is none better." Thomas Polucci, AIA Vice President & Director of Interior Design HOK (Architect for the Corptax Headquarters) The Corptax Headquarters Project "This year I have had the privilege of working with Bill on several projects, most notably the renovation and consolidation of the Corptax Headquarters...The project proved challenging, as are most. The project constraints, tight budget, schedule and changing business needs of the client were no match for Bill's ability to keep the team motivated...Bill's willingness to roll up his sleeves and work with all parties to achieve success is evident. We were all challenged to perform our best. Bill is steadfast and pushes hard while still making the work exciting, rewarding and enjoyable. He emphasizes collaboration and brings out the best in everyone." Lamar A. Johnson, AIA Principal / Managing Director Gensler The Erikson Institute Project "In my capacity as the Managing Director of Gensler’s Chicago office I have worked with Bill on several projects in the past few years with great success. As the largest architectural firm in the world we are fortunate to work with great project managers on incredible assignments. Bill has contributed to this success and has served as our Project Manager on one of our recent projects, Erikson Institute...During the Erikson project, Bill was responsible for schedule compliance, direction and focus for the entire team as well as the difficult task of communicating, coercing and cajoling a long list of players for this complex and diverse assignment...One of Bill’s most notable contributions is his ability to step above the occasional daily chaos and offer a clear and firm voice for the next step. He has exceptional talents in persuasion and relationship building that is complemented by his excellent communication skills. Bill possesses remarkable energy and determination. All of these characteristics identify him as a successful leader by clients and colleagues alike." John Walsey Managing Member UG Prairie Stone, LP The United Growth Prairie Stone Project "We retained ConopCo and were immediately impressed by their professionalism, organizational skills, teamwork, and discipline. They guided us through a number of complex constraints while maintaining our tight schedule required by our tenants...Off-site public improvements were also required for this project. The process for approval and reimbursement was complex. ConopCo's proactive coordination and expertise enabled us to minimize the time between payment of these off-site improvement costs and the reimbursement by the Village translated into savings. The leadership of ConopCo Realty & Development enabled us to leverage our internal resources and achieve the aggressive schedule and budget goals needed to make this retail development a success. Conopco protected our interests throughout the duration of the project, and we are very pleased with the work they performed." Roger Heerema, AIA Vice President & Director of Interior Design Wright Heerema Architects The Prairie Stone Corporate Center Project "We have known Bill for more than thirteen years and have worked with ConopCo on numerous projects, both architectural and interior design in scope. His commitment to the projects and their owners for excellence and value is unparalleled...This past year we were fortunate to have been part of the design and construction team which completed the Prairie Stone Corporate Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois...Bill and his team worked throughout the design and construction project to assure design, economic, and time parameters weren't just met but exceeded...As a testament, the project was completed under budget. ConopCo fully understands the market, legal, economic, and construction environments in order to deliver successful and financially sustainable real estate investments on behalf of their clients...Bill's firm is unique. Being a boutique firm, ConopCo practices and delivers with Principal involvement from start to finish on each project. This is their hallmark. Bill is always accessible, willing, and able to keep a project directed. The firm over the years has grown but has successfully maintained its core values. Owners are well served with ConopCo Realty and Development, and Wright Heerema Architects enthusiastically supports them..." Joseph A. Balasa Chief Operating Officer Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce & World Trade Center of Chicago Project "It was most important to us that we selected a firm that could manage the project on budget, on schedule and with a minimal amount of disruption to our day-to-day operation. ConopCo. delivered in every way." Michael C. Kennedy VP of Sales & COO JCL Bioassay USA, Inc. The JCL Bioassay USA, Inc. Project "Our entire US Lab Project team is very grateful for the truly valuable advice and help you provided us throughout the development of the property. Your firm's professionalism and across-the-board support were great contributors in allowing us to properly get through what would have otherwise been difficult to navigate areas." © 2001-2010 ConopCo. Realty & Development, Inc. | All Rights Reserved |