Erik Murray

Erik Murray is the Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner of Eastside Innovation LLC, a Kansas City, Kansas based “triple bottom line” CRE development and investment firm, and its aviation development focused subsidiary, Airside Innovation LLC. Erik has a 20 year career in commercial real estate brokerage, investment, and development, and brings his diligent work ethic, creative energy, and innovative mindset to his focus on impact capitalism - delivering projects that earn an outsized return for investors while positively impacting people and communities, and sustainably protecting our planet. Erik and his team use a combination of innovative placemaking, clean energy, and entrepreneurship strategies to catalyze socioeconomic prosperity in community revitalization development projects - with a specific focus on “Eastside” communities that have historically been on the social, environmental, and economic margin.

Erik earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Society of Industrial and Office Realtor (SIOR) designations in 2009, making him among the top 1% of commercial real estate professionals internationally. After a successful career in brokerage at Colliers and Lee & Associates, Erik transitioned to development and investment management, and has completed hundreds of transactions in aggregate excess of $1Bn, all across North America. He’s led real estate organizations large and small, from his time as the top real estate executive at Fortune 500 Beacon Roofing Supply, to his more recent entrepreneurial “family office” ventures including work investing alongside one of Kansas City’s most prominent families with substantial multigenerational holdings.

Erik was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating from Sumner Academy of Arts and Science in 2000, and from the University of Southern California in 2004. Erik and his wife Nicole have four children, and enjoy traveling and family vacations, mountaineering, skiing, soccer, and outdoor adventures. Erik recently became a Private Pilot (student) and holds a First Class Medical certificate, and volunteers his time to helping others as a member, instructor, and senior alpine patroller of the National Ski Patrol. He also has a passion for “freedom” in all aspects of life, including helping to secure literal freedom for non-violent incarcerated individuals, and helping them secure employment and economic opportunities so that they can beneficially support themselves, their families, and society - economic freedom! Erik has co-founded or supported several startups in hospitality, technology, sport, and aviation, and enjoys constant learning about new ideas and innovations. This desire for constant growth and improvement, and desire to help others and especially communities that are disadvantaged, is a central focus of his personal and professional life and is embedded and exemplified in the work he does.