The Real Estate Manager

In our occasional series of professions that Schoser are pursuing we have come across a description of John Schoser's current job. As we could not have expressed it in more accurate terms, we copy the precise description from the NAIOP website i.e. the site of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

John Schoser is a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, responsible for 3.8 million square feet of office, retail, raw land and industrial space as well as oversight of 21K apartment units and 285 hotel rooms across the US, Brazil and Canada valued at over $6.5B. His clients have included major foreign investors, domestic corporate and state pension funds, as well as insurance companies. John has directed over $1 billion in asset sales; including purchase money financing/ underwriting John’s current role includes the evaluations of investment opportunities, supporting major investment activities, such as portfolio level acquisitions, dispositions, development, joint venture and entity level underwriting. In addition John is responsible for the preparation of financial and valuation models and focusing on increasing the value by implementing distinct asset management strategies, including creative leasing and operational efficiencies. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in November 2003, John worked with Lend Lease predecessor (Equitable Real Estate) since 1987. He spent time in Denver , Chicago, Atlanta and New York. John is a member of NAIOP and The Appraisal Institute. He received an MBA from Loyola University, and a BS, BA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Denver. 

Evanston swimmers to cross Lake Michigan for cancer research

An Evanston-based team of seven swimmers will swim across Lake Michigan this weekend to raise money for cancer research. The group, named “Open Water On Lee,” will participate Saturday in Swim Across America’s first relay race across the lake. Open Water on Lee is one of three teams swimming to benefit cancer research at Chicago’s Rush Medical Center. The team will swim from Ohio Street Beach in Chicago to New Buffalo, Mich. — about 41 miles on a map, said team member and founder Michelle Milne.

John (2nd fr. left) with four of his teammates of team
'Open Water on Lee' to swim 41 miles in about 17 hours

The swimmers have practiced in the dark and plan to wear glow sticks to see each other during the relay. “We’re trying to alter our sleep cycle a little bit since we start at midnight so that we’re able to make it through the night,” Milne said. “The distance isn’t that far, it’s the not sleeping and then getting cold and warming up … it’s that whole cycle that I think is going to be the biggest challenge.” Team captain Chip Gilbertson (Kellogg ’87) said the swimmers hope to arrive at the finish line Saturday evening after as long as 17 hours in the lake. Milne said he has been participating in Swim Across America’s Chicago events for years and started the team with Gilbertson’s help by recruiting swimmers in the Evanston area. The team has raised more than $40,000 in donations and hopes to exceed its $50,000 goal.

“It is imperative that we give back,” Milne said. Gilbertson said the swimmers are driven by both their personal ties to cancer and love of the sport. “Each one of us has been touched tragically in that way, so we’re pretty inspired to help that cause,” he said. “Everybody on the team has a passion for swim, and combining the two of them, it’s a no-brainer for all of us.” Gilbertson also called the event “important community builder” and said support from the Evanston swimming community has been inspiring.

Teammate John Schoser said raising money for the cause has allowed him to hear the stories of others affected by cancer. “This is a great way to give a voice to the people who are gone,” Schoser said. “It’s just affected so many people in so many ways. What’s been profound to me is hearing all those personal stories.” On Saturday, the swimmers will brave a “fairly volatile” Lake Michigan in the name of those affected by cancer, Gilbertson said. “It pales in comparison to fighting the good fight,” Schoser said.

Written by Jeanne Kuang, Assistant Summer Editor  •
Published in The Daily Northwestern on July 15, 2013

Go the distance!

'Go the distance' is a U.S. swimming programme launched four years ago. It is a self-directed programme intended to encourage swimmers to regularly exercise and track their progress. In 2010, 2,200 swimmers participated in this programme, logging a total of over 425,000 miles.

John C. Schoser is participating in this year's edition of 'Go the distance'. On 23 July, he achieved the 200 milestone, meaning that since the beginning of the year he has swum just over one mile per day. At present, his score stands at 292.55 miles showing not only that John has sped up his efforts most recently but also rocketing him up into the top 15% of all participants. He may crack the 300 milestone before long, in fact probably even before the end of this month.

On the brink of financial meltdown

On 26 March 2009, in the midst of the worst economic and financial crisis since the 1930s, John Schoser took part in a panel discussion on asset management at the Urban Land Institute of the Chicago District Council. The precise title was “Asset Management: The Importance of Effective Management During Turbulent Times”. John was invited in his function as Morgan Stanley's executive director of merchant banking. Notably only a few months before, in September 2008, his own employer Morgan Stanley was said to be close to bankruptcy and almost fell victim to the crisis.

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (1/1997-7/2010)

The general situation in March 2009 is also well illustrated by the fact that on 6 March 2009 the New York Stock Exchange hit its lowest point in 13 years representing a loss of more than 50% compared to its all-time high only 17 months earlier on.

