Chuck Diebel is the general manager of Koger Equities and the new president of the Northeast Florida Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
HOW LONG WITH KOGER?
Seventeen years. He started as the site development manager and was promoted to general manager in 1990.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
He is in charge of asset and property management. “Anything under the asset management is done here. That means we pursue build-to-suits, acquisitions, lease space, manage all our own buildings and handle the maintenance work on the buildings.” Koger has 11 buildings in Jacksonville, totaling 1.2 million square feet.
BEFORE KOGER?
He was a construction engineer with Offshore Power Systems for 10 years. “It was a joint venture with Westinghouse and Tenneco Oil Company to build nuclear power plants. We owned Blount Island before we sold it to Gate Petroleum many years ago.”
HOW DID HE GET INTO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
When Offshore Power Systems closed in Jacksonville, it gave him the opportunity to move to Pittsburgh, which he rejected, instead landing with Koger. “My education was in building construction so I’ve always been in related fields.”
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida.
CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
He is the North District president of the Florida CCIM chapter, past president of Jacksonville Oceanside Rotary Club and board member of the Commercial Alliance of Realtors.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“It’s always changing. It’s always a challenge working with people and bringing something to a conclusion.”
LEAST FAVORITE THING?
“Recessions. Everything is more difficult and takes more time. Your basic economic evaluation really goes out the door and you do things to get by rather than using your economic decision making abilities. It’s difficult for a lot of people. Many don’t make it through.”
HOBBIES
Family, fishing and golf. His favorite place to visit is the Florida Keys and his favorite restaurant is Dwight’s Mediterranean Style Bistro on Penman Road in Jacksonville Beach.
FAMILY
He has been married to Ricky for 23 years. The have one daughter, Jessica, 20.
RESIDES
Ponte Vedra Beach.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis