Board Member Focus: Adam Voelker
Adam Voelker is a seasoned development and investment professional who is passionate about building relationships. As Principal and Business Unit Leader for Trammell Crow Company (TCC) in Northern California he has the good fortune of surrounding himself with some of the best and brightest minds in the industry.
Voelker and his team invest in and develop life science, industrial and residential product types in institutional submarkets. Personally, his current focus is on driving the company’s life science and mixed-use development strategies in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley.
One current pipeline project Voelker finds energizing is the opportunity to break ground on a 200,000 square foot life science project in Redwood Shores in the year ahead. The development was approved by the City in March 2021 and calls for a five-story Class A life sciences and office building. “Redwood Shores is set to realize a transformation from 80’s and 90’s development,” he said. “It’s easy to wrap your head around the submarket, it’s simply a pleasant place to be and enjoy the fresh air.”
Prior to joining TCC in September 2020, Voelker spent nine years with Tishman Speyer where he served as Managing Director of Acquisitions and Development. During that time, he worked on the Mission Rock development and counts it among the most interesting deals he has been involved with. “Mission Rock may be the most unique development deal that I’ll touch in my career.” he said. “Tishman Speyer in partnership with the San Francisco Giants have assembled a world class team”.
What Voelker finds most fulfilling about the business is building and maintaining relationships. “The human element of our business is everything” he said. “To execute successfully on an investment or development there are an incredible number of human interactions. We have an especially unique real estate community here in Northern California, and I find working with so many good people rewarding.” Additionally, he loves the complexity and the brain power it requires. “Each transaction, especially in the development business, has its own unique, mind twisting quirks” he said.
Originally, Voelker joined NAIOP in Washington, DC/Northern Virginia in 2011. Then in 2015, when Tishman Speyer gave him an opportunity to move to the Bay Area, he joined the SFBA Chapter. After participating in various ways over the years as a mentee and a mentor he joined the Programs Committee and was appointed to the Board in 2022. “NAIOP is a top-notch organization that provides an incredible platform for our industry,” he said. “I very much appreciate NAIOP’s intentional outreach and engagement with young professionals having personally been the beneficiary of its programs and events over the years.”
In terms of advice for young people getting started he recommends constant curiosity. “There’s no task that’s too small to take on if you can move the needle for your team because your responsibilities will undoubtedly grow,” he said. “When I was getting started, my first boss instilled in me the concept of ‘thinking like an owner’, like the buildings or developments are yours. If there’s a gum wrapper on your lobby floor, pick it up!”
On the personal front, Voelker grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Penn State, he worked in Los Angeles before moving to Washington, DC and on to the Bay Area. Now he resides in Lafayette with his college sweetheart wife, Elizabeth who is also from Pennsylvania and is the founder Ready Festive, an online store for holiday and seasonal home décor. They have three children Evelyn (8), Thomas (6) and Van (4) and two Vizslas, Penny and Callie.
In his spare time enjoying the outdoors with family and friends is top of his list. “I absolutely love the outdoors – kids sports, golfing, fishing, hunting, riding bikes, and gardening” he said. “Live music is also a passion and I have had fun building a vinyl collection.”
