Senior Consultant - Real Estate & Development Advisory

It’s one thing to be someone who can run the financials on real estate and facilities plans. It’s something more when that person also has a background in architecture and design.

David Nathe earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Notre Dame. But even as he endeavored in that rigorous, five-year program there were hints of his future with the YMCA movement. He was captain of the university swim team, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, was a swim instructor for Special Olympics, and he tutored elementary school students.

Today, he consults with YMCA clients in rationalizing their real estate portfolios, finding their highest and best use, and aligning those facilities with their organizational goals and needs. Over almost three decades of design and strategic consulting, his work for YMCA projects encompasses more than $1 billion in capital developments across most of the country and parts of Canada. Initially that work was at YMCA of the USA and after that in several design and development consulting firms, including Gro.

“At Gro Development, I work in design and real estate advisory services,” Nathe explains. “This enables me to integrate financial analysis, business performance analysis, real estate evaluation, and high-level facility design solutions for clients.” He also refined processes for selecting architects, engineers, and contractors for YMCA projects; importantly, those processes include Y staff and volunteers in vendor selection.

Other Nathe talents include: creation of operating proformas for financial analyses of development proposals; providing budget and cost estimates; translating program needs into building design options; aquatic design and budgeting; design of roll-out strategies for Y branding and signage standards; and refining YMCA facility standards to maximize use of modern construction methods and to ensure sustainable operations.

Nathe enjoys working with different people and communities around the country. “We impact the future of YMCAs, finding attainable solutions for complex problems.” He cites Y projects he is particularly proud of in San Diego County, Greater Oklahoma City, Greater Hartford (Connecticut), Long Island (New York), Central Florida (Orlando), and Metropolitan Fort Worth.

Currently living in San Diego, Nathe continues to be a formidable swimmer. He adds he’s also a “passable surfer and terrible golfer.”