Colliers Advising YMCA on Seeking Expressions of Interest for Cherished Geneva Park Property

​MATTHEW JOHNSON Vice President & National Practice Leader, Not for Profit Advisory Group (Canada) -Matthew founded the Colliers Not For Profit Practice Group over 12 years ago, and has developed tremendous insight into the internal workings of charities, associations, institutions, educational groups, religious organizations and agencies through multiple similar mandates.  Matthew has built the most successful Not for Profit Group in the country and has been involved in real estate acquisitions/dispositions for such groups as Wellspring, Ronald McDonald House, The Ontario Lung Association, CAW, Renascent Foundation, The York School, and the Salvation Army.  Matthew has also provided leasing related services to such organizations as Plan Canada, VON, UNICEF, The Salvation Army, to name a few.  In addition to the above, Matthew is also actively engaged in projects on behalf of both the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board as well as the United Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada.  Matthew is a member of the Colliers International Educational Services Group that provides advisory services to organizations within the educational field across North America.

Matt is a frequent speaker within the nonprofit community, is a host of a webinar series providing real estate and operational insights to the nonprofit sector, and he has been an presenter to RBC’s National Nonprofit Group and is soon to be a presenter to BDO’s National Nonprofit Group.  Matt’s team also collaborated with other nonprofit industry specialists in the legal, accounting, fundraising and other fields, providing a comprehensive and unparalleled range of tailored services to nonprofit organizations.

Peter Davies is a Vice President and Co-Chair of Colliers Not-for-Profit Advisory Group.  He is an office leasing (tenant representation) and real estate investment specialist at Colliers with the CCIM designation working out of the downtown Toronto office since early 2002. His focus is working with a wide array of non-profit and charitable clients in the Toronto area and across Canada including small to large charities, local and national health providers, associations, foundations, housing, educational groups and places of worship. He has extensive experience working with a wide diversity of public and private clients across the Greater Toronto Area, throughout Canada, the U.S. and numerous global markets.

As Co-Chair of Colliers Not-for-Profit Advisory Group, he provides defensible real estate solutions which support the mission, values, and vision of not-for-profit organizations. Peter has published numerous unique articles on issues surrounding commercial real estate and the non-profit sector.

As a graduate of McMaster University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Peter joined Enterprise in 1994 in a training program where he rapidly advanced to manage two of Toronto’s largest offices.  Subsequently, Peter joined GE Capital where he remained for approximately 5 years progressing through a variety of sales and finance positions, ultimately as the Senior Manager of Southwestern Ontario overseeing a $105 million dollar portfolio of industrial based leases and loans.

Peter’s key strengths lie in his ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with the diverse stakeholders involved in long term projects. Also, he is often commended by his clients for his extensive risk mitigation efforts and in overall successful project execution.

TWITTER: @ColliersNFP

WEBSITE: www.collierscanada.com/notforprofit

LINKEDIN GROUP: Colliers Not-for-Profit Advisory Group

Since 1991 Mark Lester has represented some of Canada’s most spectacular properties. With an educational background in city planning and professional experience as a planner and real estate market analyst in Vancouver and Toronto, Mark entered the real estate brokerage world with a unique and informed perspective.  Mark’s level of expertise in the marketing and valuation of complex and high profile properties has been recognised by a diverse and discerning client base. 

To bring his clients a refined expertise in the sale of unique real estate assets, Mark founded the Unique Properties practice at Colliers International in the late 1990s.  Part of his approach was to ensure that the practice established a strong digital presence, yet maintained a pro-active approach to marketing.   Since that time, Mark has led the sale of over 20 private islands, Canada’s largest cattle ranch, numerous resorts and development sites, and  long list of other unique properties throughout Canada and globally, with a combined value of over $1 billion.  Both clients and the real estate industry recognize Mark’s business acumen, his thoughtful and creative approach, his discretion, his commitment to relationships, and his relentless pursuit towards a successful outcome.

Mark is widely recognized as a foremost expert in the marketing and sale of unique assets such as:

·        Private Islands

·        Ranches

·        Agricultural Lands and Agri-Businesses

·        Rural Land

·        Development Properties 

·        Resorts, Lodges and Hospitality Assets

·        Golf Courses

·        Marinas

·        Waterfront Estates

·        Forestry and Resource Lands

·        Foreclosure Properties