Setting Sail: Anthony Warren’s Path to Project Management
September 2025
Welcome to Northstar’s article series, ‘Meet the Partners of Northstar: Guiding Our Strategic Vision & Company’s Success.’ In this series, we explore the experiences and journeys of our partners, who have played a pivotal role in shaping Northstar’s trajectory over the past fifteen years.
Charting a Course to Project Management
Meet Anthony, a man who steered his career to Northstar Project & Real Estate Services. Raised in Bermuda, his nautical roots run deep. Initially setting his sights on a career in architecture at the University of Arizona, he realized after his first year that his interest lies more in the physicality of real estate than its design. decided to transfer to Wentworth Institute of Technology to pursue construction management, where he discovered his calling – building buildings rather than designing them. Little did he know this decision would shape his path in project management. Starting as a Clerk of the Works, Anthony’s career took flight when he joined Mead Consulting, where he learned the ropes of owner’s project management (OPM). This was just the beginning of Anthony’s adventure, leading him to co-found Northstar, a client-focused project management firm.
From Living Room to Office Space: The Founding of Northstar
During the financial downturn of 2008, as the market faltered and companies, including his own, grappled with multiple rounds of layoffs and downsizing, Anthony and his partners shared a vision of creating a nimble, client-centric firm not weighed down by corporate bureaucracy. They set sail on a new journey – founding Northstar Project & Real Estate Services. From its humble beginnings in Tom Fanning’s living room (and sometimes Starbucks), Tom, Anthony, and Dave Girard laid the foundation for the firm with a mission to provide a commitment to excellence and a relentless focus on client satisfaction.
Leadership and Guiding the Firm to Success
With a strong interest in technology, Anthony naturally took the lead in acquiring the necessary equipment and services to launch the firm. As Northstar continued to grow, he assumed the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO), where he oversaw the development of the company’s IT infrastructure and operational strategy. His responsibilities ranged from procuring cell phones and IT services to hiring Northstar’s first outsourced IT personnel.
As the third person to bring in a client, Anthony played a key role in shaping Northstar’s brand identity. He dedicated considerable time to developing marketing materials, including writing the firm’s inaugural case studies, showcasing Northstar’s client-centric approach and range of services. Though not involved in day-to-day marketing oversight, he remains affectionately known as the firm’s ‘brand ambassador.’
The process of naming Northstar was a collaborative effort among Anthony and his partners. They sat in a conference room, brainstorming company names. Eventually, they discovered a URL that aligned perfectly with their vision: Northstar Project & Real Estate Services. The firm’s first tagline, “Your guiding star,” reflected their commitment to guiding clients toward success, akin to a compass pointing true north.
Empowering and Mentoring His Teams
As Anthony’s role has evolved, he has shifted away from day-to-day operations to focus on high-level leadership and guidance. His technical expertise has made him an asset for clients managing complex real estate projects, from control rooms and data centers to vivariums. Anthony thrives on navigating intricate real estate.
Today, he partners with senior leaders at Sanofi to drive tenant improvement initiatives across their Massachusetts and New Jersey portfolio. Delegating tasks and stepping back from the daily weeds of the project has been a learning curve for Anthony, but he is committed to equipping his team with the tools they need to succeed. He prefers to operate in the background, empowering his team to take ownership and celebrating their accomplishments, while offering support and guidance along the way.
Drawing inspiration from past experiences, Anthony brings a big-picture perspective to every project, using his insights and his expertise to effectively mentor and guide the team.
Balancing His Work and His Passions
Anthony’s interests are filled with adventures and home improvement projects outside of work. He loves spending time on the water, having once proudly owned and sailed his boat, More Cowbell, he now enjoys cruising in his own power boat and flying airplanes, where he recently obtained his instrument rating. When not on the water or in the air, he and his family enjoy time at their home in Eliot, Maine, on the beautiful . He enjoys doing carpentry projects around the house. In his younger years, he worked as a carpenter, framing houses and honing his skills. This experience sparked his passion for construction and real estate. He even considered starting his own carpentry business! Over the years, he’s built additions on several homes, focusing on framing, flooring, trim, and furniture like coffee tables, bookshelves, and TV cabinets.
Reflections on a Journey Well Navigated
As Anthony reflects on his journey to project management, he is grateful for the many opportunities, successes, and challenges that have shaped his long career. “We spent a year and a half planning the start of Northstar,” Anthony explained. “We were nervous about leaving our jobs and starting our own company, knowing we wouldn’t get paid for a while.” But their hard work and client-centric business model paid off. “We knew we could provide great service at competitive rates and still be profitable.”
When asked if he would do it again, Anthony answered unequivocally, “Yes, absolutely. It makes you wish you had done it earlier. Starting our company in 2008 was the perfect time. It was a low point in the market but turned out to be good timing.” Looking back, Anthony realizes they started Northstar at the right moment, a moment that would ultimately define their success.
For Anthony Warren, life’s journey is filled with endless possibilities. Whether it’s boating, flying or managing projects, he’ll be there, he’s always ready to chart a course towards discovering uncharted territories.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories about the visionary partners who continue to shape Northstar’s journey and contribute to its ongoing success.
