People Who Perform - The Real Estate Careers Podcast

Richard Costello connects with Jennica Palecek.An industry rising star, Jennica is a Commercial Real Estate Advisor at Colliers Vancouver, specializing in office leasing.  A graduate of the Beedie school of business, Jennica has a double major in business and economics and prior to starting her brokerage career, completed internships in finance and held roles in retail banking and property management.  With a passion for advancing diversity, Jennica is actively involved in Colliers North America Women’s Council and serves on the boards for the Canadian Mental Health Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters.     In this conversation, we’ll learn more about:What it means to be a commercial real estate brokerThe two main types of commercial leasesThe value that a broker can bring to a businessHow brokers are compensatedJennica’s pathway into brokerage and how Colliers sets new recruits up for successThe benefits of working for a globally recognized businessBuilding a personal brand Pulse check on the current state of the office market in VancouverGiving back to the community and volunteering as a board member.  What’s involved in this commitment and how might somebody go about doing something similar 

Richard Costello connects with Cindy MacMillan. Cindy MacMillan is currently VP Investments at Grosvenor in Vancouver, responsible for leading the groups transit-oriented development sites delivering 3 million square feet of mixed-use multi-family rental & commercial property in Metro Vancouver. Cindy has close to two decades of commercial real estate experience with a strong background in finance, leasing and asset management. Passionate about advancing women in business, Cindy is Past President of CREW Vancouver and was recently awarded the prestigious Woman of Influence award, furthermore, Cindy has been appointed Crew Network President Elect for 2024.   In this conversation we’ll learn more about: Cindy’s background, first job and why real estate?From corporate accounting to asset management – how Cindy’s career has evolvedCindy’s current role at GrosvenorNavigating market challenges from high costs to AIHow being part of the CREW network has contributed to Cindy’s professional growth and developmentCindy’s role as President Elect of the CREW network in 2024 and President in 2025.  What does this mean?How the network continues to evolveBenefits of effective mentorship for the mentee and the mentorCrucial skills that young professionals should focus on developing to succeed in today's competitive business environmentHow to approach failures or setbacks in your careersCindy's passions outside of work

Richard Costello connects with David Basche.David Basche is the President of Astria Properties in Langley, BC and is focused on the strategic growth of the business and oversees the company’s day to day operations.  Prior to Astria, David spent a decade specializing in development and acquisitions for one of Vancouver’s leading real estate developers, Bosa Properties. In this conversation we’ll learn more about: David’s background (including his move from Germany to Vancouver Island and his education in BC)How his career evolved at Bosa PropertiesHow real estate became his passionReflections on working in acquisitions in a hot marketMotivations for starting a business and reflections on how this new chapter is going so farWe’ll learn more about Astria and David’s thoughts on the market and opportunities aheadDavid’s advice for aspiring real estate (acquisitions) professionalsHow David spends his time and energy outside of the office

James Ashley connects with Jeff Ranson.With a focus on market transformation in the building industry, Jeff has worked for a number of leading organizations over the past 15 years. This includes the Canada Green Building Council, Building Owners and Managers Association of Toronto, and now Northcrest Developments.Jeff has also participated in a number of public advisory roles -  including the Waterfront design review panel and the City of Toronto climate advisory group. His career has included inter-governmental work, at the national to provincial to municipal level, and more recently on a hyper-local level leading sustainability and responsible development for one of the largest master planned communities in North America. In this episode we discuss;The importance of carbon planning and net zeroUtility innovation, placemaking and affordabilityFinancial implications of ESGHow sustainability has evolvedHow we go about setting and achieving net zero goalsCharacteristics of companies leading the wayWhats next?And much more...

Nicola Denning-Millar connects with Heather Tremain.Heather is a city builder with a passion for social purpose real estate and sustainable development. Since joining Options for Homes, Heather has been a champion of affordable homeownership and has helped achieve change to both public policy and funding in support of this segment of the housing spectrum. Prior to her role as CEO, she founded and led a strategic real estate and development consultancy to non-profits, and was the co-founder and CEO of a Vancouver-based green building consulting and development company.  Heather is active engaged in other housing activities including co-founding Circle Community LandTrust that now owns and manages over 600 units of rent geared to income homes across Toronto. She also is a board member of Nch’Kay Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Squamish Nation.In this episode, we...Find out about Heathers journey into Real Estate development and what inspire the route into the non-profit sectorHighlight the advantages and challenges of the non- profit worldLook at the role that Architecture & Design plays in creating quality affordable housing and a sense of community and connectednessDiscuss the increasing popularity and demand of proportional home ownershipShare ideas on how to overcome the challenges of providing attainable housingLook at the positive impact of securing attainable housing on the emotional, physical and financial well being of homeownersSee how affordable housing intersects with sustainability and environmental considerationsDiscover insights into the role of advocacy and policy work in advancing the goals of affordable housing developments

