Manager of Leadership Square in OKC set to retire

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 24, 2008 by Kelley Chambers

When Ron Stromberg first came on the scene managing Leadership Square, all was not well in downtown Oklahoma City.

Leadership Square, 211 N. Robinson Ave., was built in 1984 and is two buildings - one with 22 stories and the other with 17 stories - were linked by a four-story atrium. At the time, Oklahoma was reeling from an oil bust.

Stromberg has managed the building for two decades and will retire next week.

When he came on board in the mid-1980s, the building's spaces were renting for about $12 per square foot. Oklahoma's economy was weak and downtown was seeing increased vacancies, even in the shiny, new Leadership Square.

But through good times and bad, Stromberg and his staff worked to keep tenants happy and lure new business to the building.

"I've been fortunate that Leadership Square has always been a Class A building," he said. "But maintaining a Class A building is difficult."

Despite overseeing every aspect of the building, Stromberg said he has enjoyed every minute of his time in Leadership Square.

Originally from western Oklahoma, Stromberg earned a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Nebraska and went on to a distinguished career in the Air Force.

In 1979, he retired from the Air Force and began a career in real estate.

In 1982, Stromberg and his family moved to Oklahoma City, and over the years he managed Corporate Tower, Broadway Executive Park, Oklahoma Tower, First National Center and finally Leadership Square, his longest tenure.

"I've been fortunate to be here through three ownerships," he said. "That doesn't usually happen."

Mark Beffort is the managing partner of the Leadership Square ownership group that bought the building in May 2005.

With the new ownership in place, Beffort said the group was anxious to keep Stromberg on board.

"When you're in the industry, you meet a lot of people, and there are some that you want to hopefully someday work with," Beffort said. "I don't think there's anybody in Oklahoma City who would say they wouldn't want Ron on their team."

Beffort said Terry Watson will replace Stromberg as senior property manager and Richard Van Voast will be assistant property manager.

Stromberg's last day will be Wednesday, which is also his wife, Leslie Stromberg's, birthday.

While Stromberg has dedicated decades to downtown office buildings, it's his staff and tenants that he will miss most.

"I'll miss the people," he said. "All of them are just top drawer."