Our Team // Corporate Leadership

Michael Brennan is a Co-Founder, Chairman, and Managing Principal of Brennan Investment Group. With a 33-year career dedicated to industrial real estate, Mr. Brennan has orchestrated more than $14 billion in industrial real estate transactions and is a sought-after industry expert.

Mr. Brennan served as the co-founder, CEO, and a director of First Industrial Realty Trust for 14 years before founding Brennan Investment Group. In the 10 years since then, his leadership has helped grow Brennan into the second-largest private industrial real estate owner in the U.S.—an entrepreneurially led and institutionally managed national platform supported by regional offices from coast to coast.

Outside of Brennan Investment Group, Michael directed the writing of The Guide to Classifying Industrial Property Types, the definitive resource on the industrial property sector. He has appeared on CNBC, CNNfn, and Bloomberg Television, and currently serves as Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin’s James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, a program that is consistently ranked among the best real estate programs in the world. Mr. Brennan also serves as a member of the Board of the Technical Committee for FIBRA Macquarie, a publicly-traded company (BMV: FIBRAMQ) and premier owner of Mexican industrial and retail real estate, and The Real Estate Roundtable’s Advisory Membership.

Kevin Brennan is a Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Principal of Brennan Investment Group. In this capacity, he leads Brennan’s 17 regional offices in its objective of investing in value-add industrial real estate throughout the US.

Mr. Brennan has over 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Kevin previously served as the head of Brennan’s Midwest Region for the past 10 years. Under his leadership, the Midwest Region grew to become Brennan’s largest region.

Prior to Brennan Investment Group, Mr. Brennan was at Prologis, where he played a role in the acquisition and development of industrial properties across the Central Region of the US. During his career, Mr. Brennan has been involved in industrial real estate transactions totaling over $8 billion.

Recognized for his industry knowledge and leadership, he serves as a Board Member of the University of Wisconsin’s James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, a program that is consistently ranked among the best real estate programs in the world. Mr. Brennan also serves as an active member of NAIOP and SIOR.

Mr. Brennan holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jeff Dyrda is the Chief Financial Officer of Brennan Investment Group and is responsible for directing the overall financial, accounting, treasury, and risk management functions of the firm.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Jeff most recently served as chief accounting officer for real estate development and investment firm CA Ventures, where he directed the accounting and finance functions. He also served as vice president of finance and accounting for Hyatt Hotels, where he oversaw the accounting and financial reporting for Hyatt’s global real estate business unit during their initial public offering. Jeff has significant finance and accounting experience within the real estate industry, including senior positions at Starwood Retail Partners, Pritzker Realty Group, Tishman Speyer Properties, and Jones Lang LaSalle. He started his career as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Sam Mandarino is General Counsel, Managing Principal of Brennan Investment Group. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions as a principal and attorney.

Prior to Brennan Investment Group, Sam co-founded Madison Partners Realty in 2001, a company that purchased, managed, and leased over 5 million square feet of industrial buildings, primarily in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets. He directed the day-to-day operations of the company and co-founded and managed their property management affiliate—MPR Management Inc. Prior to founding Madison Partners Realty, Sam was an attorney in the real estate practice groups of Sidley Austin and Baker McKenzie.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from DePaul University and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Brad O’Halloran is the Executive Vice President and Managing Principal for Brennan Investment Group. He has a wide range of business, educational, and government service experience.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Brad served as regional director of development for the University of Notre Dame, cultivating key high-level benefactors for the university and representing its various interests within the Chicago metropolitan area. Before joining the University, Brad held the position of senior vice president and director of corporate development for Duty Free International and its successor company, World Duty Free, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA, plc. In this capacity, he oversaw all mergers and acquisition activity for the corporation as well as strategic marketing and key partnership development.

Brad has been a serial entrepreneur throughout his career, with interests in over 19 companies and current interests in half a dozen in various stages of development. He currently serves on the board of directors for Old Plank Trail Bank, a subsidiary of Wintrust Financial Corporation. In addition, he is a former member of the boards of directors of the Airports Council International, the International Visitors Center of Chicago, and the Chicago Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a member of the boards of the Village of Orland Park, Metra, and of the State of Illinois Architectural Licensing Board.

Brad holds a bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s, in business administration (magna cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame.