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Charles Portis

 

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
In addition to building agency and tenant representation, I have worked to develop new buildings with Jack Mckinney since 2007. So, my role has evolved from broker to developer and CW has helped immeasurably. 
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
Cushman Wakefield purchased J.F. McKinney & Associates in 2015. As a developer and broker, I have really come to value the expanded reach and resources of CW.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
All facets of my business have improved by being here. The marketing team is top notch and very fun to work with. And, being able to work on transactions and challenges with the broad array of talent here made me value Cushman.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
One recent example is that today we signed a lease for a development in the Chicago suburbs to bring that building to 100% leased. The tenant was represented by CW brokers Craig Cassell, Jordan Rovito and Brad Frank. It was largely due to the relationship with that team that we were able to create a terrific opportunity for their tenant, but also for our ownership, as that lease has brought the building to 100% occupancy.. always the goal!
With the breadth of services we have now, how are you able to do more today for your clients?
One example where the breadth of services at CW has been a huge help is in project management. We are completing a project in the north suburbs called Northbrook’s Riverpark. It’s a 57,000 sf office medical complex leased to Bright Horizons childcare and Lurie Children’s Hospital. The most recent phase, a 25,000 sf outpatient surgery center, is a complex building and the project management services of CW’s Eric Rudin and Bill Starcevich have been incredibly valuable in keeping this development moving forward. 
What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
I also own a Chicago kayak company called Wateriders. Since 1997, I have been offering kayak tours on the Chicago River. Paddling is both a passion and a pleasure. We have been responsible for something like 1 million miles of paddling on the River and I’m proud of being the conduit for so many fun and safe adventures on the Chicago River.

 

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Kathy Mack

 

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
Property values over the past 10 years have cycled up and down and our department has been on top of all changes implemented by the county Assessor’s office in several different states. Each year I make it part of my job to learn something new about these changes so I can assist others on my team with providing our clients the best service possible. By working closely with our clients, the owners as well as their property management staff also become more familiar with the assessment process and can superintend their properties more efficiently due to our constant support of fair values at the County level.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
I started working for Cushman & Wakefield when my small property tax consulting firm was acquired by the corporation several years ago. Since that time our services began to spread to become a nationwide division under the CW brand, and I made my transition from the southern California office to Houston just a few short weeks ago. Our Property Tax Services team here in Houston handles several large clients with holdings in Texas and surrounding states, and my current position is one of support and assistance to our highly experienced consulting group. I am working on becoming more of a part of the advisory portion of our team’s performance and look forward to working with the best group of individuals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here during my time at CW.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
I believe that the Cushman & Wakefield brand is a strong, stable name in the industry and is highly respected for its service lines and practices. CW employees are always striving to become the best at what they do, and I enjoy being part of a team of people who are ambitious and truly enjoy their careers.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
When Cushman & Wakefield acquired the small consulting firm where I was previously employed it created an abundance of opportunities for my group of property tax professionals. By being a part of a large corporation, there are different service lines that closely coincide with my work experience which makes me feel as if I am a bigger part of a team than if I were still working with a small company.
With the breadth of services we have now, how are you able to do more today for your clients?
By utilizing different service lines here at Cushman, I can provide my clients with more aspects of management for their portfolios and create a “one stop shop” for their real estate needs.
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Amy Dittoe

 

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
As a Business Development Director, my job is to tell stories. That central role has evolved and become more strategic as my knowledge of the business grows. I went to graduate school for creative writing; I believe in the power of words and the importance of authenticity. When we sell, we as writers have to make sure that C&W’s value jumps off the page and into the client’s consciousness. My ability to do that has improved through candid and thoughtful conversations with brokers and subject matter experts—the people in the field who are doing the real work to improve the lives and businesses of our clients. Every day my job feels less like selling and more like educating, because I truly believe in the value we bring to the table.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
Istarted my career in nonprofit, working in the School & Youth programs at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. After graduate school, I moved to the West Bank to teach classes at a school for refugee women, children and students. Upon returning to Los Angeles, an unlikely door opened to the world of commercial real estate. I started as a writer, and four years later C&W approached me with an opportunity to use my ideas and experience to make an impact at a dynamic company. I’m so happy I took it! I now focus on business development (writing, content creation and strategy) for Portfolio Solutions, working on a three-person team with two brilliant and inspiring women.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
From the first ten minutes of my interview, I knew I wanted to work at C&W. They started the conversation by asking questions: What am I good at? What do I want to do long-term? What opportunities for improvement have I observed within the industry? In my experience, this is emblematic of the company as a whole. Leadership is always listening, and all ideas are welcome and encouraged. Some are accepted and some are shot down, but there is always a thoughtful discussion and an earnest attempt to understand. And we all have the same goal—to collectively elevate the company and better serve our clients.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
I came from a firm where all processes, structures and hierarchies were fully mature. While there are benefits to that, there also wasn’t a whole lot of opportunity to affect meaningful change. C&W provided me a chance to vocalize my ideas with the hope that they might make a real difference. There’s no better job satisfaction than that—to see a challenge, propose a solution and observe the long-term impact.
With the breadth of services we have now, how are you able to do more today for your clients?
The GOS platform has given me—and the sales professionals and brokers I work with—a path to engaging some of the smartest subject matter experts our industry has to offer. That kind of accessibility leads to faster and more impactful solutions for our clients. There is no real estate challenge we are not equipped or creative enough to solve.
What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
I taught Creative Thinking to children in the West Bank, many of whom had grown up with armed conflict as a daily reality. Between the language and cultural barriers, and my responsibility to write my own curriculum, I struggled to connect with the kids for the first several weeks. One day I decided to do a project (the Egg Drop) that I’d learned in elementary school in Ohio. It’s haram to waste food, so we used water balloons instead. The kids packed them in a variety of materials and dropped them off the roof of the school, where I stood near the target. Every time a water balloon popped it exploded all over me. Maybe it was the universal language of self-deprecation, but that project broke the ice and the students were much more engaged from then on. I hope they still carry a nice memory from that day, as I do.

