Kelly Blair set the standard for what it means to be a chief financial officer in commercial real estate, according to her employer Mark IV Capital Inc.
“Through her expertise in financial reporting, capital markets, and strategic finance, she has strengthened Mark IV’s foundation while also helping create a culture that values collaboration, mentorship, and growth,” the Irvine-based real estate investment firm said.
For these reasons, Blair received a Business Journal Women in Business Award in a ceremony held Oct. 15 at the Irvine Marriott.
“She has led meaningful cultural shifts, transformed her key and introduced technologies at streamlined operations, elevated performance and introduced amazing ways for the company to grow as chief financial officer,” Kate Phelan, regional director of wealth planning and trust advisory at U.S. Bank, said when presenting Blair with the award.
“She has raised substantial growth, capital and navigated market volatility with confidence by contributing to build a real estate investment portfolio that exceeds 3 million square feet of property and helped secure equity investments in approximately 70 companies,” Phelan continued.
Blair told the audience of 600: “You can’t do the things and the achievements by yourself. I can’t do this without my team.”
The Slavik Start
Mark IV Capital is a privately held investment platform that specializes in commercial real estate and private equity. It origins date to the 1930s with Elmer O. Slavik, who ran a printing company and offered to print the catalog for industrial supply company, W. W. Grainger Inc., in exchange for equity in the company.
Its chairman is a family descendant, James Slavik, as is Chief Executive Evan Slavik. Its board of directors includes well-known local entrepreneurs like Alex Bhathal.
It invests in early-stage companies “where we believe in the concept, the key leaders, and projected risk adjusted returns.”
In the last five years, Mark IV has developed 2.5 million square feet with plans to develop 12 million square feet in the next five years. It has 5,000 acres of developable land and 70 private equity investments.
Blair earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA with concentrations in leadership and finance from Arizona State University.
Blair joined the firm in 2021, bringing over 20 years of experience in strategic finance and accounting with a focus on real estate and private equity. Her background spans various roles markets, corporate finance, accounting and operations.
Kelly’s previous positions include CFO at BKM Capital Partners, vice president at CIM Group, CFO and treasurer at RAM Real Estate Capital, and vice president, Capital Markets at Walt Group of Companies, where she led efforts in investment structuring, financial reporting and analytics.
As CFO, Blair revamped financial systems, implementing technology solutions that streamlined workflows. She helped closed substantial loans and secured significant lines of credit despite market challenges. She became an expert in managing Opportunity Zone investments.
Beyond her professional life, Blair is engaged with Alder, a leadership organization focused on fostering professional growth, collaboration and innovation among industry leaders.
She’s also passionate about animal welfare, supporting the Pet Project Foundation through financial contributions and volunteer work. The foundation, which partners with the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, ensures that no adoptable animal is euthanized, promoting a humane approach to shelter care. Her involvement with both Alder and the Pet Project Foundation underscores her dedication to professional development and community service. ÂÂÂ
