For a former UW-Stout hockey team captain, managing an upscale property in St. Paul that includes the Minnesota Wild’s new practice rink is close to a dream job. “I couldn’t ask for a better facility to be at,” Zach Vierling said.
Vierling’s career has taken off like a slapshot since he graduated in December 2014 with degrees in real estate property management and in business administration. He started as an assistant property manager for Ryan Companies and was named a 30 Under 30 exceptional young professional in June 2017 by the Institute for Real Estate Property Management.
In July 2017 joined Hempel Companies as a property manager.
With Hempel, he manages the Treasure Island Center, a mixed-used redevelopment of a former Macy’s department store in downtown St. Paul. The marquee tenant of the 540,000-square-foot property is the Wild of the National Hockey League; the covered TRIA Rink on the top floor has 1,200 seats and is used by other hockey teams too.
Other tenants include a Walgreens, Tim Horton’s, Treasure Island Resort and Casino offices and Stacked Deck Brewery. The Wild began using the rink last season, and renovation on the building is continuing.
“The development phase is always exciting. Every day is something different. There’s nothing mundane,” said Vierling, whose job includes all aspects of managing the property, including working with tenants.
The Coon Rapids, Minn., native began work on his CPM certification — certified property manager — while at UW-Stout and expects to have it soon with his required three years of professional experience.
He said he wouldn’t be where he is today without his UW-Stout degrees and the education advice of his father, who also works in commercial real estate. “The majors are extremely beneficial to what I do. I was able to jump right into a manager’s role, which doesn’t happen too often.”
Vierling played three seasons for the Blue Devils hockey team after three seasons in the North American Hockey League. He was team captain his senior year, with nine goals and 11 assists. He was named first-team all-conference and to the all-sportsmanship team.
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Photo
Top: Zach Vierling
Bottom: Zach Vierling skates against St. John's during his UW-Stout hockey career.
