GB Investments

OVERVIEW
For the first two years of college, Garritt Bader thought he was destined to be a civil engineer. Over time, however, he realized it wasn’t the ‘how’ of infrastructure that captivated him; it was the bigger picture of how communities come together. Urban planning captured his attention, leading him to take on real estate classes, which is where he found his true passion.

After earning his degree, Garritt pursued a master’s in commercial real estate while simultaneously working for a real estate developer, gaining invaluable industry experience. In 2007, Garritt founded GB Real Estate Investments, a real estate development company that has since completed more than $40 million in retail, restaurant, and urban mixed-use projects throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Garritt loves being able to bring positive change and new life to communities, and he has turned to Alliance for many projects to help make this a reality.

FOUNDATION OF FRIENDSHIP
Although Garritt had always known of Alliance, the two didn’t formally connect until the Alliance team reached out to him around 2021. From that first meeting, he quickly formed a genuine personal connection with the team. “To have that personal connection means a lot,” Garritt says. “You want to know that anyone you're working with has your back, and I found that with the Alliance team.”

THE ADVANTAGE OF A FULL-SERVICE PARTNER
When it comes to hiring a contractor, there are two main options. One is to hire a third-party architect and use the plans they create to bid out to your preferred contractor. Alternatively, you can work with a contractor that offers in-house design services. Alliance falls into this latter category, and Garritt has found it to be extremely efficient and cost-effective.

“Functionally, it is very efficient and of course can save a lot of money in architectural fees,” Garritt says, “Also, it always helps to have someone who has the right eye or right vision in line for what I am trying to do, and at Alliance, that is all done in-house.”

THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD
In Garritt’s experience, no project ever goes perfectly. There are always changes and challenges that are part of the process. He has found that amidst those planned for setbacks, Alliance remains steadfast in their commitment and communication.

“Knowing that hiccups will happen, but knowing that you have people working together to truly resolve the hiccups is a great attribute Alliance has, because some people will run for the hills when times get tough,” Garritt says. “I know they are always on my side.”

One project in particular tested this. It was a historic, 120-year-old building that proved to be more complicated than expected. Many developers might have walked away or taken shortcuts, but together, Garritt and Alliance preserved the building the right way.

“I’ve found in my line of work that too many developers are cheap or lazy and would never take on a project like this,” he says. “With this project, both Alliance and I can look at it with pride. When you drive down that block in Green Bay and turn the corner, we can proudly say that we saved that building, and it will be there for another 100 years because we did it right.”

CONCLUSION
For Garritt, working with Alliance is about the trust that has formed and the opportunity to work with a partner who truly cares. Whether it is breathing new life into a historic space or building more modern structures, he knows Alliance will be right by his side through the challenges and triumphs.