Real Estate and Development | Real Estate
Principal, chairman emeritus and co-founder
MLG Capital | Brookfield
In 1987, Mike Mooney co-founded Mooney LeSage & Associates Ltd., the private equity firm that would later become real estate investment company MLG Capital. Today, the Brookfield-based firm and its associated entities’ investments total roughly 36 million square feet of space, with exited and estimated current value exceeding $5 billion. Mooney has counted the likes of Quad/Graphics, Harley-Davidson, Gardetto’s, Champion International, Green Giant Foods, CrownZellerbach Paper and Allen Bradley among his clients. Mooney’s professional civic involvement is also extensive: He is the co-founder, past president and longtime director of NAIOP WI—The Commercial Real Estate Development Association and director-emeritus of the Waukesha County Business Alliance.
FUN FACT: “I’m a college dropout (2+ years at UWM). I’m one of three student government leaders who led the effort to change UWM’s mascot and colors from a cardinal and cardinal red to a panther and black and gold 57 years ago.”
Favorite destinations: “New Orleans, Montreal, Sarasota, Paris, Seattle and Jackson Hole.”
Biggest recent success: “Growing our multifamily and industrial holdings by $1 billion and increasing the number of states we have properties in from 18 to 28. Our investor roster has also grown; it now totals over 5,000 individuals covering all 50 states.”
Advice you’d give to young professionals: “Set your phone down, do some qualitative testing to get a clear picture of your skills and attributes. Do internships in college.”