Birtcher began his real estate career as property manager for the family firm in 1976. During his tenure, he also served as development partner, overseeing the development of suburban office and wholesale design centers in California, Arizona, and Texas. From 1991 to 1994, he was responsible for opening company offices in Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico. He also directed several significant projects including the Hyatt Regency in Guadalajara, and the Mexican headquarters for General Electric, Hughes, Bechtel, and Allergan to name a few.
 

He was the recipient of the Southern California Property Owner’s Association’s “Developer of the Year” award in 1987, and the company was the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties’ (NAIOP) “Real Estate Developer of the Year” in 1989. The firm was also named Orange County Business Journal’s “Family Business of the Year” in 2000.

Birtcher holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/Economics from Claremont Men’s College and served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from 1971 to 1977, honorably discharged as a First Class Petty Officer — Port Security Division.

At present, Birtcher is on the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate Board of Directors Executive Committee, the University Of California Irvine Graduate School Of Management’s Board of Advisors, a member of the Young President’s Organization — California Coast Chapter (Chairman 2003/2004), Claremont McKenna College’s Rose Institute of State and Local Government Board of Directors, is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Previous affiliations include the National Association of Industrial & Office Parks (NAIOP) National Board of Directors, Braille Institute National Board, Boy Scouts of America El Camino District board, Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council and co-founder of the Young Executives of America, among others.