DAR Commercial Real Estate

Ben Pitcher joined the firm in 2015 and has been involved with the commercial real estate industry since 2012. Prior to his transition into commercial real estate brokerage, Ben spent five years in commercial banking and public accounting as a CPA. Clients appreciate his combination of skills in finance and experience in commercial real estate ownership, as they benefit from his ability to view deals from a unique perspective and offer creative solutions to achieve a positive outcome.

Ben serves a diverse group of clients, including real estate investors, landlords and small to medium sized business owners across all market sectors, including retail, office, industrial and special purpose properties. He has built an incredible personal reputation and a record of success within the real estate community by helping clients navigate the complexities that arise in the process to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

A leader in his community, Ben understands the importance of volunteering his time and experience to improve the lives of others. He is currently a board member for the Learning Differences Resource Group and gives time as a volunteer at Ada Bible Church. He is also an alumnus of the up next program for emerging leaders at Mercy Health Saint Mary's.

When Ben is not working with clients, he and his wife are busy raising and making memories with their four children! He also enjoys spending time running, hiking, boating, golfing, and just being outdoors.

With ten years of dedicated experience, Chris is a seasoned real estate professional deeply rooted in the West Michigan market. A lifelong resident, his intimate knowledge of the area is a significant asset. After graduating from Grand Valley State University, Chris launched his career at Colliers International, specializing in the retail sector. Over over a decade, he has cultivated strong relationships with a diverse network of local and national tenants, buyers, sellers, and landlords.

Accomplishments

2025 Realtor of The Year

2024 Commercial Alliance of Realtors President

2023 Commercial Alliance of Realtors President Elect

2022 Commercial Alliance of Realtors Board of Directors

2016 Commercial Alliance of Realtors Rookie of the Year

President's Award @ Colliers West Michigan

Community Involvement

Ada Bible

Education & Affiliations

Grand Valley State University

ICSC member

CARWM

With better than 35 years of real-estate experience, Darrel remains the guiding force of DAR Development, which he founded in 1996. He got his start handling residential real estate in the early 1970s. But having always felt he was more of an investment-minded soul, he left the residential market and began buying up and developing commercial properties in the late '70s, early '80s. Commercial real-estate development continues to be his focus, and it was his inspiration that helped establish the company's unique "developer / broker / builder" niche. His expertise (including his well-honed street-savvy marketing sense), his integrity, and his insistence on always putting his customers first has made DAR Development one of the most trusted commercial real-estate developers in the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, area.

Dave Denton has been a top performer in the commercial real estate industry for 25 years. He has also proven himself to be an industry leader. He continues to outperform year after year, while adding value to his clients and DAR.

As a Tenant Rep, Site Selection Specialist, he has cultivated years of industry connections and market knowledge. Dave continues to represent top branded retailers, restaurants, and office users with their expansions across Michigan.

Dave also enjoys representing a wide variety of clients, ranging from local developers to national landlords and REITs in the leasing and sale of retail property types. Dave has earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation which signifies his expertise in buying and selling investment properties for his clients.

Accomplishments include Midwest Commercial Hall of Fame Member (2019), NAR's National Award for Outstanding Achievement in the CRE Industry (2018) CARWM's Realtor of the Year (2017), CCIM Institute Michigan Chapter, Past President, Commercial Alliance of Realtors, Past President and the incoming President for 2026.

Outside the office, Dave seeks to balance his life with his 6 F Focus: Family, Faith, Friends, Fun, Fitness and Philanthropy. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends' poolside or at the beach, biking, running or volunteering in the community.

Grant joins DAR Commercial Real Estate as a Commercial Real Estate Advisor with 20 years of directly applicable experience as a business owner who has established himself in the greater West Michigan and Grand Traverse areas. He also continues to draw from his engineering experience in his business acumen. Grant's ambition towards business ownership led him to Zoup! where he grew his business to multiple locations. He gained invaluable experience in commercial real estate from the business owner's perspective. Part of his knowledge base includes site selection, design, construction, buildout, grand opening, and the sales of the businesses. This gives him a unique perspective when assisting clients who are dealing with the site selection, leasing, and sales processes. Grant understands the market, what makes sense for the clients, knows what property owners value, and has experience in all market sectors including medical. His sole focus is to match businesses with properties.

As an entrepreneur and previous board member of the East Paris and Forest Hills Business Associations, Grant has been able to connect with and advise businesses on growth strategies, operations, renovations, and vendor relations. He has handled several real estate transactions for businesses which helped him realize his passion for the real estate industry. The Grand Rapids Business Journal recognized Grant as a '40 under 40' honoree, which exemplifies the drive and ability he brings to his clients.

Outside the office, Grant enjoys spending time with his family and friends, is an avid cook, volunteers for a variety of organizations, enjoys downhill skiing and other outdoor activities in the sun and snow that Michigan has to offer, and hunts for Petoskey stones.

Grant is a member of the Commercial Alliance of Realtors of West Michigan (CARWM).

Accomplishments

Grand Rapids Business Journal "40 under 40".

Franchisee Advisory Council

Franchisee of the Year

Community Involvement

East Paris Business Association

Forest Hills Business Association

GRPS Volunteer

Education & Affiliations

Bachelor of Science, Michigan State University, Graduated with Honors

CARWM

Licensed REALTORTM

Forest Hills Business Association

Jon graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and a minor in Economics. While attending Calvin, he spent two years as a general manager at Subway, gaining hands-on experience in operations and leadership. After graduation, he traveled to Milford, Connecticut to earn his Subway franchise license and became a franchise owner in 2010.

Over the following years, Jon successfully operated multiple Subway locations and expanded his portfolio by becoming a Biggby Coffee franchisee in 2013. His passion for site selection and business development led him to transition from ownership to helping others pursue new business opportunities.

In 2018, Jon joined Colliers International | West Michigan, bringing his retail expertise to the commercial real estate sector. As an associate on the retail team, he spent three years advising national and regional clients. In 2021, he joined DAR Commercial, where he continues to serve his clients with a focus on retail real estate.

Outside of work, Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He is an avid reader and loves sharing books from his personal library with friends and family. His other interests include pulling his kids tubing, running, slalom skiing, and snow skiing.

Licenses and Memberships

Michigan Real Estate Salesperson License

Biggby Coffee Franchisee License

Education & Affiliations

Calvin College - Bachelor of Arts in Business and with a minor in economics

ICSC Member

Accomplishments

CARWM Award - Retail Redevelopment Project- Soar and Bounce, at the Lakes Mall in Norton Shores (2024)

Power Broker for Retail Lease Transactions (2024)