Company: The Connor Group, Dayton, OH
Nomination Submitted by: Stanton
Company Description: Founded in 1992 and based in Dayton, Ohio, The Connor Group is an industry-leading owner and operator of luxury apartments with a portfolio of more than 15,000 units across 18 markets. Over the firm’s 31-year history, it has grown from $0 to more than $5 billion in assets.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Real Estate - Large
 Nomination Title: The Connor Group
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2022, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 183 words used.
Founded in 1992 and based in Dayton, Ohio, The Connor Group is an industry-leading owner and operator of luxury apartments with a portfolio of more than 15,000 units across 18 markets. Over the firm’s 31-year history, it has grown from $0 to more than $5 billion in assets.
The Connor Group’s unique approach to real estate operations, investment, culture, and innovation has produced unmatched success and investor returns. Since inception, the firm has delivered a 30.4% annual internal rate of return (IRR) after fees, and in the last five years, it has delivered a 37% IRR.
The firm’s people are its number one key to success. Their relentless focus on operational excellence increases the bottom line of its apartment communities by on average 60%+ in only 18 months. Compare this to the wider apartment industry, which needs 5-7 years or longer for similar growth.
As an organization, the firm believes in sharing the wealth. A percentage of firm revenue goes to its non-profit arm, The Connor Group Kids & Community Partners, which is committed to pulling kids out of generational poverty.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 175 words used.
In August 2022, Connor Group opened The Greater Dayton School, Ohio's first private, nonreligious school exclusively for under-resourced children. Funded by Kids & Community Partners, the company’s non-profit arm, The Greater Dayton School's revolutionary model focuses on educating the whole child, providing top-notch tailored-instruction to each student with wraparound clinic services, allowing kids to grow to their full potential. The school plans to invest $300,000 in each child's education over 10 years, nearly three times the national average. During the school's first nine months in operation, students went from 51% proficient or advanced in academics and fitness to 83%. Thanks to wraparound services, 98% of students are now up-to-date on their pediatric, dental, and vision visits. The school opened with 100 students and will grow to serve more than 500 annually. A state-of-the-art $60 million permanent facility opened in Dayton in 2023.
Kids and Community Partners has dedicated $152 million since its 2016 inception towards pulling kids out of generational poverty. Over the next decade, Connor Group will devote $800 million toward this work.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 185 words used.
The Connor Group shows success in real estate investment, and operations can come from outside the standard industry playbook. The company hires no one from the industry, uses a unique transactional model, executes operations at an elite level, and achieves unparalleled results.
The company’s business model is simple yet challenging to execute. The transactional model is to buy underperforming luxury apartment communities, improve the physical facilities, decrease expenses, implement other income drivers and improve customer service in a compressed period. Following a purchase, its operational team re-engineers luxury apartment communities in as little as nine months.
The Connor Group’s culture is rooted in integrity, discipline, training, innovation and hard work. Associates who perform at an elite level are rewarded and recognized in unique and innovative ways. This includes a partnership program open to associates in any job description, offering the opportunity to earn an ownership stake in The Connor Group and its properties. The company promoted its first groundskeeper to partner in 2015 and currently has more than 60 partners across the organization, with plans to grow to more than 100 within the next decade.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 8 words used.
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