Von Stroh to be honored

Gordon Von Stroh

Gordon Von Stroh’s name is synonymous with apartments in the Denver area and in Colorado.

As well it should be.

After all, Von Stroh, a professor of Management and Director of the Customized MBA program at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, has been at the helm of a comprehensive apartment analysis and report that is the envy of the nation for the past three decades. He began teaching at DU in 1967, one of the youngest PhDs in the school’s history.

The 68-year-old, self-effacing Von Stroh can explain the economic vacancy rate so even a journalist can understand it, while those who live and breathe the multifamily market devour data in the quarterly reports that can run 60 pages or more of figures, charts, tables and maps.

If the old Merrill Lynch message needed a new home, it would be: “When Gordon Von Stroh speaks, people listen.”

“He really is a celebrity of sorts,” in multi-family housing and economic circles, notes Ryan McMaken, of the Colorado Division of Housing, which has depended on Von Stroh for its apartment reports since 1995.

And like any deserving celebrity, from time-to-time it is inevitable he will be recognized by his peers. From 8 am. until 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, Von Stroh will be honored by the non-profit Rocky Mountain Communities at its inaugural awards breakfast at the Cable Center, 2000 Buchtel Boulevard, on the DU campus.

“I am proud to acknowledge that Gordon Von Stroh has been a friend, business associate, and mentor to me for many years,” said George Hamblin, chair of the RMC, which has provided affordable housing, programs and services to more than 11,000 struggling families during the past 20 years.

“He has a unique ability to stimulate productive thought to arrive at a decision and/or conclusion,” Hamblin continued. “He is a leader that develops successful teams as evidenced by the many exemplary organizations on which he has served as board chair, including our own.”

Von Stroh’s character is as highly regarded as his research and knowledge of the apartment industry.

“He is one of the most ethical individuals that I have ever encountered,” Hamblin said. “Rocky Mountain Communities is pleased to create this annual award in honor of our leader and friend Dr. Gordon Von Stroh.”

Nancy Parker, chair of Central City Opera, is taking part in the RMC event. Von Stroh has volunteered many hours at the Central City Opera.

“Gordon Von Stroh has been an important person to our organization for many years,” Parker said. “He frequently recruits his Daniels School of Business students to do projects and studies for us and is a vocal advocate of the opera. Both Patrice (his wife) and Gordon have been loyal supporters and we are pleased to participate in Rocky Mountain Communities’ event to honor him.”

“Amazing” reports

Terrance Hunt, a principal of the Denver office of Apartment Realty Advisors, described Von Stroh’s contribution to the world of apartments as “amazing.”

No where else, he said, can you find 30 years of rigorous research that is consistent and credible.

“A lot of our clients buy apartment communities in multiple markets and they frequently remark about the quality, details and depth of Gordon’s reports,” Hunt said. “To have 30 years worth of data on such things as vacancies and rent levels and concessions is just unbelievable. Our clients tell us that they do not find such detailed reports in other markets or even from highly paid valuation services and national research services. The Denver information is invaluable to our clients, owners, sellers and consumers.

“The other thing that makes it unique is the consistency and calculating the data the same way,” Hunt said. “A lot of reports in other markets sometimes start out strong, but then kind of fizzle. Someone else takes it over and they use a different methodology, which pretty much makes comparisons to prior period worthless. That is not the case with Gordon.”

Data-driven reports

McMaken, of the state housing division, said that some people in the industry have criticized Von Stroh’s reports from time to time, especially if they don’t find his findings to their likings. Indeed, during tough times, renters have been known to cut out newspaper articles about his findings and mail it to landlords that are trying to raise rents at a time when vacancies are rising.

Rent surveys, like any survey, only capture the data at that point in time.

“But if you look at trends – when he shows the market is going up, or the market is going down – he is always right,” McMaken said. “Right on the money.”

Fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Unfortunately, earlier this year, the tall and lanky Von Stroh with professorial white hair and an easy manner, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There is no cure.

Von Stroh said he does not want to hide the fact that he has ALS. This event, in a small way, he notes, can help shine a light on the disease.

“ALS is an under-funded area of medical research, and there is a need to find the cause and the cure,” Von Stroh said. “They just recently discovered what happens with the motor neurons with ALS, but not what is causing the change, or how to fix it. Truly, ALS is a very cruel disease, and happens more often than is thought.”

Von Stroh also offered thanks to RMC for all of its work with affordable housing, something he has long viewed not just through an academic filter, but also through a human and emotional prism.

“Affordable housing is crucial to the lives of more and more people,” Von Stroh said. “With RMC, resident services also are provided to help people improve their work skills, training/education, job access, and similar services to help them become more productive citizens.”

Sponsorships opportunities are still available for this event. Sponsorships levels are available from $500 to $10,000 to be recognized as a title sponsor. Individual seats are $40 each and a table of eight is $320.

To learn more, please visit this Rocky Mountain Communities link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com