Overview & Challenge

Cleveland/RAM, two separate companies providing benefits consulting and management, and human resources support to organizations of all sizes, had been operating from a 7,000 square foot office suite at International Plaza for six years.  With their lease expiring April 2024, they had an opportunity to merge forces, right-size their office, upgrade their space and the amenities around them, and bring two offices together to one space.  The challenge was to find a suitable space on a conservative budget that needed only minor improvements.  Katie Trevena, Senior Vice President, and Jim Jetland, Principal, provided an in-depth market analysis, site selection, and risk management through the lease negotiation process.

Strategy

Trevena and Jetland toured Cleveland/RAM through five office space options in Bloomington along the I-494 corridor. “We are very conservative financially but knew that moving to a slightly larger, updated space and building would help our employees provide better service to our clients,” said Tony Cleveland, president-Cleveland Maher, LLC.  Northland Center’s inner-ring location, covered parking, full-service café, workout facilities, and additional conference space suited the needs of Cleveland/RAM.  While the suite that was identified needed some improvements, Cleveland/RAM hired Wally Tufvander, Vice President- Project Management at Forte, to manage the tenant improvement project by selecting architectural design and construction administration services. In addition, Wally oversaw the furniture selection and move management process.

Results

Cleveland/RAM signed a seven-year lease commencing May 1, 2024 on 7,472 square feet.  Forte negotiated a tenant improvement allowance with the landlord, and with Wally Tufvander’s hard work monitoring the project budget and utilizing some of the existing improvements, Cleveland/RAM came in under budget and on-time.  The landlord was flexible with how the tenant improvement allowance could be used, allowing Cleveland/RAM to utilize a portion of the allowance to offset furniture, AV, and data cabling costs associated with the relocation.