As a student in the late 70’s, Bill Bonifas took advantage of Lawrence University’s diverse curriculum pursuing the study of music, economics and religion. Over the past 25 years, his interest in music and economics has led to two growing careers.
As a musician, Bill is a long-standing member of Grammy award winner Douglas Spotted Eagle’s touring ensemble. He has performed with Douglas at the Jazz Yatra Festival in Bombay India, the Catalina Jazz festival, the 2002 Olympics, and on several nationally released recordings. He has also collaborated extensively with Genesis/ Phil Collins’ guitarist Daryl Stuermer and sound track composer Peter Buffett. Recently forsaking the role of sideman, Bill wrote and produced a jazz oriented CD entitled the bonifas quartet that was released to critical acclaim in 2001. New York Jazz critic Bill Milkowski commented “…a winning debut…. the guitarists’ clean-toned six-string voice resounds with a sense of assuredness and warmth on these ten original compositions.” Bill is a board member of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and helps coordinate the “Jazz in the Park” concert series.
Bill leveraged his senior research and subsequent internship in urban economics into a profession by joining the real estate broker, manager, and consultant Polacheck/CB Richard Ellis in 1979. He is a managing director of Polacheck and directs the firm’s Office Properties group. Bill has negotiated many of Wisconsin’s largest real estate transactions including the sale of the US Bank Center for over $200,000,000. His team represents the real estate interests of several major corporations throughout the US. His research and comments have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and numerous trade publications. He is a past president of the Commercial association of Realtors-Wisconsin, as well as a board member of the Wisconsin Association of Realtors.
On a personal note, Bill recently settled down by marrying Tammy Taylor Bonifas, buying a home, and raising two puppies. The couple is expecting their first child in May, 2004.