Real Estate and Development | Real Estate
Chief executive officer
Barrett Lo Visionary Development | Milwaukee
Rick Barrett is the man behind a number of high-profile developments in the Milwaukee area, including The Moderne, a 30-story apartment tower in downtown Milwaukee, and Emerald Row, an apartment development at Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek. Drawing more attention and anticipation than the rest is The Couture, a 44-story luxury apartment tower that is now under construction near the downtown Milwaukee lakefront. After many setbacks, Barrett Lo secured the needed financing and broke ground on The Couture last year.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University
Fun fact: “I used to play professional baseball and was a minor league pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization.”
Toughest business challenge you’ve ever faced: “Getting (The Moderne) into the ground during the height of a recession, on the west side of the (Milwaukee) river, with no other development surrounding the project, was truly a herculean effort but also one of the most rewarding.”
Why you’re excited for the future: “I have five children. Watching them grow up, coming into adulthood and seeing the impact the younger generation is going to have on the world has me excited about the future and what it holds.”
What would make Wisconsin better: “High-speed rail. Finding a way to bring people to and from Wisconsin quickly and safely. Connecting up with our neighbors in Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan would be a boom to our economy and tourism and help show everyone what Wisconsin has to offer.”