Kelly Gardner

Profile

Operational leader and commercial real estate strategist with 20+ years of experience scaling portfolio performance, optimizing operating budgets, and driving capital efficiency across complex commercial assets. Known for pairing emotional intelligence and stakeholder alignment with hands-on execution, transforming legacy workflows into high-yield, automated operations.

Operational & Financial Acumen: Directs comprehensive portfolio operations across substantial commercial holdings. Expert in capital allocation, operational expenditure reduction, budgeting, and safeguarding asset performance through rigorous lease negotiations and covenant oversight.
Process Efficiency & Technology: Evaluates everyday friction points to introduce automated workflows and centralized reporting, reducing administrative overhead and improving decision-making across teams.
Empathetic & High-Impact Leadership: Builds accountable, high-retention team cultures. Leverages emotional intelligence and decisive problem-solving to align teams, vendor partners, and C-suite leadership alongside valuation and operational benchmarks.

Timeline

June 2023 – PresentVP of OperationsGlen Una Management & Investment
June 2013 – June 2023Regional Vice President of Property ManagementGlen Una Management & Investment
July 2010 – May 2013General ManagerGeneral Growth Properties / Rouse Properties
Feb. 2011 – Oct. 2011General ManagerGeneral Growth Properties
Jan. 2008 – June 2010General ManagerGeneral Growth Properties
Aug. 2005 – Jan. 2008Assistant General ManagerGeneral Growth Properties
June 2004 – Jan. 2006Computer Traffic OperatorTransCore

20+Years in retail real estate (2005–present)

73Properties in current portfolio

14.6M SFCurrently managed

CSMICSC designation, 2011

MBAPortland State, 2010

BAEconomics, University of Utah, 2005

BilingualPortuguese fluent, Spanish basic

Experience

Glen Una Management & Investment

Operations leadership for a private owner and developer of retail, office and industrial centers across the United States.

Operations leadership for a private owner and developer of retail, office and industrial centers across the United States.

Glen Una Management & Investment

Glen Una Management & Investment is a private owner and developer of retail, office and industrial centers throughout the…

Glen Una Management & Investment is a private owner and developer of retail, office and industrial centers throughout the United States. Responsible for oversight and management of current assets and new acquisitions in the western region.
Oversaw all aspects of the properties' financial, leasing and operational metrics.

General Growth Properties / Rouse Properties, NewPark Mall, Newark, CA (GGP until the 2012 Rouse spin-off)

1.2M SF regional center on 76 acres.

1.2M SF regional center on 76 acres.
Responsible for Strategic Business Plan implementation and value creation.
Managed CapEx budget and project coordination for the five-year property plan.
Increased permanent occupancy by 9% in 2010. Grew marketing events and initiatives over 30%, lifting sales per SF 5% YOY.
2012 ICSC U.S. MAXI Silver winner for NewPark Mall’s Cultural Corner.

General Growth Properties, West Valley Mall, Tracy, CA

Managed the center alongside NewPark during the placement period of a new GM.

Managed the center alongside NewPark during the placement period of a new GM.
Oversaw marketing, operations and leasing at two centers.
Coached staff through several corporate changes involving layoffs and a spin-off.
Managed and executed a one-of-a-kind marketing event for the American Idol homecoming.

General Growth Properties, Three Rivers Mall, Kelso, WA

Responsible for all day-to-day operations of the 47-acre regional mall with 500K SF of enclosed retail and several outparcel…

Responsible for all day-to-day operations of the 47-acre regional mall with 500K SF of enclosed retail and several outparcel tenants.
Rebuilt civic relationships and leased a new 10-year City Library deal.
Consistently forecast the rolling 24-month budget within 1% of actuals.
Prepared the annual Business Plan and monthly operational reports for senior management.

General Growth Properties, Salt Lake City, UT

Rotated through multiple centers in the region: Fashion Place, Provo Towne Centre, Newgate Mall and Cottonwood Mall.

Rotated through multiple centers in the region: Fashion Place, Provo Towne Centre, Newgate Mall and Cottonwood Mall.
Oversaw operations and management for nine community centers in Salt Lake City.
Involved in several redevelopments and marketing projects in the region.
Served in interim roles as Operations Manager and General Manager within the region.

TransCore, Salt Lake City, UT

Quickly learned complex Unix- and Windows-based traffic management software.

Quickly learned complex Unix- and Windows-based traffic management software.
Worked with state agencies (UDOT, DPS, VECC), providing commuter support via CCTV and VMS boards to keep freeways safe and moving.

Where I've worked

Austin Green Valley Newark Tracy Kelso Salt Lake City

Austin, TX
- VP of OperationsGlen Una Management & InvestmentJune 2023 – PresentGo to role
Green Valley, AZ
- Regional Vice President of Property ManagementGlen Una Management & InvestmentJune 2013 – June 2023CommunityBoard of Directors, 2016–2018 · Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of CommerceGo to role
Newark, CA
- General ManagerGeneral Growth Properties / Rouse PropertiesJuly 2010 – May 2013CommunityBoard of Directors · Newark Chamber of CommerceGo to role
Tracy, CA
- General ManagerGeneral Growth PropertiesFeb. 2011 – Oct. 2011Go to role
Kelso, WA
- General ManagerGeneral Growth PropertiesJan. 2008 – June 2010Go to role
Salt Lake City, UT
- Assistant General ManagerGeneral Growth PropertiesAug. 2005 – Jan. 2008CentersFashion Place, Provo Towne Centre, Newgate Mall and Cottonwood MallGo to role
- Computer Traffic OperatorTransCoreJune 2004 – Jan. 2006Go to role

In the press

Education

MBA · May 2010
Portland State University, Portland, OR
Emphasis: International Business, Real Estate and Luxury Brand Management.

BA, Economics · May 2005
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Campaign volunteer for ASUU Student Body Elections.

Worked full time between two jobs to graduate free of student loans.

Skills

Portfolio operationsProperty managementChange managementAcquisitions onboardingBudgeting & forecastingCapEx planningLeasingArgusYardiTenant & stakeholder relationsTeam leadershipProcess automation & AI toolsPortuguese (fluent)Spanish (basic)