PROFILE

Diane Austin’s 35+ years of investment experience showcase her willingness to take on challenges and ask the tough questions. Drawing upon her deep experience in real estate acquisitions, financing, structuring, taxation, accounting, and property, operational, and strategic management, she plays an integral role in helping to drive Connexion Asset Group’s continued growth. A creative, hands-on executive, Diane helps the team stay focused on the full picture of each potential investment, carefully assessing all angles, challenges, and opportunities to create the right strategies and deal structures.

Diane first began teaming with Ed on real estate investments in 1995; their work formed the foundation for Connexion Asset Group, which they formally established in 2008. Diane became a founding member of Sharing Connexion’s Board of Directors in 2017. For highlights of her investment experience, please visit our Transaction History timeline.

BACKGROUND

Diane holds a BS in Accounting from Northern Illinois University. She is a member of the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants.

At the start of her CPA career, Diane gained experience in corporate finance and operational and strategic management. Since teaming up with Ed in 1995, she has focused primarily on real estate acquisitions, property management, joint venture structuring, financing, and taxation. Between 1996 and 2008, Diane helped to facilitate more than $1B in client tax deferred real estate transactions, including financial responsibility for all trust funds. She served as Connexion’s CFO starting in 2008. Over that time, she has been responsible for back-office operations, federal and state compliance, and regulatory requirements for approximately 150 investment entities, including partnerships, corporations, and trusts for US and European investors. She has also managed financing transactions in excess of $100M, and modeled the operational and financial aspects of potential acquisitions in excess of 5M SF.

MORE ABOUT DIANE

Diane is originally from Illinois. She met her husband and began her family in California, but they ultimately left to move closer to family in Illinois. Breckenridge, Colorado, was as far east as they got, having fallen in love with what was then a quieter, one-stoplight mountain town. They relocated to Denver in 2003. In her free time, Diane enjoys hiking, cycling, traveling, and spending time with her family.