Audie Tarpley

Based in Indianapolis, Audie Tarpley leads Dillon Construction Group, where he has overseen the commercial real estate development cycle for nationwide projects. These diverse undertakings include verticals such as office, retail, industrial, health care, and multifamily. Audie Tarpley’s accomplishments include designing and building corporate headquarters for Merchants Bank and Lids. He also oversaw the design, entitlement, and construction of the 235-unit Promenade Luxury Apartments, which included a 945-space parking garage.

Mr. Tarpley joined Duke Realty Investments in Cincinnati in the mid-1990s as pre-construction manager. He guided development and design of office, retail, and industrial properties. He subsequently took a position as vice president of construction with the firm in Minneapolis, where he oversaw the development of office and industrial parks across the state, from inception to occupancy. Later, as a development manager with Jones Lang LaSalle in Miami, Mr. Tarpley spearhead redevelopment of the retail center “The Palms,” which resulted in a dynamic lineup of new tenants.

Audie Tarpley studied civil engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played football as an undergraduate. He is a longstanding member of the Urban Land Institute and has chaired the Industrial Development Forum of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

Up at 4:00 AM, work out, catch up on news go to the office, tour job sites, and back to the office. I make the day productive by planning.

How do you bring ideas to life?

By discussing with my team members, planning, and then meticulously executing.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Prefabrication on our job sites.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Planning.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Do not take advice from anyone that is not at the level to which you aspire.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

Breaking bad habits is easy – you make a decision.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Accept responsibility. No excuses.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

Break the problem down into smaller pieces.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Go the extra mile and over deliver.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Bankruptcy – I put my head down and kept moving forward.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Luxury self-storage.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Excel.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

Landman – independence / overcoming all odds / perseverance.