Graduating from college at the height of the recession, Matt Gillam knew he was interested in the development business. He started as an intern with Leawood, Kan.–based Overland Property Group (OPG) in 2009, and the rest is history.
“That turned into a full-time job and quickly pivoted into a permanent role in the company,” he says. “I’ve grown up in this company, doing a little bit of everything. I’ve been fortunate to see every part of the business.”
Over the past decade, both Gillam and OPG have grown. When Gillam started, the firm had developed about a dozen properties. Fast-forward to today, and the firm has 65 developments with a robust pipeline. His role also has evolved—from intern to executive vice president and senior partner—and he has been involved in the construction, development, property management, finance, and governmental affairs sides of the business. For the past couple of years, his main focus has been driving forward OPG’s vision as well as its pipeline of developments.
“We have planned growth to continue to expand our affordable housing footprint. We have really solidified ourselves in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado,” the 33-year-old says. “We are now getting active in 4% bond deals. We’ll do our first this year, and I look forward to doing one or two at the minimum a year going forward.”
Being able to bring quality affordable housing to areas in dire need and changing people’s lives for the better are priorities for Gillam, and he stays involved with the developments long after they are built.
“I have a vested interest in each and every project I have developed,” he says. “People’s lives are changed, and it’s very personal to me. My continuing involvement is an important piece to getting it right and making it right for the long term.”
Gillam also is active in advocating for affordable housing on the state and federal levels. In June, he became president of the Kansas Housing Association, a coalition of affordable housing stakeholders in the state, and he travels to Washington, D.C., once or twice a year to work on lobbying efforts for the industry.
“I’m really fortunate to be involved in a business and a cause that I wholeheartedly believe in,” he says.