 

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Kjersten Jaeb

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
Technology has definitely changed the way we do business, not only keeping us constantly connected, but allowing working relationships to grow and expand over much larger geographic areas. It has been amazing to watch the technology that we utilize for our own personal work, as well as the advances in technology for our assets, both the ‘pretty’ technology that is forward facing (touch directories, destination dispatch elevators, etc.) but the back-of-the-house technology that ultimately powers and sustains our assets.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
I sometimes feel as though I’ve been ‘bough & sold’ many times, as I have been a part of 5 different transactions without ever leaving a company. I started with Opus Northwest Property Management (a division of Opus Group) which was then combined/reorganized into one Opus Property Services company. Opus Property Services was acquired by NorthMarq Real Estate in 2009. NorthMarq entered into a joint venture with Cushman & Wakefield in 2012 and we became Cushman & Wakefield NorthMarq. And now, this past September 2017, Cushmane & Wakefield NorthMarq was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield, allowing me to, finally, be a full citizen of C&W! Yahoo! My career has always been focused on commercial property management, for the most part in multi-tenant suburban office buildings. However, when the opportunity arose at a 42-story class A high-rise tower in Minneapolis’ CBD, I jumped at it; now, 4 years later I am the General Manager with a team of 7 amazingly talented individuals.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
Throughout the ups and downs of company changes, I have said, and maintain, that the absolute best thing that has happened to me, and my career, was when the team at NorthMarq (including Jeff Eaton, Mike Ohmes, Lisa Dongoske, etc.) acquired Opus Property Services. Because of Jeff’s leadership, and the direction from our executive team, I truly believe I have found a long-term home for my career at C&W. There is so much stress that can bubble up in this line of work, but because of the values that are not just talked about, but lived by our leadership team and my colleagues, I believe that I work for the absolute best company in the market.
What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
There are two things that come to mind. First, I am a mother to three healthy, happy, kind children (ages 5 and under!). I am able to show my beautiful daughters (4 & 2 1/2) that it is possible to be a successful woman, in a male-dominated industry, and still have a fulfilling home-life. My husband also has an incredibly stressful job, and our partnership is something that I believe will help our children learn, by our example, the value of teamwork, hard work, and love. Second, when I started working, I did not have my college degree. I was able to advance to the position of Assistant Property Manager, but knew that without a 4-year college degree that was about all I could likely do. For a few years I found myself being frustrated that I knew how to do the job that my counterparts were doing, but I couldn’t be recognized, and allowed to do it on my own, without that degree. So, I went to school. Full-time. At night, on the weekends and online. While still working, full time. I completed my 4-year degree in just over 3 years, with a 3.7 GPA and no student loan debt at a state university. This accomplishment means so much to me, because not only does it show my dedication to my career, but that my company and supervisors supported me.

 

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Edwin Evangelista

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
Although technology has been progressing much faster now compare to 10 years ago, we always had to be aware of upcoming version change and need to be prepare all the time to do upgrades which involve development work and retraining the user community.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
I was the Hyperion Financial Management Architect at The Hackett Group who was assigned at DTZ back in May 2014 when the company demerge from UGL. I was about the roll-off from the project when TPG acquired DTZ. Then I got extended few more times because of the Cassidy Turley and Cushman and Wakefield acquisition. After the integration of Cushman and I was about to roll-off, I was asked if I want to join the company. I worked with many great people at DTZ / