Bob Dickinson is a classical trumpeter who enjoys performing as much as he enjoys bringing in major real estate deals for the Greater Illinois Title Company. Dickinson, a music major at Illinois State University, Normal, has spent the last 33 years in perfect harmony with his clients as a real estate title expert in the Chicagoland market. His experience as a performer, including being an alumnus of the Disney World All-American College Band and a current member of the Elmhurst Community Band, has propelled him to more than three decades of success.
Dickinson was introduced to the title business by his wife, who’d already been a 10-year veteran before he entered the industry. He’s proud of the many redevelopment projects he’s brought to his company, including Southbridge, a $200 million redevelopment project featuring 900 mixed-income units on the site of the former Harold Ickes Homes housing complex; Parkside of Old Town, a $300 million redevelopment on the site of Cabrini Green; a $60 million, 199-unit new-construction development; a $54 million, 216-unit adaptive reuse project at 29 S. LaSalle St.; and Wilson Yards, a $100 million mixed-use development in Uptown.
Dickinson takes pride in knowing the projects he supports are revitalizing Chicago. “Helping my clients meet their business goals drives me to do my best,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that if you help enough people get what they want, you’ll ultimately get what you want, too. So, I can honestly say that I’m getting what I want.”
As a Multimillion Dollar Club honoree at his company every year for more than two decades, Dickinson is dedicated to hearing from all sides of a transaction. “Every good negotiator appreciates the art of listening, because it opens one’s eyes to new perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed,” he says.
Dickinson co-founded the Southside Builders Association, serves as the membership committee chair for the Commercial Real Estate Forum and is a member of the Real Estate Investment Association. “I’m so fortunate that I can help make time to serve the industry in my professional and personal pursuits,” he says.
Last year, Dickinson accomplished a personal health goal by losing 78 pounds. He volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster recovery group, and enjoys playing racquetball.
