Business Notebook
Patty McGaffey was appointed President & CEO of Oneida Realty Company, a commercial real estate services firm in Duluth and established in 1908. Having served as the CEO since January 2023, she has now taken on the additional role of president following is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association and serves on the advisory board of Duluth Energy. She is also part of the Downtown Duluth Skywalk Committee and the Downtown Duluth Board of Directors recent retirement.
McGaffey joined Oneida Realty Company in 1995, taking on various roles. In 2014, she became part of the Property Management Team as a licensed Property Manager. By 2016, she advanced to the position of Vice President and was elevated to CEO in 2023.
“You will not find a more experienced, well-rounded leader in the region’s commercial real estate field than Patty McGaffey, and we are thrilled to have her directing our efforts now and into the future,” said Peter Alworth, owner of Oneida Realty Company. “Patty is the right leader at the right time to help us continue to expand not just in the Duluth area but in other growing markets as well.”
McGaffey is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association and serves on the advisory board of Duluth Energy. She is also part of the Downtown Duluth Skywalk Committee and the Downtown Duluth Board of DirectorsIn addition to his tenure as the company's president, he has held and is associated with both the Northland Human Resource Association and the Society for Human Resource Management.
“We have long nurtured excellent relationships with our tenants and others in the community, so we have a lot of exciting momentum to build upon,” said McGaffey. “We have a great team in place at Oneida and I’m honored to lead it.”
LaFlamme has served the Oneida company for over 45 years. In addition to his tenure as the company's president, he has held leadership roles in local, state, and national associations for building owners and managers. Additionally, he has been a board member of the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX), the Downtown Waterfront District, and the Duluth Parking Commission.
“There’s a reason Steve was part of the Oneida team for nearly half a century, and that’s because he has been an effective leader in our industry and in the community,” said Alworth. “We appreciate all that Steve did for this organization, and we wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.”
Established in 1908 by Marshall Alworth and currently under the private ownership of Peter Alworth, Oneida made its mark in the Duluth market with the development and construction of the city's tallest edifice, the Alworth Building, which has housed Oneida's offices since 1909.
Over time, the company has grown to include third-party building management and various building services such as leasing, maintenance, and office cleaning. Presently, Oneida manages more than 35 buildings in Duluth.
“For over 100 years, Oneida has been designing, constructing, maintaining, and improving work and living space,” said Alworth. “We keep those spaces comfortable and clean. We take pride in our history and long tradition of maintaining quality buildings and protecting asset values.
“Oneida Realty Company is unique. We are property managers that provide construction management, engineering, parking and cleaning services all with our gives usstaff. This allows us to have more control over the quality of our services and the timing of our projects. Oneida owns and manages its own office buildings and parking facilities, which gives us a deeper understanding of the needs of our tenants.”
Alworth said Oneida Commercial Real Estate Services also continues to look at areas of expansion in its businesses. Learn more about the company at www.OneidaCRES.com.