 Mr. Schoff graduated from Hamilton College (1968) and Cornell University Law School (1972), and then spent nine years with the highly-respected law firm of Thompson, Hine & Flory, specializing in partnership, tax, corporate and business law.
Mr. Schoff is past president and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Western Reserve Historical Society. He is also a Trustee of the Diversity Center, a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and also a past president and member of the Board of Trustees of the Near West Theatre. Jim currently lives in Cleveland with his wife, Anne.
Mr. Schoff graduated from Hamilton College (1968) and Cornell University Law School (1972), and then spent nine years with the highly-respected law firm of Thompson, Hine & Flory, specializing in partnership, tax, corporate and business law. While affiliated with Thompson, Hine & Flory, Jim was principally responsible for acquisitions/ dispositions of businesses for major companies, and for syndications and joint ventures engaging in real estate and equipment oriented transactions represented by the law firm.
In 1981, Jim left that firm to become a general partner of Diversified Equities, a move which enabled him to devote his full efforts to the business of equity capital formation and the structuring and syndication of tax advantaged investments. Diversified Equities engaged in a variety of venture capital and tax advantaged investments, ranging from the ownership and operation of retail shopping centers, cable TV, river barges and office buildings during the next twelve years.
In February 1993, Diversified Equities joined with Developers Diversified to form a real estate investment trust (REIT), named Developers Diversified Realty Corporation (DDR), which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. DDR is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT with more than 148 million square feet of leaseable space in its portfolio of more than 670 retail and development properties located in 44 states, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico. Mr. Schoff was a Founder and served as a Director of the Company, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DDR from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, he became Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of DDR, and continued to serve on DDR’s Board until 2002. In 2002, he assumed the role of Special Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of DDR where he served until his retirement in December, 2010. Mr. Schoff also serves as a Director of Associated Estates Corporation, a NYSE publicly owned real estate investment trust, specializing in multi-family housing.
Mr. Schoff is past president and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Western Reserve Historical Society. He is also a Trustee of the Diversity Center, a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and also a past president and member of the Board of Trustees of the Near West Theatre. Jim currently lives in Cleveland with his wife, Anne.
JAMES A. SCHOFF
Academic Background:
Hamilton College (1964-1968) – A.B.
Cornell Law School (1968-1972) – one year off for Army Reserve Basic Training) – J.D.
Work Experience:
1972-1981 – Thompson Hine & Flory
1981-1993 – Diversified Equities – Capital formation and syndication company
1993 – 2010 – Developers Diversified Realty Corporation, a NYSE listed REIT
- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
(1993–1998)
- Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer (1998-2002)
- Senior Investment Officer (2002 –2004)
- Special Advisor to the Chairman & CEO (2005 to 2010)
- Board of Directors (1993-2002)
Civic & Philanthropic Affiliations:
(1) Western Reserve Historical Society – Board of Trustees (1995 to Present); Chairman (2003 – 2007)
(2) Near West Theatre – Board of Trustees (1998 to Present); Chairman (2000 - 2004)
(3) National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) - Trustee (1997 to Present) (Now called “Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio”)
(4) Greater Cleveland Sports Commission – Trustee (2005 to Present)
Club Affiliations –
Barrington Golf Club – Developer and Member (1993 to 2010)
Pepper Pike Country Club – Member (September, 2001 - Present)
Sage Valley Country Club – Member (2003 – Present) |
About the Foundation 
