By Joshua Burd
Advance Realty Investors has hired longtime industry executive Tom Walsh, who will help oversee development and construction for its fast-growing portfolio and for third parties.
Walsh, a 40-year veteran of commercial real estate in New Jersey and New York, joins Advance as its managing director of development and construction solutions. He will team with Principal and Managing Director Daniel Cocoziello to oversee all aspects of development, renovations and construction on the firm’s portfolio of multifamily, industrial, office and mixed-use projects.
“We’re extremely excited to work alongside Tom, who is among the most respected professionals in the commercial real estate industry,” Cocoziello said. “His tremendous expertise will be an invaluable asset as we continue to grow and execute our project pipeline throughout the Northeast.”
Walsh joins Advance after most recently serving as principal and managing director of project management for Avison Young’s New Jersey, New York and Boston offices. He is a familiar face in New Jersey commercial real estate circles, having also served as a principal at Normandy Real Estate Partners and as founder and president of The Gale Construction Co.
Advance is now poised to tap into Walsh’s experience to provide development and construction management services to large corporations and other strategic partners.
“Tom is an esteemed commercial real executive with a long track record of innovation and success,” said Peter J. Cocoziello, the firm’s founder and CEO. “He is widely known throughout the region’s commercial real estate industry for his vast experience and unique approach to problem-solving, regardless of what phase a project is in, or what kind of product type is being constructed. His sterling reputation built over four decades speaks for itself.”
Walsh was also a partner and managing director of The Walsh Co., which was acquired by Avison Young in 2012. In overseeing project management, development management and construction services for Avison Young, he helped grow three of the company’s offices to more than 60 employees and completed more than 150 projects with an aggregate construction value in excess of $300 million annually.
According to a news release, Walsh has managed, constructed and developed more than 50 million square feet of space during more than four decades in commercial real estate. Notable projects include a 270,000-square-foot global headquarters for Commvault, a 400,000-square-foot regional headquarters for State Farm Automobile Insurance and Park Avenue at Morris County, a 1 million-square-foot office park in Florham Park.
“I am honored to join Advance during such an exciting time in the company’s evolution,” Walsh said. “I have known Peter Cocoziello and his team for decades, and I look forward to lending my experience and insights as they continue to pursue groundbreaking new projects across every sector of commercial real estate. Their company has long been known as a leader in commercial real estate across New Jersey and beyond, and I look forward to contributing as we push it to new and greater heights.”
Walsh, who holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, serves on the board of trustees of the PG Chambers School. He has held past roles on The Delbarton School’s board of trustees and the Patriots Path Council of the Boy Scouts.
