NAI DESCO Reflects on Legacy of Local Leadership, Client Partnerships, and Steady Growth Since 2000
ST. LOUIS, MO (October 23, 2025) — NAI DESCO, a leading commercial real estate firm serving Central and Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Founded in 2000 when the Schnuck family partnered with six veteran brokers—including current Principal and Managing Director John Sheahan, SIOR; Founding Principal Peter Sheahan; and Vice President Dan Hayes—to create an independent firm, NAI DESCO has grown into one of the region’s most respected names in commercial real estate.
Over the past 25 years, NAI DESCO has completed more than 4,300 transactions totaling 61.9 million square feet and $3.4 billion in value, supported by a team with more than 380 years of combined brokerage experience. The company has helped clients make strategic real estate decisions that support long-term growth and strengthen local communities.
“Our family has always had a strong interest in real estate, and we saw NAI DESCO as an opportunity to complement The DESCO Group while broadening our reach,” said Mark Schnuck, Chairman of NAI DESCO. “Supporting the launch of the firm allowed our family to expand its overall real estate presence and work alongside a team we believed in from the start.”
“Our 25-year success is the direct result of talented people and loyal clients,” added John Sheahan, SIOR, Founding Principal & Managing Director. “We’ve grown alongside our clients, adapting to new markets and technologies while staying true to our core values of Integrity, Passion, Results, and Respect.”
NAI DESCO continues to expand its brokerage and property management services, backed by the power of the NAI Global network of more than 325 offices worldwide. The firm commemorated its 25th anniversary with a client and partner celebration earlier this month at Deer Creek Club, reflecting on its history while looking ahead to the next generation of growth. NAI DESCO looks forward to continuing its mission of helping clients achieve results while shaping the future of St. Louis commercial real estate.
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About NAI DESCO — NAI DESCO is a leading commercial real estate firm serving Missouri and Illinois. Founded in 2000, NAI DESCO was formed when the Schnuck family partnered with experienced brokers to create an independent firm specializing in brokerage and property management of office, industrial, medical, retail, and investment properties. Guided by its core values of Integrity, Passion, Results, and Respect, NAI DESCO combines local expertise with global reach to deliver strategic, results-driven real estate solutions. To learn more, visit www.naidesco.com.
About NAI Global — NAI Global is a leading global commercial real estate brokerage firm. NAI Global offices are leaders in their local markets and work in unison to provide clients with exceptional solutions to their commercial real estate needs. NAI Global has more than 325 offices strategically located throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, with over 5,800 local market professionals, managing in excess of 1.1 billion square feet of property and facilities. Annually, NAI Global completes more than $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.naiglobal.com.