Steve Monaco
With over 20 years’ experience in corporate real estate and workplace transformation, Steve is a recognized industry leader in helping organizations drive strategic value. In his advisory practice, Steve focuses on complex project assignments acting as an extension of his client’s corporate real estate team when both strategic and tactical efforts are required.
During Steve’s five years of leadership at Motorola Mobility, including Head of Real Estate & Workplace Services, he successfully led global teams from ‘strategy to reality’ due to his breadth of experience in organizational restructuring and repositioning initiatives. His most notable project was the award-winning relocation of 3,000 employees to the new 675,000 sf HQ in Chicago.
In prior roles, Steve has negotiated from every side of the virtual table: leading a Design/Build firm as a licensed architect & general contractor; portfolio manager with a tech incubator; and a property manager/leasing broker with Hines Interests in Chicago. He is currently a board member the Chicago Chapter of CoreNet Global, and recognized in 2017 by the International Facility Management Association with the global Award of Excellence.
As a practiced storyteller and ‘what-if’ evangelist, Steve is a highly-rated speaker and thought leader on the art and science of workplace transformation and the employee experience through the power of change management. He is a MBA guest lecturer at both the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University.
Steve earned an MBA and Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and pursues continuing education courses at Harvard’s HBX and IDEO.
- Turnkey Office Relocation Leadership
- Strategic Transformation
- Workplace Change Management
- Facility Readiness + Reinvestment
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ADVISOR
Core Values
When he is not providing servant leadership to his clients, Steve stays busy by remodeling his suburban home (again) with his wife, enjoying Zoom calls with his eldest daughter (Go Baylor!), growing a social enterprise business with his high school daughter (BuildupBanners.com), volunteering on the Board of Directors for his Home Owner Association, and attempting to train his two Great Dane puppies not to bark at mysterious noises (Hank & Gracie). He is convinced that he may never complete his extensive Lincoln penny collection, but believes it’s a ‘small price to pay’ for enjoying everything else.
Workplace Strategist
Change Management is Steve’s passion and the mindset he applies across all aspects of the project. While working for Google, he orchestrated the internal change management framework and multiple workstreams for relocating over 2,500 employees to the new 680,000 SF HQ at the Merchandise Mart. This highly-requested employee engagement service starts with workplace strategy discussions and finalizes post occupancy depending on the magnitude and nature of the project. Steve is also a past Board Member for the Midwest Chapter of the Association of Change Management Professionals.
Project Manager
Over the entirety of Steve’s twenty-two year career, he has worked his way up the metaphorical ladder starting as a construction laborer in college, to carpentry business owner, then running over 75 annual projects at a design/build firm. He has deep knowledge of project management as both the subject matter expert and leader, specifically for the global project management team at Motorola Mobility including developing the global PM playbook. In his consulting practice, Steve assembles top-tier project management teams on behalf of his clients. His deep technical knowledge continues to be his secret weapon during Value Engineering exercises.
Licensed Architect
As a licensed and practicing architect for a design/build firm for over nine (9) years, Mr. Monaco has received numerous awards and recognition for projects including office interiors, HQ Relocations, Customer Experience Centers, high-end residential, and healthcare, – featured in industry leading magazines. He has been nominated by CoreNet Global as CRE Executive of the Year and by International Facility Management Association (IFMA) in 2017 as one of eight individuals to receive the global Award of Excellence. He graduated with a Masters of Architecture from The University of Illinois.
General Contractor
During his 10-year role as VP of Operations at a small General Contracting firm, Steve managed over 500 projects in a wide range of industries. He was responsible for sales, estimating, managing the production crews, supervising the millwork shop, and establishing jobsite safety standards. He understand how business works and what a General Contractor needs to be successful. He has an industry reputation for being a tough and fair negotiator who demands the highest level of excellence from the consultants he manages.
Property / Facility Manager
Working for Hines Interests in Chicago, Steve was a property manager for multiple Class A buildings throughout Chicago. He understands the balancing act of how to negotiate great deal terms on both side of the table as both Landlord and Tenant. He led a global team of facility managers while working at Motorola Mobility, including a 3,000 person HQ move encompassing 675,000 square feet of workplace transformation. He coaches his clients on how to leverage the MBWA Principle (Management By Walking Around), to make the greatest impact in the workplace.
Leasing Broker
As a licensed commercial broker with Hines Interests in Chicago, Steve worked as Property, Leasing and Construction Manager of a 11-building portfolio; 2.3 million SF Class A office buildings in both the suburbs and CBD markets. He was awarded the Gerald Hines Diamond award for Excellence for his success as a key team member for the acquisition and disposition of multiple transactions.
Corporate Real Estate Executive
As Global Head of Real Estate, Steve knows how to leverage high performance teams in multiple markets. He developed the portfolio strategy, drove the negotiations, and execution of corporate real estate leases and downsizing transactions. Accountable for all aspects of the portfolio and operations across N. America, S. America, EMEA and APAC regions including multiple mergers and acquisitions with companies like Google, Lenovo and Intel reporting directly to the CFO.
Second Impressions
To read more of Steve's insights, check out The Monaco Minute.
