2021 Trusted Advisers Commercial Realtor: Ross Murray

As president of 112-year-old family-owned commercial and industrial real estate firm R.B. Murray Co., Ross Murray says he’s committed to putting in a workweek of 65-70 hours to see transactions close for his clients.

“Every deal and every client is different,” he says. “I do my best to be heavily involved in every aspect of the deal to ensure it gets to the finish line. Most transactions take months, if not years, to get closed.”

One recent instance he recalls was the sale of a retail development parcel for Andy’s Frozen Custard that allowed the company to open its first Republic store in August. The process took months to facilitate in which Murray worked with officials for Andy’s, the city of Republic and engineers to make the project a reality.

“So much goes on behind the scenes in each transaction that most people don’t ever see,” he says.

Murray has been a licensed commercial real estate broker at the firm since 2002 after graduating from Drury University. From the start of his career, he desired to advance his education and knowledge in the industry.

“In my early 20s, I elected to go above and beyond to advance my career by gaining additional professional industry designations over a four- to five-year commitment, traveling all over the country,” he says.

That resulted in Murray achieving Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and Certified Commercial Investment Member designations. He also is a member of real estate trade association International Council of Shopping Centers.

“These designations are earned and are by invitation from industry peers,” he says, noting both SIOR and CCIM require formalized rigorous education and training. “The primary goal is to constantly stay ahead of future industry trends and to establish strong business relationships.”

Murray says accruing the professional designations and training experience has resulted in greater opportunities to better serve clients.

“Assisting clients to grow their companies is something I’m very passionate about, and it helps drive me to always bring more to the customer,” he says. “At the end of the day, it’s about quality of service, attention to detail and useful information with adviser guidance.”

Murray says the real estate industry, and his role within it, is unique as it helps grow, shape and elevate the community by bringing in new companies, retailers and restaurants.

“This helps improve our community through job creation and growth, generating sales tax revenue for the city and providing an overall better quality of life for citizens of our community,” he says.

Aside from long hours in the office, Murray has invested time in community service over the past decade, including three years on the advisory board for the Springfield News-Leader and as a past board member of the Springfield Workshop Foundation. He says his service with the foundation, the fundraising arm of SWI Industrial Solutions Inc., which provides employment for people with disabilities, “was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”