How TMR – The Minority Resource Began…
TMR was founded in 2009 by Mike Bush, who in 1997 founded REAP–The Real Estate Associate Program.
Bush served as REAP’s Executive Director until 2009, when he assumed the role of Senior Mentor to REAP Associates, who hold over 75 positions with leading commercial real estate firms across the country in development, investment analysis, brokerage, leasing, asset and property management, and market research. REAP is the only national program to link talented, career-changing, minority professionals with management opportunities in the commercial real estate industry.
REAP’s success encouraged Bush to launch TMR to provide career counseling to minority professionals, advice to “gated” industries whose professional ranks include less than 1% people of color, and a summer program to introduce students of color to management-level careers in commercial real estate, banking, and construction.
Bush’s background as lawyer, executive, teacher, and community leader provided him with the perspective and relationships necessary to establish market-driven programs that have credibility with key constituencies—industry and minority professionals—and to enlist large numbers of industry volunteers where necessary to execute projects of this scope.
Credentials
In 1997, as Vice President of Real Estate for Giant Food, a mid-Atlantic supermarket chain, Mr. Bush forged REAP as a partnership among Giant, the American Jewish Committee, and the Greater Washington Urban League.
He retired from Giant Food in 2000 to direct REAP, which produces the program in Washington, Atlanta, New York City, and Chicago, in partnership with the Business Schools at Howard University and Clark Atlanta University, and with the support of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the DC Building Industry Association (DCBIA), and many others.
During his 21 years at Giant Food, Mr. Bush served as Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Development—George Washington University School of Business, and as guest lecturer at academic and industry forums. He served on the Corporate Real Estate Career Panel at Harvard Business School’s Naylor Fitzhugh Conference, sponsored by the African American Student Union.
He serves on the Advisory Boards of the African American Network Group at CB Richard Ellis and of African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP). He is active in ICSC, ULI, NAIOP, and DCBIA.
Bush was the first recipient of AAREP’s Professional Development Award, he received the first Conscience Award from the Global Real Estate Diversity Summit, and he was presented with DCBIA’s Achievement Award.
He received the Isaiah Award for Social Justice from the American Jewish Committee (Washington Chapter) and was a participant in its Black-Jewish Dialogue.
He was Chair of the United Way Campaign at Giant, volunteer ombudsman and visitor at The Washington Nursing Home, and volunteer ward visitor at Washington Children’s Hospital.
Bush received his B.A. from Stanford University and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School. Prior to joining Giant Food in 1979, he was a partner in an Arizona law firm, specializing in real estate, corporate and banking law.
For a complimentary consultation or more information, contact:
Mike Bush, President
TMR – The Minority Resource
TMR@TheMinorityResource.com
