By Joshua Burd
A leading expert in due diligence and construction risk management has joined Partner Engineering and Science Inc.
The firm, which has its East Coast headquarters in Eatontown, announced that it has hired Robert W. Barone as a director. He brings a deep expertise that Partner says will substantially contribute to its construction services practice, which serves institutional investors, lenders and other stakeholders nationwide.
Barone is based in the firm’s White Plains, New York office.
“Bob is one of the most prominent figures in our industry, well-respected by peers and clients alike,” said Frank S. Romeo Jr., Partner’s president. “He will be a tremendous tailwind to our successful Construction Services practice and a true asset to our company as a whole.”
With nearly 40 years in commercial real estate, Barone has made a significant mark on the due diligence industry, according to a news release. As chair or co-chair for various ASTM International committees, he helped develop standards to shape how due diligence is performed for commercial real estate, including the formation of the Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments, and guidelines for the mold and moisture survey process.
Barone has also prepared or contributed to the preparation of the Property Condition Assessment and Construction Risk Management guidelines for various lending and investment institutions, the news release said. During his tenure at the former IVI International, now CBRE Assessment & Consulting Services, he was instrumental in growing the firm from a six-person consultancy to a staff of more than 250 employees, regularly managing more than 400 active construction or renovation projects each month.
He has personally facilitated thousands of real estate transactions and development projects throughout North America and Europe, Partner said. His expertise includes consulting on a wide range of projects in the commercial and residential areas, with a strong concentration in complex mixed-use projects.
“I am looking forward to the opportunities joining Partner will bring to my ability to service clients at the highest level,” Barone said. “I am excited to help grow the already successful Construction Risk Management practice.”
Partner’s announcement highlighted a host of Barone’s projects, from an $8.5 billion casino resort in Las Vegas to a 90-story hotel and residential building in Manhattan.
“Bob is the preeminent expert in construction risk management in New York City and maybe the whole country,” Partner CEO Joe Derhake said. “Projects like Hudson Yards in NYC and the City Center in Las Vegas were as complicated as they come. We are delighted to have Bob join our market-leading Construction Risk Management practice.”
Barone, a registered architect in New York State, has presented for organizations such as the New York Private Equity Network, the National Association for Real Estate Investment Managers and Real Estate Lenders Association, among many others.