Richard Costello connects with Claudia Leung.Claudia is currently a Manager, Real Estate with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and has over 19 years of progressive experience in both institutional and entrepreneurial settings.  Her diverse background includes roles in property management, leasing, asset management and investments across a myriad of asset types from retail, office, hospitality, industrial, and senior’s housing.    In the first half of this episode we hear about Claudia’s career journey including:What life was like growing up, early influencesWhat factors Claudia considered when making a change in her careerThe most important career risks Claudia has takenThe path from manager to leader Proudest career moment so farIn the second half we learn more about life at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority including: What lands/waters are covered by the Port AuthorityThe importance of the ports in our daily livesChallenges facing the region due to a lack of industrial landWhat the real estate team looks like at the portMost enjoyable aspect of the jobWhy the port is a great place to work 

Richard Costello connects with Brandi CooperBrandi is currently the Director, Property Management with Warrington Residential, responsible for overseeing a growing portfolio of purpose built rental buildings located throughout the Lower Mainland.Brandi has been immersed in residential property management for close to 15 years, starting out managing portfolios of individual units on behalf of investors, to managing apartment buildings for established developers through to her current role, leading operations for the third-party management company Warrington Residential which includes leasing and launching brand-new purpose-built rental projects.   In this conversation we hear about Brandi’s career journey, what’s happening at Warrington Residential, Brandi’s experience launching brand new purpose-built rental properties as well Brandi’s lessons and advice for aspiring residential property professionals. 

Richard Costello connects with Audrey Powell.  At the Real Estate Forum 2022, Audrey was awarded the Young Leader of the Year Award.  Audrey is currently a Leasing Manager for Aspen Properties in Edmonton, responsible for overseeing the leasing of three downtown office towers.  Audrey started her career in 2014 working as a tenant coordinator with one of the largest private retail landlords in Edmonton.  In 2016 Audrey moved into brokerage and for the next three years she became an integral part of one of the highest-producing, well-respected office leasing teams in Edmonton.   Audrey is actively involved with Edmonton CREW's Future Leaders Committee and her voice on the subject of DEI is incredibly powerful. In this episode we discuss Audrey’s career journey to date.  The Young Leaders Award – what it means to Audrey.How Aspen Properties stands out from its competition.What a career in leasing looks like in the day to day.Most enjoyable and challenging aspects of the role.An overview of the Edmonton market.Benefits of getting involved with Edmonton CREW.Audrey’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.Audrey’s lessons and advice for aspiring real estate professionals.   As mentioned in our discussion: Creating Career Pathways in Commercial Real Estate (CCPCRE) is a partnership between Oteenow Employment and Training, Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training Services Association - https://aref.ab.ca/projects/career-pathways-commercial-real-estate/

Nicola Denning-Millar connects with Cheryl Gray. Cheryl's real estate career spans over 40 years and she has experience in management of all major asset classes, having worked for several leading RE firms in a senior leadership capacity.   Her focus over the past 15 years has been on ESG, prop tech, smart buildings, cyber security and pandemic response planning. She specializes in implementation strategies, operational organization and leading best practices. In this episode, we discuss the hot topic of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, specifically:Why DEI is so important in the Commercial Real Estate industryThe challenges and barriers that exist in implementing DEI practices in the industryWho is responsible for driving the change?Obstacles Cheryl has faced and overcome The future of DEI in commercial real estate and what steps the industry can take to stay ahead of the curveWhat positive changes have occurred and what are the biggest areas of developmentThe key priorities for industry decision makers to address when succession planning, to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion

