This year’s Connect Orange County event will kick off with our annual “View from the Top” panel, featuring industry leaders sharing their perspectives on current trends and future developments. One of these experts is Aaron Hill, who joined Bixby Land Company in 2006 and was appointed CEO and President of Bixby Capital Management in 2019. In anticipation of the Sept. 10 event, Hill shares his insights on the current market and his company’s culture:
Q: Bixby is involved in both industrial and office properties. Where do you see potential opportunities for office space in Orange County?
A: We believe there is still a strong demand for high-quality, unique office spaces in Orange County. As we are seeing a reset of costs across the market, this could lead to exciting investment prospects.
Q: The company manages funds as well as raises them. Has there been similar investor interest compared to previous years?
A: Fundraising has been challenging this year but has shown slight improvement over last year (2023). Many institutional investors are still dealing with liquidity challenges or have prior commitments that need to be fulfilled before investing further capital into new projects or funds.
Generally speaking, industrial/logistics properties along with some multifamily units have garnered more attention from investors than other types such as cold storage facilities or data centers.
Q: Earlier this summer saw a rebranding from Bixby Land Company to Bixby Capital Management . How does this better reflect your company’s platform?
A:The rebranding addresses any confusion among investors regarding our focus at Bixby by removing “Land” from our name which may imply only development activities rather than investment management across various risk profiles.
The change also reinforces our commitment to responsible investing while emphasizing transparency and integrity when working with stakeholders.
Q: Since becoming CEO how have you shaped your company culture atB ix by ?
A:I’ve strived towards creating an inclusive company culture that values work/life balance. Before my tenure as CEO, the culture was described as “work hard/play hard” but I’ve shifted towards a more balanced approach where both aspects are valued and rewarded.
Since joining Bixby in 2006, our leadership team has focused on fostering an entrepreneurial spirit with institutional discipline. As CEO, I have continued this tradition by emphasizing these core values within our company’s culture.
Don’t miss out on valuable industry insights and networking opportunities at Connect Orange County , taking place Sept. 10 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine! Register here to secure your spot.
