Brier Mackinac Realty Partners offers unparalleled operational expertise and asset management services.

Mark O’Brien

Mr. O’Brien has in excess of 38 years experience in the real estate industry. This experience, at one time or another, has touched every aspect of the real estate business in every major market in the U.S. and Mexico. The principal focus of Mr. O’Brien’s real estate activities has been in the various forms of the entire residential sector.

Mr. O’Brien retired in June of 2003 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Pulte Homes Inc. after a 22-year executive career. Pulte Homes is a Fortune 250, NYSE Company whose principal business is residential real estate development and residential consumer finance. While Mr. O’Brien was President of the company the following significant accomplishments where achieved:

  • Pulte’s revenues grew from less than $1 billion to over $10 billion.
  • Pulte actively acquired, developed, constructed, sold, and financed in excess of 40,000 homes in 500 active communities in any given year.
  • Company engaged in significant M&A activities, the largest of which was the $1.8 billion acquisition and integration of Del Webb.
  • The company raised in excess of $2 billion from the capital markets, including considerable levels of investment-grade 30-year debt.
  • He directed the allocation of Human and Financial resources necessary to maintain the company’s leadership position in the homebuilding industry. The following are examples: Ultimate responsibility for more than 10,000 employees, some 200,000 sub-contractors, direct and indirect investment in excess of $8 billion on a revolving basis.
  • He led the development and implementation of a strategy to increase market share based on a segmentation plan that allowed the company to attack all price points in all major markets with a variety of products, including single family, multi family, and condominiums.
  • The Company successfully developed a planned community development business. Mr. O’Brien’s experience in this area includes golf courses, amenity design and management, land planning, product design, value engineering and community positioning against a competitive environment.
  • The Company effectively implemented a leveraged purchasing strategy that lowered the company’s cost of sales by $100 million per year.
  • Pulte Mortgage increased its mortgage originations in excess of $5 billion, making it one of the larger mortgage institutions in the U.S.
  • Pulte was rated and continues to be rated the #1 homebuilder by JD Power & Associates for customer satisfaction.

Mr. O’Brien is currently serving as CEO of Jim Walter Homes a wholly owned subsidiary of Walter Industries. Additionally, Mr. O’Brien is currently the President of Brier Patch Capital & Management Inc. and in that capacity directs the activities of the company. Brier Patch Capital & Management is the real estate vehicle for the O’Brien family.

Mr. O’Brien is a life-long resident of Florida and earned a B.A. from The University of Miami. He enjoys boating, fishing, and is a certified helicopter pilot.