Our History

The Company is Founded

Successful local businessman, John A. Dermody, brought his family to Reno, NV, in 1950, when he was offered the regional franchise for the Philco Appliance Company. By 1960, he had sold the appliance business, but kept the building, became a landlord, and turned his attention to warehousing and distribution. From this modest beginning sprang a regional distribution hub. By 1960, John, a charismatic salesman, attracted the first New York Stock Exchange company, Bigelow Carpet, to Reno/Sparks. The Reno/Sparks area's close proximity to California (the eighth largest economy in the world) and its central location in the Western United States, quickly made it a leading hub for West Coast distribution.

Michael Dermody Joins the Firm

Michael Dermody, a graduate of the Gonzaga School of Law, joined his father's two-man company, John A. Dermody, Inc. - already the preeminent industrial developer in the region. Michael and his father would work together for more than 30 years.

Key Partners are Added

Quickly recognizing that the best way to grow the business was through great customer service, Michael began to vertically integrate the company, and as a result formed United Construction Company and D&D Roofing with key partners who were as committed to quality and customer service as he was. As Michael would say, "The two biggest problems that you can have in a building are the floor and the roof." Michael and partner Tony Taormina formed what would become one of the largest industrial construction companies in Nevada when they created United Construction Company (UCC). The company gained tighter control over product quality and delivery for Dermody Properties/DP Partners customers. UCC and Dermody Properties have been partners for almost 40 years and still provide outstanding customer service. As Tony Taormina says, "It’s where the promises are kept." In 1979, the company developed its first speculative building, which was a big step beyond its already-successful build-to-suit (BTS) business. This platform was the beginning of what would become a long history of BTS and speculative development through well thought-out market selection, timing and judgment. This conservative strategy would be seen again and again in the years to come.

Michael Dermody Becomes CEO

As the company grew and diversified, Michael Dermody became President and CEO, and its name was changed to Dermody Properties.

Market Share Grows

Vertical integration continued, providing opportunities to assist clients with financing, construction, development, and leasing under one roof. After the recession of 1981, with fewer developers in the market, the company emerged with almost a 50% market share. This more diverse portfolio, was made possible through its innovative approach of one-stop shopping for clients and enabled Dermody Properties to assist more national clients. Dermody could provide “under one roof” leasing services, land control, financing and construction. This vertically-integrated model would eventually be followed by other developers nationally.

First Master-Planned Business Park

The company built its corporate headquarters based upon unparalleled customer service and one-stop shopping under one roof. At the same time, it began developing its first master-planned Business Park on 200 acres acquired from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Dermody Properties Foundation is Created

The company officially formed the Dermody Properties Foundation, to put into place a structure and process to give back to the communities in which, it does business. The Foundation was funded by the profits generated by the hard work and dedication of all employees at Dermody Properties/DP Partners. Funding decisions are made by a committee of employees each year. With a focus on the arts, education, and family, as well as a special emphasis on children and the elderly, the employee-managed Foundation provides on average more than $100,000 in donations per year to various organizations, and has in its first 10 years of operation, donated more than $2 million in funds to more than 230 worthy non-profit organizations and community causes.

Institutional Partnerships Fuel Growth

In an effort to grow a family business and provide even better customer service, Michael steered the company into a 14-year strategic partnership with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension plan in the country. This unique equal partnership was ahead of its time, for a modest, private development company like Dermody Properties, to partner with a large public pension fund. The partnership with CalPERS consistently earned above average industry returns for the 14 plus years it existed. As Dermody Properties expanded its national presence, it would create additional financial platforms with other major partners, including the California State Teachers Retirement Fund (CalSTRS), and Lazard Frères & Co. These institutional partnerships would become the springboard for the expansive national growth by bringing flexible financing options to match the ever-changing needs of its real estate clients. Clients appreciated Dermody’s creativity and this in turn sustained many long term relationships still enjoyed by the company today.

Dermody Properties Remains Privately Held

Dermody Properties, like many in its industry, investigated the option of going public. However, consistent with its philosophy, it chose to maintain its high level of customer service as an entrepreneurial, privately-held development company.

