President and CEO
The Barry Co. | Milwaukee
Jim Barry III represents the third generation of family leadership of commercial real estate brokerage and consulting company The Barry Co. He has been involved in some of the region’s most influential and complex real estate transactions, with high-profile clients including Harley-Davidson, MillerCoors, Roundy’s, U.S. Bank and Michels.
He is past chairman and a founding member of Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin, a founding member of the Center for Real Estate at Marquette University and a member of the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Milwaukee Riverwalk District. Barry also co-founded the Milwaukee Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society. He is also a former finance chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and current chairman of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
Education: Bachelor’s, Georgetown School of Foreign Service; J.D., University of Chicago Law School
The future of your industry: “Very positive, particularly in the industrial sector, which remains very strong due to low vacancy rates, higher prices and higher lease rates.”
Your secret talent: “Memorizing poetry, historical speeches, etc. It is a great mental discipline.”
Advice for first-time leaders: “Your word is your bond.”
Playlist for commute/run: “Bach and other classical music; the Great American Songbook.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Real Estate and Development | Real Estate
President and CEO
The Barry Co. | Milwaukee
Jim Barry III, the third-generation family leader of commercial real estate brokerage and consulting company The Barry Co., has been involved in some of the biggest and most complex transactions in the region. He’s brokered deals for southeastern Wisconsin’s largest corporations, including Harley-Davidson, MillerCoors, Roundy’s, U.S. Bank and Foley & Lardner. Recently, Barry helped assemble the land – including three adjacent properties with three different owners – for Milwaukee Public Museum’s future home in downtown Milwaukee. A lawyer by training, Barry co-founded the Milwaukee Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, is former finance chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and current chairman of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
Education: Bachelor’s, Georgetown School of Foreign Service; JD, University of Chicago Law School; General Course Certificate, London School of Economics
Book recommendation: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.”
Favorite destinations: “Paris; Rome; London; Jerusalem; Grindelwald, Switzerland; the Adirondack region of New York.”
Fun fact: “I ran with the bulls in Pamplona during the Festival of St. Fermin in July of 2012, and I survived.”
How would you make Wisconsin better: “Reform Wisconsin tax code so that the income tax would be significantly reduced or eliminated. This could be done with a corresponding change in the sales tax. States that have done this have seen strong in-migration and economic growth. It would make Wisconsin far more competitive and a more attractive place to live.”
