Daily Reporter Staff • April 3, 2026

Pat Connaughton is the CEO and co-founder of Three Leaf Partners, a Milwaukee-based commercial real estate development firm he helped launch in 2022. The company, which employs 19 people and is headquartered at 504 W. Juneau Ave., focuses on developing thoughtful multi-family communities through partnerships with municipalities and local institutions across the Midwest.

Connaughton’s approach to real estate is rooted in values he honed through sports — preparation, discipline and a commitment to continuous improvement. He applies that competitive mindset to identifying opportunities others might overlook and building a collaborative culture where team members are empowered to lean into their strengths.

“Pat’s leadership stands out because he approaches real estate the same way he approaches the rest of his life, with discipline, vision, and a commitment to building something bigger than himself,” said Matt Burow, co-founder of Three Leaf Partners and founder and CEO of Catalyst Construction. “Pat believes real estate should improve the communities it touches, and that philosophy continues to guide the projects and relationships he helps lead across the Midwest.”

Beyond his professional work, Connaughton founded the Pat Connaughton Foundation, reflecting his broader commitment to community impact.

At Three Leaf Partners, his leadership philosophy centers on long-term thinking and sound fundamentals — staying patient through real estate’s natural market cycles and pursuing projects that, as he describes it, “genuinely add value to the communities we serve.”