Customer Partnerships Fuel National Expansion

In a rebounding economy, Dermody Properties had by this time, developed major distribution facilities on the West Coast, the Midwest and in the Mid-Atlantic, thereby being able to serve customers nationwide. Dermody Properties/DP Partners hit its stride of developing 3 million square feet per year. One of its long-time clients, Owen Distribution Company (ODC), grew into a large national third–party logistics company. It expanded across the country, and of course, its landlord and partner in success was Dermody Properties.

National Expansion Continues with Lazard Frères & Co.

Dermody Properties aligned with financial leader, Lazard Frères & Co as it continued to grow its coast-to-coast industry platform.

Historical Joint Venture with CalSTRS

Dermody Properties created a programmatic joint venture with the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS). CalSTRS, already an investor in the Lazard Frères Opportunity Fund, wanted to create its own national industrial portfolio and, of course, turned to Dermody Properties/DP Partners. At that time, it was the largest real estate transaction done in the history of CalSTRS.

LogistiCenter℠ Concept is Born

Understanding that the flow of logistics is the core of quality industrial development, Dermody created the LogistiCenter® brand. It represents the essence of quality distribution, where infrastructure, demand and customers meet. Today, LogistiCenter® is a national brand, a registered trademark, owned and developed by Dermody Properties. It represents the company’s business philosophy for meeting Corporate America’s supply-chain requirements for Class A industrial distribution facilities, including warehouses, manufacturing, assembly, processing, and research and development.

Innovative Joint Venture

Continuing its pattern of creative real estate solutions, Dermody formed an innovative joint venture with the village of Sauk Village, IL. It has been successful for both Dermody Properties and the Village.

Landmark Portfolio Sale to ProLogis

Dermody Properties makes national news when it sells its portfolio of 25 million square feet to ProLogis (NYSE: PLD). The powerful alignments that Dermody Properties forged would create this significant portfolio, and the sale was the largest transaction done in the history of CalSTRS. This transaction, in retrospect, would be especially significant in real estate history, given the unanticipated national economic recession that would begin within a few months after the event. Never content to rest on its laurels, the Dermody team retained 500 plus acres of land from its portfolio and continued to serve its customers from its four original offices in Portland, OR, Reno, NV, Chicago, IL, and Philadelphia, PA. The 518 acres of entitled, development-ready land would become the foundation of its new growth in the future. The organization pursued a more flexible, entrepreneurial style of development. These Dermody Properties' offices would, in turn, became headquarters for the company’s Northwest, West, Midwest and East Regions, respectively, to manage national portfolio and development efforts. Dermody creates a joint venture with the financial firm, Great Point Investors, LLC, who is advisor for Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). This development, centered around LogistiCenter at Logan, in New Jersey, has created a number of successful leaseholds and real estate transactions, including the 1 million square foot Amazon facility in 2016.

First Annual Thanksgiving Capstone Award

Dermody Properties creates its annual Thanksgiving Capstone Gift in the Great Recession. Responding to the even greater needs of families, the program provides a major gift to a non-profit organization each year. Recipients are determined by the company’s executive management team. The first year’s gift was $250,000 to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Each year since it has provided a major financial gift to a very effective – and deserving – non-profit.

Company Emerges as Post-Recession Leader

As Dermody Properties clearly emerges as a post-Recession national leader, partnerships with local governments, financial organizations, economic development organizations and others continue to expand, benefiting all involved in each alliance. More than ever, the challenging economic times demand unsurpassed customer focus and the Dermody team’s 35-plus year history of excellent customer service has created a foundation on which to go forward.

Douglas A. Kiersey, Jr. Joins as President

Douglas A. Kiersey, Jr. joins Dermody Properties as president of the firm, with the responsibility of managing the company's capital, acquisition, development and property management activities nationwide. Mr. Kiersey joins Dermody Properties after 27 years in the industrial development industry with extensive experience in 14 major U.S. markets.

Southwest Region Office Opens

Dermody Properties establishes a Southwest Region office in Phoenix, Arizona to better serve the southwestern U.S. Patrick Gallagher was brought on as a partner to lead Dermody Properties' ambitious industrial and office development program, focusing on Phoenix as well as the Denver, Texas and southern California markets.

Southern California Office Opens

Dermody Properties opens a Southern California office, as part of the Southwest Region. Nancy E. Shultz was brought on to be Senior Vice President of Capital Development for the area.