Names such as Westcor, Vestar Development Co. and De Rito Partners dominate the Valley's retail development scene. But underneath the radar, Walter Brown Jr. has been doing a pretty decent job of keeping pace with the biggies.

As founder and CEO of Scottsdale-based Diversified Partners, Brown has been building relationships with national retailers such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Payless Shoe Source and Sportsman's Warehouse, and translating those connections into power center developments throughout the Valley.

The development and brokerage company's projects include the Superstition Gateway East and West centers, Greenfield Gateway and Greenfield Plaza II, all in Mesa.

Other centers are completed, under construction or planned in Avondale, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Casa Grande, Apache Junction, Chandler, Phoenix, Gilbert, Surprise and other Arizona locales.

In all, Brown has leased, sold or developed 12 million square feet of retail space.

His entrepreneurial endeavors took off after he moved from California to Phoenix in May 1992.

"I had been a tenant representative for Terranomics in San Francisco. I represented clients like Converse tennis shoes and L.A. Fitness Centers," Brown said.

It was his rapport with L.A. Fitness that ushered a move to the Valley to launch that company's Arizona centers. Although Brown originally worked with a Tempe brokerage and development company, he set off on his own path about a year later, founding Diversified Partners.

"I bought a little office on Fifth Avenue in downtown Scottsdale. I lived and worked right there," he said.

Today, his company has more than 50 employees, and his ability to maintain strong relationships is evident among them as well.

"We have had zero turnover. Well, one person left and came back and said, 'What was I thinking?'" Brown said. "We have really never had anybody leave."

Most of his employees also are loyal to Brown's favorite charity, City of Hope, a research, treatment and education institution based in Duarte, Calif.

He's been involved with fundraising and volunteering with that group since he lost both of his parents to cancer.

Brown will be honored with the 2008 Spirit of Life Award at a City of Hope fundraiser March 7 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope's most prestigious honor and recognizes outstanding philanthropic commitment.

Still, it's his 8-year-old son who earns his highest kudos.

"Wally Brown III is really the love of my life. I even take him with me to meetings if he isn't in school," Brown said.

Get Connected Diversified Partners: www.diversified-partners.com

The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Jan Buchholz Phoenix Business Journal Friday, February 22, 2008

Thanks to Walt Brown, Jr. and his co-workers, over 400 students from the Pappas School for the homeless in Phoenix will enjoy an early Christmas celebration Thursday.

Brown, a designated broker for Diversified Partners, said he was inspired to organize a gift drive after receiving an email from his friends Kari and Bob Kling stating the school had not received its usual amount of holiday donations.

"I took the email with me to work and everyone just said 'let's do it,'" Brown, a Scottsdale resident said. "It's a neat way for all of us at Diversified Partners to give back."

Brown and his co-workers collected about 150 trucks, dolls, games and other toys, and also purchased walkman CD players for the high school students. Brown said he then contacted Wal-Mart to see about purchasing 125 $25-gift cards for the remaining students.

Brown said he cannot wait to attend the party where he will help out as one of Santa's helpers. Brown said his 8-year-old son Wally, who has enjoyed looking through the piles of toys that are being stored at his home, is also looking forward to attending.

"Wally just said to me 'Dad, we don't want anyone to not have a Christmas present,'" Brown said. "I was just in tears and I put my arms up and said 'all right!'"

Alison Stanton Special for The Republic Dec. 17, 2007 03:45 PM

The Arizona Constuction Industries Alliance 2008 Spirit of Life Award Dinner Honoring Walt Brown, Jr will be held on Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore. For information or reservations, visit www.cityofhope.org/acia/sol or call 602-340-8871

2007 The Business Journal – “The List” Commercial Developers (Ranked on Square Feet Developed) Diversified Partners Development Company was Ranked #6th largest Commercial Real Estate Developer in Arizona

Diversified Partners is proud to annouce its sponsorship in Fresh Start's 13th Annual Charity Golf Classic to be held on Friday, November 9th at the Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale. Fresh Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves.

Diversified Partners has recently participated in the 2007 Brokers for Kids. Brokers for Kids is presented by The Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club, a group which consists of 45 young professionals whose purpose is to raise money to benefit children in need in Arizona.

