Robert L. Thatcher, CRX, CSM, CLS, CMD, CDP

Robert L. Thatcher, CRX, CSM, CLS, CMD, CDP serves as the Director of Franchise & Real Estate Development on behalf of Ben’s Soft Pretzels Franchising, Inc.  Based in Goshen, IN, Ben’s is the fastest growing pretzel franchise in North America & in 2015, Ben's Soft Pretzels was named "Top Fast Food Franchise" by FranchiseRankings.com! In his role, Thatcher is charged with seeking, qualifying and engaging with prospective corporate & entrepreneurial bakery owners.  In addition to administrating the Master Leased Walmart & Meijer Super Store locations, he is also actively engaged in identifying and leasing high patron traffic locations in shopping centers, transportation hubs, sporting venues & university’s around the country.  Thatcher’s tenure in the shopping center industry spans two decades and uniquely qualifies him for structuring these exciting, “Turn-Key” franchised operations; be it individually or multi-unit transactions in major markets.

With in excess of thirty (30) years of tenure in the commercial real estate industry, Thatcher has broad experience and expertise in several disciplines including: Regional Mall Operations, Leasing & Marketing, Commercial Property Management, Commercial RE Brokerage, Land Development, Commercial Construction/General Contracting and the Real Estate Appraisal Industry.  He was previously affiliated with both FM Properties & FM Construction Company, Landau & Heyman (Chicago) & Kravco Company (King of Prussia, PA) and Triyar Companies (Los Angeles, CA).  Thatcher also acted as Co-Developer of the Island Hills Golf Club and Community in Centerville, MI during his tenure as Vice President of Pheasant Ridge Development Company.  Early in his career, Thatcher was involved with the development of The Lexington Business Center in Elkhart; a Small Business Incubator recognized internationally for successful operations.

Thatcher holds five designations as conferred by ICSC. Thatcher was the third shopping center professional worldwide to earn all four Senior level professional designations conferred by ICSC.  He remains one of only thirteen (13) shopping center professionals worldwide to garner five (5) ICSC professional certifications.

Thatcher is the past Chairman of the ICSC Central Division Government Relations Committee w/legislative responsibility in (13) states.  He is also past ICSC Indiana GR Chair & Operations Chair.  He is an International Faculty Member of the ICSC (JTR) School for Professional Development and teaches Accounting, Budgets & Lease Administration in the School of Management and Basics of Operations in the School of Marketing. Moreover, he co-taught Maximizing the Operational Efficiency of your Shopping Center at the RECon Academy in 2009, 2010 & 2011. Thatcher has concluded his (6) year tenure on the Board of Directors of The Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce  He continues to Chair that organization’s Economic Development/Legislative Affairs Council. 

In addition, he holds independent Real Estate Broker Licenses in both Indiana and Michigan and is the Managing Member of RL Thatcher Realty Services, LLC.  He is a qualified, State Certified General Appraiser having completed extensive course work sponsored by The Appraisal Institute and authored dozens of “complex” appraisal assignments; and real estate tax appeal casework.  He attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN. At RECon this year, Thatcher won the ICSC Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award for Meritorious Service. He is an ICSC Ambassador.

Mr. Thatcher will be available for individual mentoring sessions.