During the discussion, John stated that the speed with which the economic turmoil had struck caught people by surprise. Moreover, he cautioned, “We are far from touching bottom and things are going to get way worse before they get better.” With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that the economic situation started to improve in the course of 2009 because governments throughout the world intervened heavily to save banks and stimulate the economy.

In relation to his career, John was asked what skills an asset manager must have. “You’ve got to understand value, what creates it, what detracts from it. You need to have good financial skills, understand what net present value means and (understand) the financial impact of actions”, John replied. He also stressed being an effective negotiator, which rests partly upon your ability to set appropriate expectations with a variety of parties. A challenging job it would seem, in particular on the brink of global financial meltdown.

Naturalizing Schoser

According to the Durango Naturalization Records, Ludwig Schoser was seeking citizenship in the United States between 1904 and 1906. These records typically include information on the precise date of naturalization, the nation of origin and the number of years the person had resided in the United States. Unfortunately, this information is not available online so that one would have to consult the paper archives at the Fort Lewis College Foundation, Center of Southwest Studies in Durango to know what Ludwig's country of origin was and when he emigrated to the U.S..

What we do know about Ludwig from other sources is that he was married to Dora (Schirmer) and had four sons (John, Otto 'Barney', Leo and Frank Joseph) and two daughters (Mary and Emma). In fact, he is the progenitor of a substantial number of Schosers in the U.S. some of whom still live in the area of Durango, Colorado.

A sportive crowd

en route en Forêt de Soignes

Schosers are a sportive crowd. In particular, they like running. John Schoser from Evanston, Illinois prefers the short distances up to 10K. In 2008, he participated in seven such runs. Joe Schoser from Henderson, Nevada seems to be specialised in half-marathons which he finishes in less than two hours. It so happened in March 2007 at the Las Vegas Half-Marathon and in December 2006 at the Six Tunnels Half-Marathon on an old railroad track near Las Vegas. Christof recently took part in a Ultra Trail Miles Marathon in the Forêt de Soignes and finished the 22K part also in just under two hours.
Finally, Achim and Susanne Schoser from Owen, Germany can claim to have covered the longest distance. Both took part in the 1st Albtrauf-Marathon 2008 over a distance of 55K and an elevation gain of 1150m. It should however be mentioned that they were on mountain bikes...

Obituary for Frank Joseph Schoser

Frank Joseph Schoser, of Durango, died of natural causes on Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. He was 89. Mr. Schoser was born Nov. 15, 1914, in Durango, the youngest child of Ludwig and Dora Schoser. He married Howeta Roacher on Sept. 5, 1938, and in 1942 the couple moved to California where Mr. Schoser worked in the shipyards during World War II. They returned to Durango when his father became ill.

The Schosers had five children, Frankie, Sandi, Sharon, Carol and Tom. Mrs. Schoser died in March 1957.

Mr. Schoser bought an auto repair shop in Durango in 1944 and ran it with his brother John until 1947. He met Gordon and Priscilla Burnett in 1948 when he supplied logs for their house, and the following year went to work for Mr. Burnett's construction company as a heavy equipment operator and crusher foreman. He worked for the firm until it was sold in 1968.

Mr. Schoser went to work immediately for Hamer Construction where he worked for 12 years. Throughout the years he worked in construction, Mr. Schoser cut and hauled firewood.

Mr. Schoser married Ella Virginia Ashridge on April 12, 1960. The couple had one son, Sam.

Mr. Schoser is remembered by his family for his love of fishing, hunting and baseball. He also built many clocks, which have become treasured by family members.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Schoser is survived by sons, Frankie and Tom Schoser both of Durango and Sam Schoser of Bloomfield, N.M. He also is survived by daughters, Sharon Hamer of Durango, and Carol O'Donnal of Mesa, Ariz. Stepchildren Michael Cordary of Grand Junction, Roger Cordary of Hesperus, Kathy Gardner of Salt Lake City and Sylvia Reynolds of Kearn, Utah, also survive Mr. Schoser.

Mr. Schoser is survived by grandchildren Scott and Butch Hamer, Jeff O'Donnal, Sean Waddell, Chance and Chase Schoser, Tracie DeBoer, Darell Cordary, Alicia Cordary, Laurie Hartley, Joustin Cordary, Terry Schoser, Tyke Schoser, Samantha Schoser and Frank Frank" Schoser. He also is survived by nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by brothers, John, Barney and Leo Schoser; sisters, Mary Schumacher and Emma Redman; and a daughter, Sandi Waddell.

A memorial service is scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Iron Horse Inn in Durango. Memorial contributions may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2164, Durango 81302 or the Four Corners Rehabilitation Center, 2911 Junction St., Durango 81301.

The Durango Herald, May 2004