Overview
The increasing uncertainty and challenges in today’s business climate require a new kind of real estate partner who can bring to the table deep experience in real estate, operations planning, and the critical levers that drive employee retention, customer service and shareholder value.

Lori Brown formed Brown Real Estate Advisors LLC (BREA) with the vision that this expertise should be integrated to optimize real estate performance and to change real estate into a value creator for its clients. This approach unlocks capital in the 10’s of millions and enables millions of dollars in measurable productivity, while maintaining or improving service to customers. Simply put, at BREA, we strive to improve shareholder, customer and employee value. No other approach can achieve the same outcome.

Executive Team
Lori Brown - Founder and President of Brown Real Estate Advisors
Lori Brown is the founding Partner and President of Brown Real Estate Advisors. Ms. Brown leads all real estate brokerage and advisory services. With over 20 years in commercial real estate, Ms. Brown has developed distinct competencies in energy, university, CPG and banking markets in all aspects of real estate management. She has concluded over $6 billion in transactions across the U.S. and from 2007-2009 worked in 24 markets.

Ms. Brown was the first commercial real estate broker in the prestigious and elite of Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 and she has won honors such as the commercial real estate's industry national award for Broker of the Year. Prior to forming her firm, Brown was an Executive Director of Cushman and Wakefield where she founded the company’s Energy and Resources Practice Group. During her tenure as the managing principal of the Chicago office of Newmark Knight Frank, she developed her interest in this dynamic and complex industry.

Brown has been honored by Commercial Real Estate News’ “Power Broker of the Year,” Commercial Real Estate Investor Magazine’s “Brokers to Watch,” Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 under 40” list, and was featured by the Chicago Sun-Times’ as “Broker of the Year.” She is a member of CoreNet’s finance committee and founded CoreNet’s leadership development program. She is a member of the American Gas Association (AGA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, The Chicago Club and Executive Club. She serves on the Executive Board of the Chicago Loop Alliance and has held Board postions with the Boys and Girls Clubs and March of Dimes. Brown has been selected by Real Estate Forum magazine as one of 2009’s Most Influential Women in Real Estate.

Ms. Brown received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois and her Master’s in Corporate Real Estate from CoreNet Global, the leading professional organization in the real estate industry.

Eric Meerschaert - Partner
Eric is a partner with Brown Real Estate Advisor and applies his business consulting and strategy background to help BREA client’s in aligning  real estate strategies with business objectives, real estate optimization and facilitating change management.

Previously, Eric was President of Click Commerce where he led four separate operating groups providing eCommerce software solutions, clinical research administrative solutions, service network planning and outsourced labor management solutions. Click Commerce was a division of ITW, and Eric played a critical role in preparing the company for and successfully leading the company through its sale to a private equity firm.

Prior to joining Click Commerce, Eric held a variety of executive leadership roles in software companies. Eric was SVP of Global Marketing for Sterling Commerce. At Sterling Commerce, Eric rebuilt the marketing organization and accelerated marketing results dramatically while integrating 3 new acquisitions. Eric  also held leadership positions at JD Edwards and Optika software companies.

The earlier part of Eric’s career was spent at Arthur Anderson’s Management Information Consulting Division (now Accenture) and McKinsey & Co. driving corporate change and bottom line results for Global 1000 companies. Eric helped his clients achieve operational excellence across insurance, banking, manufacturing, information technology, pharmaceuticals and high-tech manufacturing. A majority of Eric’s consulting expertise is focused on optimizing customer-facing processes, but he also brings expertise in regulatory filing, supply chain management and business process / work force redesign. Eric holds a Bachelors of Business in Management Information Systems with a minor in Operations Research from Drake University.

David Benjamin - Partner
David is a partner with Brown Real Estate Advisors and is focused on aligning real estate with business strategy, with an emphasis on achieving operational objectives.

Previously, David was the founder and CEO of Charter Consulting, Inc., a management consulting firm focused on operational strategy development and implementation for Global 2000 clients. David grew Charter to a 40+ person firm before its sale to a publicly traded services company. Prior to founding Charter, David was a partner at Bricker & Associates, and in Ernst & Young’s consulting practice. David began his career at Arthur Andersen’s Management Information Consulting Division (now Accenture), and then at McKinsey & Co. He has had experience serving global clients in the information technology, financial services, distribution, transportation and automotive sectors. David currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Monitor Group, a global strategy consulting firm. He is a member of the national board of Public Allies, where he is the Treasurer. He is also an active member of the Chicago Club and the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves on the membership committees for both.

David holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Grinnell College, and an M.B.A in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.