2024 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders:
Chris Mellen, CPM, The Simon Companies

Three skills that you use every day in your position: Motivate, lead, develop.

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: Transformational Leadership by Chris Lee.

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less:

Embrace change and be an agent for it.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? 

Being elected the 2025 IREM national foundation president. 

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader?

“Chris is an accomplished leader in the real estate management profession. Not only locally leading the property operations of the Simon Company, but also nationally in his capacity of past national IREM president and incoming 2025 IREM national foundation president.” - Tony Sus, director of property management, The Simon Companies.

What was one of your biggest challenges as a leader and how did you overcome it? 

 Operating, during and after COVID. I overcame it by returning to normal operations as soon as possible. The other big challenge I faced is working through the office market vacancy and re-strategizing our marketing efforts to target multiple tenants with smaller space requirements to fill the larger vacated space.