About Us

DRG was founded in 2013 as a private industrial real estate company with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm’s complimentary investment approach blends institutional scale with local entrepreneurial focus. DRG has acquired and developed over 7.6 million square feet of industrial properties with a total market capitalization in excess of $685 million.

Meet the Principals

James Love Managing Partner

James Love is the Founder and Managing Partner of Distribution Realty Group. Since its formation in October of 2013, DRG has developed 9.6 million square feet of Class A industrial properties and acquired over one million square feet of infill industrial properties in core submarkets. Mr. Love has been involved in the acquisition and disposition of over $1 billion of industrial properties since 2012. Prior to his career as a principal, James was an industrial leasing broker with Colliers International. Mr. Love has served on the national board of NAIOP as well as on its industrial advisory and I-Con committees, as Chairman of the Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board, and a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Michael Augustine Managing Partner

Michael Augustine is a Managing Partner of Distribution Realty Group where he has acquired and developed over 9.6 million square feet of industrial properties since 2014. Mr. Augustine was previously at Morgan Stanley and Prologis and most recently at the Charles Hawkins Company where he leased and sold over $150 million of industrial real estate in Nashville, TN. Mr. Augustine holds an SIOR designation, an MBA from Vanderbilt University, and is a member of the national NAIOP Developing Leaders Forum and the Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board.

Curran Darling Partner

Curran Darling is a Partner at Distribution Realty Group focused on acquisitions, development and asset management for the Chicago office. He has acquired and developed over 9 million square feet of industrial properties. Prior to his career as a principal, Mr. Darling was at JLL, where he worked in the Industrial Capital Markets platform, performing investment sales, equity raising and recapitalizations for clients across the country. Mr. Darling graduated from Villanova University and is an active alumni member of the Dan DiLella Center for Real Estate, where he sits on the Nova Next Council board.

Nichole Ocepek Reed Chief Financial Officer

Nichole Ocepek Reed joined the firm in 2019 to manage the firm's financial oversight and day-to-day operations. Mrs. Ocepek Reed began her career in public accounting with RSM McGladrey before moving on to become the CFO of the Arena Football League. Most recently, Nichole was the CFO/Co-Founder of a home e-commerce start-up, Loom Decor, which was sold in 2018. Nichole graduated in 2004 from Miami University (Ohio) with a Masters in Accounting. She was also a member of the varsity swim team which won 2 MAC Championships. Additionally, Nichole serves as an advisor for a Nashville area start-up.

William Tanner VP of Capital Deployment

William Tanner is a VP of Capital Deployment at Distribution Realty Group focused on acquisitions and other activities related to capital deployment for the Nashville office. He has acquired and developed over 3 million square feet of industrial properties. Prior to DRG, Mr. Tanner was in commercial real estate finance at Truxton Trust, where he financed over $50 million of projects across various asset classes. Mr. Tanner attended the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee, Martin where he was a member of the varsity football team for both universities. Additionally, Mr. Tanner is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, the Montgomery Bell Academy alumni board where he serves as Chairman of the MBA Annual Fund, and the national NAIOP Developing Leaders Forum.

Robert McNeilly Director of Construction

Robert McNeilly is the Director of Construction at Distribution Realty Group responsible for all facets of new ground-up construction as well as select tenant improvement work. He has acquired and developed over 3 million square feet of industrial properties. Mr. McNeilly was previously at CBRE and most recently at Cushman & Wakefield, where he managed over $25 million of capital and tenant improvement projects in the firm's Nashville office. Mr. McNeilly holds a Masters of Engineering in Construction Management from Vanderbilt University.