Inland Founder Daniel Goodwin Dies Aged 80; Chereso Appointed CEO
Daniel L. Goodwin, the founder, chairman and CEO of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc., one of the most successful and respected sponsors of non-traded alternative investment programs, died Friday evening at the age of 80.
“Dan was a pioneer and visionary in the commercial real estate industry, as well as an exceptional human being and friend,” said Robert H. Baum, Inland interim chairman, on behalf of fellow Inland principals and co-founders G. Joseph Cosenza and Robert D. Parks. “Dan’s legacy leaves an indelible mark upon the commercial real estate and investment industry and the thousands of lives he impacted through his many civic and philanthropic endeavors, especially in the areas of affordable housing, higher education, and good government. On behalf of the Inland Board and over 1,000 employees across the country, our thoughts and prayers are with the Goodwin family, and we extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to them during this difficult time.”
A native Chicagoan, Goodwin earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois public universities. Upon graduation, he went to work as a science teacher on the city’s West Side for five years before embarking upon what became a legendary real estate career with his fellow teachers Baum, Cosenza, and Parks. Speaking about selecting real estate as his career, Goodwin once said, “my aim has always been to democratize real estate and to help all people gain access to the dignity of calling a place their home.”
Since Inland’s inception in 1968, the company grew under Goodwin’s leadership into one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate, investment, and finance groups. Collectively, Inland entities have raised more than $26 billion in capital, conducted over $80 billion dollars in commercial real estate transactions, sponsored in excess of 800 investment programs, and founded six Inland entities that either listed on or merged with a public company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Goodwin exhibited equal passion for his family, business, and his personal and philanthropic causes, for which he has received hundreds of local and national business, civic, and philanthropic awards. “In business, you are always pursuing growth and higher profits. That is how success is measured,” Goodwin once remarked. “But there is also a responsibility to do good when one has done well. For me, that is a more rewarding definition of success.”
The Inland board of directors appointed current Inland Chief Financial Officer Anthony Chereso as the company’s chief executive officer, effective immediately. Chereso has more than 30 years of experience in finance, commercial real estate, capital markets, and the alternative investment industry. “Succeeding Dan as CEO of Inland is humbling and a great honor,” said Chereso. “Dan was an incredible leader, mentor, and friend to me for many years. I will endeavor to honor his legacy and lead our organization into the bright future he made possible.”
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