Richard Costello connects with Tracy McEvoy.Tracy is the Director, Maple Leaf Self Storage responsible for the development and management of 15 self-storage facilities comprising over 1.7 million square feet with over 17,000 tenants as well as a commercial office portfolio.  During Tracy’s career in the real estate industry spanning over three decades, she has managed operations and leasing for some of Canada’s leading institutional landlords and covered all asset classes in the process.In our conversation today we discuss the following:Finding community through running and managing energy to perform professionally. Tracy’s career journey prior to her current role.  What’s involved in being the Director for Maple Leaf Self Storage.Self-storage facilities - what are they like and is there such a thing as a ‘typical’ customer?Common misconceptions around self-storage.How the industry and the properties have evolved over recent years.Why has self-storage become such a hot commodity for real estate investors.Trends and changes Tracy expects to see in the near future.Biggest challenges in running the business.Advice for anyone that’s in the industry and is looking to set themselves up for a successful career.The importance of working from the office for new professionals.Proudest accomplishments to date.Looking forward to the future.In our conversation we discuss the following article, provided here for reference.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/industry-news/property-report/article-investor-driven-demand-prompts-vancouver-to-restrict-further-self/

James Ashley Connects with David HoffmanWith over twenty years of progressive leadership within the industry, David has a wide and resourceful perspective on the many issues and opportunities facing property managers and owners. During his career, David has managed two of the most prestigious business communities in downtown Toronto – CIBC Square  and the Toronto Dominion Centre. David also serves as the Chair for the BOMA Toronto Board of Directors. In this episode, we discuss;-       Leading from the back-       Learning from our mistakes-       Fear of failure -       What makes a top performer-       The power of intellectual humility -       And so much more...

Nicola Denning-Millar connects with Dave Merklinger.Dave is an innovative SVP Marketing and Sales professional who has worked on both the agency and the client side and prides himself on trying to do things differently. He has been involved in many award-winning campaigns and loves to develop business strategy and delve into the psychology of buying and selling Real Estate.  He’s a self-proclaimed “Nerd” -  is huge into tech, loves to problem solve, leads by empowering his team. In this episode, we cover a variety of topics including;·      The Digital and Ecomm impact on the RE Landscape in Canada·      How lifestyle and buyers’ habits impact how Developers design their products·      Interest rate hikes and upcoming predictions for 2023·      Best times to purchase a home·      Real Estate Marketing trends and their impact on home-buyer decisions·      Location! Location! Location! How to make a remote area an attractive ‘destination’·      How best to connect to buyers throughout their purchasing journey to deliver a consistent customer service·      Successful launches and the importance of the four “P’s”·      Empowering your staff by given them the “Why?!”·      Advice and perks for anyone embarking on a career in RE S&M

Richard Costello connects with David Ju. David is a VP at Concord Pacific who are widely recognized and most well-known for developing Canada’s largest mixed-use high-rise urban communities.  David leads the group’s investments and development activity, and he is also a Director with CP Capital, a Concord affiliated investment company based in the US which focuses on multifamily communities.  In this episode we discuss the following:David’s career background and how he made his way from public accounting to work on some of the largest real estate development projects across North America.  Takeaways from working in public practiceAbout Concord Pacific and what sets them apartProudest accomplishmentsWhy Concord is sponsoring bike races in VancouverThe importance of ESG and what it means to ConcordLessons and advice for anyone looking to get ahead in the industryWhat makes a great Development ManagerImportant soft skills to have for a successful career in real estate investments

Richard Costello connects with Carol Waldmann.A corporate real estate leader with over 20 years of progressive senior management experience within the public and private sectors.  Carol is the Director, Global Facilities and Real Estate for Hootsuite responsible for real estate transactions, renovations, and construction projects for Hootsuite’s offices across 11 different countries.  Prior to joining Hootsuite in 2019, Carol was a Senior Manager, real estate services at BC Hydro, in which she led a large team in delivering a range of strategic and core real estate services for the crown corporation.In this episode, we discuss the following: Carol’s unique background and career journey to date.  Pros and cons of working in real estate opportunities in the public sector.The unique space needs of tech companies.The joys of overseeing a global portfolio.What went into redesigning Hootsuite’s HO What’s happening in the current market with some of the headwinds facing Canadian tech companies.The role that the office plays in driving employee engagement.Predictions and future trends.Link to video featuring Hootsuite’s recently redesigned office: https://builtin.com/company-culture/Hootsuite-inclusive-HQ-redesign

Richard Costello connects with Lorna Park. Lorna is the Senior Vice President, Property Management at Warrington PCI Management (WMP) in Vancouver, responsible for overseeing a portfolio of over 17 million square feet of office, retail, industrial, residential, and strata properties throughout Western Canada.During Lorna’s thirty years in property management she has covered all asset types but is probably best known for her work in the retail sector.  In recent years, Lorna worked in Asia where she played a key role in the development of management and operating procedures for mixed use projects in China, South Korea and Macau. Lorna holds her Certified Shopping Centre Manager designation from the International Council of Shopping Centres.In this episode we discuss the following: How Lorna got her start in the industry.What makes the retail sector stand out above other classes.Looking back on Lorna’s time working in Asia.More about WPM’s business and culture as well as reasons for success.What makes the difference between a ‘good’ vs a ‘great’ Property Manager.What Lorna looks for when hiring for her team.Lessons and advice for anyone looking to advance their careers in the industry.Things Lorna does outside of work that help her perform better in it.What excites Lorna about the future.