The 2007 edition of Brokers for Kids will be the 8th year that commercial real estate firms from throughout the Valley will compete in two separate events: a fundraising competition and an Olympiad competition. Brokers for Kids benefits several different charities throughout the State of Arizona, including Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona, an organization that provides academically capable and motivated low-income adolescents ages 12 to 18 with safe homes, quality education and life skills training. In addition to Boys Hope Girls Hope, a portion of the proceeds raised from Brokers for Kids will be donated to the top fundraising team’s charity of choice and a portion will be deposited into the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Foundation.

Diversified Partners raised $24,356, overall Brokers for Kids raised approximately $250,000.

MESA, Ariz., Jan. 12, 2007 – Two Wal-Mart Supercenters will soon open their doors to the Mesa community. A Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 240 W. Baseline Rd. will open Friday, Jan. 19 at 8:00 a.m. Another Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 1606 S. Signal Butte Rd. will open Monday, Jan. 22 at 8:00 a.m.

Wal-Mart is continuing to serve the growing Mesa community with the grand openings of the two new Supercenters. Both Supercenters are both donating $75,000 to local organizations and causes. The recipient organizations are: American Cancer Society, American Red Cross-Grand Canyon Chapter, Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scouts Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, Boys & Girls Club, City of Mesa Fire Department, City of Mesa Police Department-Crime Prevention/Community Relations Department, Community Action Human Resources Agency, Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, Desert Ridge Junior High School, East Valley Senior Services, Grand Canyon Boy Scout Council, Lincoln Elementary, Mesa Family YMCA, Mesa United Way, Mesa Police Department, Redbird Elementary, Pinal Gila Community Child Services, Powell Junior High, Prehab of Arizona, Save the Family, Stevenson Elementary School, Sunshine Acres Children’s Home and United Food Bank.

The two Wal-Mart Supercenters will each provide approximately 200,000-square-feet of shopping area. The two Supercenters plan to employ more than 900 associates by grand openings. More than half of those associates are in full-time positions.

“Wal-Mart is looking forward to continuing to serve the Mesa community and bringing a positive economic impact in the area from the job opportunities it provides and the money it saves local working families,” said Kathy Horney, Wal-Mart Market Manager.

The new Wal-Mart Supercenters’ architecture is tailored to complement the surrounding developments in Mesa. The inside of both Supercenters is designed for customers to engage in more efficient shopping with wider aisle space that includes easier navigational signage.

Customers will be pleased to see the expanded cosmetic sections in both Supercenters that feature a wide selection of cosmetics and toiletries. In addition, both Supercenters are fully equipped with nail and hair salons.

A drive-through pharmacy is another new feature in both Supercenters that include two drive-through lanes. This new store feature is designed to make the pharmacy more accessible and efficient for Wal-Mart customers. The new Supercenters are designed to be one-stop stores that satisfy a variety of the local customers’ needs.

www.walmartfacts.com

Diversified Partners, a Scottsdale-based real estate services company that is the title sponsor of the pre-game ceremonies for the Fiesta Bowl and BCS games, is sharing the spotlight for the sake of charity.

The company will include HomeBase Youth Services, a non-profit agency that rescues homeless youth from the streets, in all of the ceremonies.

Diversified Partners CEO Walt Brown said that HomeBase's name will be used along with Diversified's in all references to the title sponsor, and the agency's name and logo will be on University of Phoenix Stadium JumboTrons during the pre-game ceremonies for both games.

There will also be radio spot, ads in the official pregame programs and other media mentions for HomeBase.

Diversified Partners also is donating two tickets to each game and to other bowl-related events. HomeBase will auction the items through eBay.com

The Phoenix Advertising Club and HomeBase Youth Services with Diversified Partners announced today the launch of a partnership to educate the public about the plight of homeless youth in Arizona and to reach more young people in need.

"It's heartbreaking to know that young people right here in our communities are eating out of dumpsters and sleeping in alleys each night," said Diversified Partners CEO Walt Brown. "The team at Diversified Partners is passionate about bringing attention to this tragic reality and ensuring that our community and, more importantly, the youth know that help is available at HomeBase."