Meet the Team
John T. Murphy
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
John T. Murphy is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Murphy Real Estate Services, where he leads the firm’s development, investment, and advisory platform. Since entering the real estate industry in 1989, John has built a reputation as one of Chicago’s most experienced real estate professionals, overseeing development, brokerage, and investment initiatives across the United States.
As principal of the firm, John has led the development, acquisition, and repositioning of several million square feet of commercial, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use real estate throughout the Midwest and East Coast. Murphy Real Estate Services today focuses on urban and suburban mixed-use development, multifamily housing, hospitality, and education-related real estate, including a growing portfolio of early childhood education facilities developed in partnership with leading national operators.
Recent development initiatives include One Winnetka, a boutique luxury apartment and retail development in downtown Winnetka, and Delray City Center, a mixed-use retail and residential project located in downtown Delray Beach, Florida.
Earlier in his career, John led several high-profile development and redevelopment projects in Chicago and throughout the Midwest, including Lincoln Park 2550, a three-tower luxury condominium development; The Paragon, a 500-unit apartment tower in Chicago’s South Loop; and the redevelopment of several historic downtown Chicago buildings into hospitality and mixed-use properties.
Through his career, John has been actively involved in complex development projects, institutional investment partnerships, and large-scale urban redevelopment initiatives. Under his leadership, Murphy Real Estate Services continues to expand its development platform nationwide, focusing on high-quality projects in strong demographic markets.
Michelle Waldron
Project Manager
Michelle Waldron is a Project Manager with Murphy Real Estate Services and a Global Real Estate Advisor with Sotheby's International Realty, specializing in new residential construction and community development. Since joining Murphy Real Estate Services in 2020, Michelle has played a central role in the Waterview At Bay Point project in Ohio — leading sales and overseeing construction across continued development phases.
With a focus on lifestyle-driven and high-growth markets, Michelle guides projects from concept to completion — managing site selection, design collaboration, construction oversight, and strategic market positioning. Her work in the Lake Erie region centers on creating modern, resort-style waterfront communities that reflect both strong design and long-term investment value.
As a dual advisor in both development and luxury real estate, Michelle brings a unique perspective that bridges market insight with on-the-ground execution — ensuring each project is thoughtfully built and aligned with the needs of today's buyers and investors. Michelle collaborates closely with architects, builders, and investment partners to deliver communities that balance lifestyle, design, and enduring value.
Amy Northrop
Sales and Service Coordinator
Amy joined Murphy Real Estate Services in 2022, as part of their Ohio Division of Residential Real Estate Development — aligning with one of the nation's most respected development firms and bringing her local market expertise to the company's growing Lake Erie portfolio. That partnership deepened her role at Waterview at Bay Point, Murphy's landmark 120-unit gated lakefront community nestled adjacent to Bay Point Resort & Marina in Marblehead, Ohio, where Amy serves as the Sales and Service Coordinator and is the direct connection between the development and the buyers who call it home.
Additionally, as a Global Real Estate Advisor with the world-renowned Sotheby's International Realty network — spanning 72 countries — Amy combines the reach of a global brand with the warmth and insight of a true local expert, bringing over 11 years of real estate experience and a genuine love for Lake Erie.
