Steve Blum serves as Chief Leasing Officer of Divaris Real Estate. This strategic leadership position augments leasing in all lines of business and serves as a resource to the companies of the Divaris Group.
Steve is an accomplished executive with 30 years of experience in retail operations and commercial real estate. Starting on the retail sales floor, he progressed to market research and strategy with national retailers.
In 2005, Steve joined The Taubman Company, a publicly traded retail REIT. Hired into a group applying best practices across the organization, he streamlined processes and modernized tools for the leasing agents. Steve then joined leasing, with responsibility for national and local retail accounts, concentrating in the Mid-Atlantic, including Charleston, Charlotte, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the Washington D.C. region. Following his tenure in leasing, Steve was given responsibility for all leasing tools, processes, and support personnel as well as the training of all new agents. Recognizing the increasing role of technology for both landlord and tenant, he led numerous data-driven upgrades.
In 2019, Steve joined The Surnow Company as Vice President, where he led all daily operations of a diverse regional portfolio, including leasing and property management of community retail, office, flex, and mixed use properties.
Motivated by his admiration of leasing professionals and the tenants and landlords they serve, Steve is driven to make the leasing process valuable and efficient for all involved.
With an MBA in strategy and marketing from the University of Chicago, Steve enjoys sharing best practices throughout his community, including guest lecturing at community college, assisting with retail operations at Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and serving on the executive board of multiple community organizations. Steve’s greatest inspiration is his wife and children who tirelessly follow their passions.