Mitch Pleis

Mitch Pleis currently serves as co-head of real estate at CalSTRS and is responsible for overseeing the debt investment portfolio, credit lending program and the Real Estate Operating Company portfolio.  Pleis, who graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology specializing in Urban Development and Planning, has forty-two years of institutional real estate investment management. His scope of experience has included real estate development, structured financing, asset, and portfolio management for multiple property types in locations across the United States. During the late 1990’s, Mitch was the director of real estate for CalSTRS and was responsible for redesigning the real estate investment program and changing the implementation strategies for investment managers. After his tenure at CalSTRS he founded Pleis & Company where he provided capital formation and consulting services to real estate operators throughout different times in his real estate career.  Pleis was also a managing director for Principal Global Investors from 2003 - 2010, where he provided both marketing and client relationship oversight as well as portfolio management services for institutional clients. Mr. Pleis was involved in the design of new investment products, structuring, and overseeing programmatic joint ventures for college student housing, retail development and multifamily development. In 2013, prior to rejoining CalSTRS, Mitch served as the Athletic Director and Campus Development Director at William Jessup University where he oversaw the development of new student housing projects as well as growing the sports programs at the University