Vice Chairman of Robert B. Aikens & Associates, LLC, Bruce Aikens has been with the firm since 1987. With previous experience in retail leasing and build-to-suit development projects, Mr. Aikens is responsible for developing comprehensive programs for the company’s retail properties. An active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Bruce's specialties include site acquisition, tenant negotiations, planning, design and joint venture participation.  Aikens earned a B.A. from the University of Colorado. 

Vice Chairman and Director of Leasing for Robert B. Aikens & Associates, Mr. Aikens' business and educational background has revolved around the intersections of place-making, social media, real estate, and retail and entertainment.

Since 2005, Mr. Aikens’ focus has been on leasing, marketing and operations at the Village of Rochester Hills, a main-street lifestyle center in metropolitan Detroit. He also focuses on leasing and business strategy for new initiatives.

From 1997 through 1998, Mr. Aikens worked as a researcher at the University of Cambridge under a grant from the UK Economic and Social Research Council. This followed four years at the university in which he pursued and earned his Ph.D. thesis, which focused on the impact of the Internet on local democracy.

Mr. Aikens also earned a Masters in Business Administration from Fordham University in 2002, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan in 1988.

Susan K. Frank joined the company in 1984, and was promoted to Lease Administrator in early 1985. Ms. Frank’s paralegal background is in real estate. Ms. Frank has over 20 years’ experience in negotiating leases and, as part of the lease administration team, has negotiated a wide range of leases with national, regional and local tenants, in addition to handling the processing of all lease documentation for the company. Ms. Frank is an active member of the ICSC.