About Pat Connolly

Pat grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota in the 1970s, surrounded by lots of land and lots of buildings being built.  During this same time, his grandparents' farm just outside of Minneapolis was turning into suburban housing subdivisions right before his eyes.  Those meaningful childhood experiences led to a fascination with real estate and development getting in his blood really early on.

Fast-forward to 1984, when Pat had to perform volunteer community service for his church. The notion that we are here to serve others was planted then and never left him. Over the years, it sprouted and took root deep in his heart.   

In college Pat studied cities and the way the world is organized and developed (Geography and Urban Studies).  In graduate school, he polished off that learning with formal study in commercial real estate, finance, land economics, and land use policy.  

Since 1994, Pat has worked in commercial real estate in ways that he hopes has made the world a better place. His social sector real estate development and advising work has included churches, affordable housing, social service agencies, and since 2014, with and for the YMCA across North America.  

Connolly Strategies is the embodiment of the coming together of that fascination with real estate, the desire to serve others and make it a better world, and the formal education and experience in having done that for thirty years.