Proven Commercial Real Estate Execution
For more than four decades, Starboard Tack’s senior management has delivered over $500 million in commercial, marina, multifamily, hospitality, and specialty real estate projects across the United States, with a strong concentration in Michigan, California and Florida.
Our work spans the full real estate lifecycle—acquisition, design, permitting, construction, redevelopment, property management, and asset management—executed with discipline, operational rigor, and an unwavering focus on long-term performance.
Starboard Tack is built for owners, investors, and partners who value execution over promotion and stewardship over transactions.
Starboard Tack Commercial Real Estate is an operator-led, owner-aligned firm providing asset management, project management, and property management services for commercial real estate.
We approach every assignment with an owner’s mindset—protecting capital, controlling risk, and creating durable value through disciplined execution. Our role is not to chase deals, but to make assets perform.
Starboard Tack does not broker real estate acquisitions or dispositions.
This is a deliberate decision that allows us to remain independent advisors, free from transaction-based incentives and fully aligned with ownership interests. We are not compensated by commissions, deal volume, or sales activity.
When a transaction is required, we work collaboratively with best-inclass brokerage professionals selected for the specific asset and market—while continuing to represent ownership interests throughout the process.
Brian McCarthy Founder & CEO
Brian McCarthy is a seasoned real estate developer and operator with a track record spanning $500+ million in executed commercial real estate projects across multiple asset classes.
His career blends engineering discipline, operational leadership, and entrepreneurial execution, developed through decades of experience leading complex infrastructure, development, and operating platforms.
His career blends engineering discipline, operational leadership, and entrepreneurial execution, developed
through decades of experience leading complex infrastructure, development, and operating platforms.
Brian’s approach to real estate is shaped by his background as a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and Harvard MBA, where accountability, planning, and execution were mission critical. Those principles continue to define how Starboard Tack operates today: disciplined strategy, rigorous execution, and long-term thinking.
Brian has led and developed multiple industry-first real estate platforms, including:
Across all projects, his focus has remained consistent: execute well, manage risk, and build assets that endure.
Prior to his commercial real estate career, Brian served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral. His leadership roles included Deputy Commander of the Defense Logistics Agency—the world’s largest logistics enterprise—and principal logistics planner for Desert Storm.
He led large-scale programs involving infrastructure, logistics, and asset disposition, including initiatives recognized by the U.S. Government Accountability Office for transforming hundreds of millions of dollars in costs into billions in economic value.
This experience informs Starboard Tack’s culture of discipline, accountability, and execution, but our credibility rests on what we have built and operated in the commercial real estate arena.
Beyond business, Brian remains actively engaged in civic and nonprofit leadership, including service as:
These roles reflect a long-standing commitment to responsible stewardship, community investment, and long-term value creation.
Our Commitment to Professional Standards
Starboard Tack maintains the highest standards of professionalism, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.
Industry Certifications
Starboard Tack’s portfolio includes athletic and recreational facilities, marina and storage assets, multifamily communities, hospitality properties, retail centers, office, and industrial projects across the United States.
