Michael Kelly, Sales Associate, NAI DESCO, O’Fallon

   Michael Kelly is a new sales associate based at NAI DESCO’s O’Fallon, Ill. office. He specializes in industrial, office, retail and investment properties.
   Kelly grew up in Wood River and lives near Edwardsville. He served in the Marine Corps for more than 20 years as a pilot and earned his master’s degree in real estate from the University of San Diego and is licensed in Illinois and Missouri.
   Kelly also holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
   Based on his clients’ specifications, Kelly says he is able to combine his knowledge of the Metro East market with the support of NAI DESCO’s national and international resources. NAI DESCO is the St. Louis regional partner of its umbrella company NAI Global, one of the world’s largest real estate companies.
   According to Kelly, there are many opportunities for companies who are looking to relocate or expand into Illinois. A company that recently seized this opportunity is a sports apparel retailer, First to the Finish, which Kelly assisted in the lease of a prime Edwardsville location on Illinois Rte. 159. This is the first physical store expansion for the large online and catalog retailer outside its Carlinville headquarters.
   Menard Inc. also recently expanded its operations into the Metro East at Central Park Drive in O’Fallon, where it opened a new home improvement retail store. NAI DESCO represented Menards in the purchase of the new location in addition to its St. Louis locations.
   All About Eyes, Subway and La Casa Mexicana will be opening soon in a new strip center in Central Park Plaza in O’Fallon; NAI DESCO represented the developer, says Kelly.  
   A property currently for sale is the 54-acre former Archer Daniels Midland collection and railroading facility on Cargill Road in Granite City. This redevelopment site, according to Kelly, is located along the rail line in the northeast section of the city, off Pontoon Road and Illinois Rte. 111.
   Kelly credits efforts of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments and the Southwestern Illinois Employers Association for contributing to NAI DESCO’s success. These and other area organizations do a phenomenal job of promoting business and real estate opportunities in Southern Illinois, says Kelly, which is significant to regional cooperation and growth.