Just a minute with Peter Ogden President and chairman, Ogden & Co., Inc.

Company address:
1665 N. Water St., Milwaukee
Company Web site: www.ogdenre.com
Industry: All facets of real estate
Number of employees:
More than 150
Family: Wife, Teri Mahoney; and children Meghan, Molly and Jack. Meghan is a freshman at Boston College and interns at the company during the summer.
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“We celebrated our 75th anniversary last year, which demonstrated that there’s not one single thing we’ve done over the years, but rather we continue to grow the company in new areas. We empower our employees and independent contractors, and we consistently promote a family atmosphere in which high ethical standards and commitment to our employees and partners are of paramount importance.”
What’s new at your company?
“(1) We’ve expanded our operations to Scottsdale, Ariz., where we now have a Home Owners’ Association Management Division, where our business revenue has doubled in 14 months; (2) We’ve opened a downtown residential sales office, so now we can service the north shore, the downtown area and the western suburbs and lake country; (3) We’ve expanded our construction division to include new home building and have completed construction on our first home in Delafield. We are now ready to build on six more lots in Farmington; and (4) We’ve expanded CraftMaster Contractors in the maintenance field and are taking advantage of contracts with other vendors and partner.
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“We are in the process of expanding our office space in Arizona in order to accommodate the growth. We’re also getting the ground work in place to open a residential sales office in Arizona. We’ve just hired Gordon Steimle to head up our Commercial Brokerage & Investment Division in order to increase our presence in the community, as well as foster cross marketing throughout the divisions. We’re actively recruiting residential and commercial sales associates to compliment our downtown office in order to take advantage of the vibrant housing market downtown.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Our company was founded on the day of the stock market crash (in 1929), so we’ve met challenges literally from our first day in business. We will continue to service our clients in every aspect of real estate.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“The downtown housing market is certainly a hot trend today. We’ve taken part in the trends by maintaining a downtown presence. Ogden Development Group has developed a number of condominium complexes, the most recent being in Thiensville, and we’re currently working on a project in Waukesha. We’re also actively involved in the development, sales, and leasing of River Renaissance, which will be located in the Third Ward, which continues to be a hot spot in Milwaukee.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“We have many mantras that we live and do business by. I don’t have a specific one. However, the employees will tell you that, “If it doesn’t work for you at home, it doesn’t work for us.” We take great pride in our staff and recognize that a well-balanced life benefits the company as well as the employee. So, we actively encourage our team to take advantage of the family atmosphere we have at the office. We are the kind of people that you WANT to do business with, and that starts with the Ogden family and runs throughout every aspect of the company. From a business standpoint, our mantra is, ‘bring it on!'”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“I have been extremely fortunate to work with my father, John Ogden Sr., for more than thirty years. I admire him as a businessman and father, and there is no other mentor I’d rather have. John Sr. is an incredible man, and he’s my best friend.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Never fall in love with your real estate. Keep in mind that it’s easy to get into the deal, and almost always hard to get out.”
April 29, 2005, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI