Robert Smietana

Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Robert Smietana is Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HSA Commercial Real Estate. He is responsible for overall corporate strategy and direction, managing existing client accounts, directing project teams on behalf of third party owners, developing new business, and managing day-to-day company operations.

Under his supervision, HSA’s diversified real estate portfolio has consistently ranked in the top 20 in Chicago and has grown to include more than 16 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, and corporate facilities in 14 states. The firm currently has development in progress of over 3,000,000 square feet and ranks as one of the top developers in the U.S.

Bob has completed over 100 building developments comprising over 25,000,000 square feet valued at $3 billion. Bob’s diverse development experience, which began in 1978 as an architect, includes industrial buildings, shopping centers, hotels, suburban and high-rise urban office skyscrapers, senior housing and medical office buildings. His national experience has included all phases of real estate responsibility including land acquisitions, entitlements, design development, financing, construction management operations, property and asset management and brokerage.

Bob is a member of ICSC/International Council of Shopping Centers, NAIOP/National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, and Young Presidents Organization. He is a past President of the Chicago Chapter of NAIOP.

He is a Governing Board member of Chicago Commons, a 125 year old social service organization, was a founding member of the University of Illinois Real Estate Alumni Forum, the University of Illinois’ School of Architecture Professional Partners Committee and is a former Village Trustee and Chairman of the Village of Kenilworth Plan Commission.

Bob is an Adjunct Professor in The College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He has also been a featured speaker before the AIA, the Indiana University Center for Real Estate Studies, Commercial Property World, NAIOP, Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry, Bisnow, Chicago Building Congress, and the Big Ten Real Estate Forum, among other professional societies. He has also guest lectured on real estate topics at DePaul University and the University of Illinois.

Bob was named one of the Stars to Watch by Commercial Property News, and received the Property Management Council Leadership award by New America International and has been named as a Power Player by Crain’s Chicago Business in 2008-2013.