Empire Group Background

The Empire Group, together with its affiliated companies, has been in business for over 40 years as a real estate investor and developer of quality and innovative residential and commercial projects. Its founder, Richard Felker, along with Geoffrey Jacobs, a principal in the group, take pride in what they do. By adhering to a three-point philosophy – Integrity, Quality, and Commitment –they have led their organization to great achievements and success.

Since the inception of its business in Wisconsin, through its current developments in Arizona, Empire has acquired or developed more than 100 properties in over 35 communities, having a combined value in excess of One Billion Dollars. Many of these projects have received local and national awards for design and project excellence, including awards from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, Builder’s Magazine and the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona. The following are but a few select examples of the projects Empire has developed:

Residential: Landmark on the Lake, a 27 story, 275 apartment high rise overlooking Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Pavilions, a luxury 134 condominium project within the master planned community of Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. Morningside, a 160 unit up-scale apartment development at Scottsdale Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Sanctuary at Paradise Valley, an exclusive 16 lot subdivision with panoramic views of metropolitan Phoenix. The Sanctuary at South Mountain, a 38 lot hillside custom lot subdivision in Phoenix, Arizona. Eagle Mountain, a 500 acre master planned community in Fountain Hills, Arizona which includes a Scott Miller-designed 18 hole championship golf course.

Commercial/Retail: The GE Medical Training Center, a 60 acre, 250,000 square foot campus in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Estrella Town Center, a 30 acre retail center in Phoenix, Arizona. Coldwater Springs Promenade, a 20 acre retail and office center, which is anchored by Staples, located in Avondale, Arizona. The Lockheed/Goodyear Airport Facility, a 150 acre mixed-use industrial and office development, in Goodyear, Arizona.

The master-planned communities, exclusive residential subdivisions, luxury condominiums, hillside estates, apartment projects and wide ranging commercial/retail projects developed by Empire have been successful because Empire develops lots, builds homes, creates neighborhoods and designs commercial/retail properties with an emphasis on quality, value, commitment to detail and distinctive design. This has been accomplished through a joint effort by the members of the Empire team, who collectively have over 100 years of investment, development and construction experience. This experience enables Empire to work hand-in -hand with municipalities, neighborhood groups, buyers and tenants to solve ever-present zoning, entitlement and other user issues, the end result being successfully developed and innovatively designed projects. roup has successfully completed projects of all shapes and sizes.

Invitation to Review The Empire Group Portfolio

Much has changed in the 40 years since I started doing business in Wisconsin, but by developing and maintaining relationships in the development community, adapting to and taking advantage of the ever-changing and often challenging economic and market conditions that affect the development business, and most importantly, continuing the Empire philosophy of Integrity, Quality, and Commitment, I will strive for and expect continued success for our current and future projects. Please take a moment to review the following pages which present a history of the many varied projects that Geoffrey and I are proud to say we helped to bring to the market.

Richard Felker