David Auel, CCIM, has been active in the Pittsburgh commercial real estate market since 1986.  As President and owner of Griffon Realty, Inc., a boutique brokerage firm from 1998-2012, he was responsible for the leasing and sale of several million square feet of office and retail space throughout the Pittsburgh metro area.  Projects included repositioning a distressed portfolio of eight properties comprised of 750,000 SF of office and retail space, refinancing several loans totaling over $40,000,000 and installation of an integrated property management and accounting system for the management company.  Other duties included working with special asset mangers at lending institutions and back filling over 200,000 square feet of vacant space in a four year period.  Prior to start Griffon Realty Mr. Auel served as the Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, where he worked on projects as diverse as the Pittsburgh International Airport’s airside business park and oversight of the Redevelopment Authorities loan portfolio.  His start in commercial real estate began with Grubb & Ellis Company, where he specialized in retail site acquisition for multi-site users such as Sears Parts America, Extended Stay Hotels, National City Bank and its predecessors and many other regional and national clients.

Clients for whom he has performed fee paid consultation work include: Computer Enterprises, Inc.,  the PA Turnpike Commission, Dollar Bank and H-Squared Properties and numerous restaurants.

A graduate of the Smeal College of Business Administration at The Pennsylvania State University, David earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, accompanied by a minor in Economics.  He received his Masters in Business Administration from the Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, in 1993.  A Certified Commercial Institute Member (CCIM ) since 1997, his professional education also includes course work in real estate law, investment and tax analysis, public finance / bond issuance and market feasibility.

Mr. Auel is active in a number of community and real estate organizations; including past Chairman of the Pittsburgh Board of Commercial Realtors, past Chairman of the Mt. Lebanon Economic Development Council and the Board of Directors for the Katz School Alumni Association.  Currently, he teaches real estate classes for the Community College of Allegheny County, where he developed a class that introduces real estate professionals and small business owners to the science and technology used for making educated site acquisition decisions.

Mr. Auel enjoys fly fishing, photography and golf.