Richard Costello connects with Liz Firer-Gillespie.Liz is a Director of Asset Management, with Nicola Wealth Real Estate, a leading investment firm with over $7bn in real estate assets under management. Liz oversees a diverse portfolio of properties in both Canada and the U.S.  Liz holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and an MBA from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. In this episode we discuss the following:Early years and how/why Liz came to enter the real estate industry.Career evolution in the US.What is was like to work in Chicago and the people who made an impact.Drawing inspiration from working in property management in Liz’s current role.Moving to Vancouver and repositioning for a career in asset management.More about Nicola Wealth Real Estate and how Liz has grown with the business. What makes Nicola Wealth Real Estate so successful.What it means to work in asset management at Nicola Wealth Real Estate.Maintaining culture during a phase of rapid growth.Developing and honing a leadership style.Liz’s involvement in Vancouver CREW’s mentorship program.Proudest achievements so far.What excites Liz about the future at work.Advice for anyone looking to become an asset manager. 

Richard Costello connects with Jack Haining.Jack is an Investment Manager with Grosvenor Americas responsible for overseeing portfolio analytics and directly managing a portfolio of commercial assets.  Originally from the UK, Jack has worked for Grosvenor since graduating from The University of Reading’s real estate program in 2014.   In 2018 he was offered the opportunity to relocate to Vancouver.In this episode we discuss the following:History of Grosvenor.Jack's career path to date.What is means to be an Investment Manager at Grosvenor.Current trends impacting Jack's role as well as general market challenges. Advice for anyone looking to become an Asset/Investment Manager.Story time - Jack's experience working in London and how it compares to Vancouver.How Jack has found moving to Vancouver and what his life looks like now.

James Ashley connects with Mark Halkias.Since launching his career in real estate in 2007, Mark Halkias has climbed his way to Director of Operations at Primaris REIT. Mark has worked across office, retail and mixed-use assets, including the iconic landmark site of the Distillery District in Toronto, which has influenced his broad set of skills and hunger to learn. He holds an MBA from the University of Ontario Institute Of Technology, and he sits on the board of directors at BOMA Toronto. In this episode, Mark talks about;The impact of education on career developmentThe value of industry associationsFamily support and influenceManaging the Distillery DistrictThe decisions that have helped to elevate his careerHis passion for taking things apart And so much more...

James Ashley connects with Josh Kaufman. Josh is currently Vice President, Development and Construction for the Canadian Multi-Family division at Starlight Investments. Prior to joining Starlight, Josh held senior titles at Dream and Smart Centres. Over the last 20 years, he has worked on an array of development projects across the GTA,  including complex and large-scale commercial, retail and mixed-use sites. Josh is a Graduate from the University of Western Ontario, and Postgraduate from the University of Ohio, with a Masters in City and Regional Planning. In this episode Josh talks to the trends that are driving RE Development in Canada. We take a deep dive into multi-family residential and talk about financing, pricing, and strategizing new projects. We discuss the decisions that helped to shape Josh’s career and the big lessons that he would choose to pay forward to the next generation of leaders.

Richard Costello connects with Martin Moriarty Martin is a Senior Vice President Investments at Marcus and Millichap and is one of Vancouver’s top retail brokers specializing in leasing and investment sales.  With previous experience as a commercial broker, appraiser and asset manager in London, England, Martin has an accomplished background and is known for delivering on high profile deals and has been a recipient of several industry awards over the years.    In this episode we discuss the following: Early years, why real estate and how the move to Canada come about.What drew Martin to specializing in retail and what keeps him engaged.Biggest career risk taken so far.Proudest career moment so far.More about Marcus & Millichap, what sets them apart and why did Martin decide to join the group.Breaking it down, what is commercial brokerage.What are some of the food/restaurant trends happening right now.With the demise of some major retailers, what are the successful brands doing to keep people coming through their doors.Martin’s favourite city for inspiration at work.What excites Martin about the future of Vancouver from a retail perspective.For anyone contemplating a career in real estate brokerage, what are some truths to know before diving in and advice for anyone looking to get ahead.