Lake in the Hills resident Mike Luecht retiring as head of ML Realty Partners

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Mike Luecht is leaving his position as CEO of the company he founded, ML Realty Partners, to focus on philanthropic efforts.

“After 34 years, this is simply a pivot,” the Lake in the Hills resident said Friday.

ML Realty Partners announced Wednesday that Luecht will retire but remain on the company’s board of directors.

In corresponding moves, the board appointed Ryan Hesch as president and CEO, and Nancy Kozinski was appointed chief operating officer.

Luecht, a native of Joliet who has been in McHenry County with his family for 30 years, founded the company in 2001. It specializes in industrial properties in the Chicago and Dallas metropolitan areas, and it has more than $1 billion in assets. ML Realty has offices in Itasca and Dallas.

But locally, the Luecht family has given to many causes.

The Luecht Conference Center at McHenry County College carries the family’s name, after Mike and his wife donated $1 million in 2008 to the Promise program.

They have donated to Turning Point of McHenry County’s efforts to stop domestic violence, with contributions to fund the group’s shelter for abused women and children.

Luecht said he does not yet have any specific plans on how he and his family will proceed with philanthropic goals, but added, “For me, it always starts with helping young people or those in need to navigate obstacles in front of them.”

Luecht is a graduate of Joliet West High School, and his company has five properties in Will County.

He will work carefully with Hesch and the board on a transition process. It was time, he said.

“I believe leadership in companies needs to evolve and rotate, and it was time for these folks to get their opportunity to lead,” Luecht said.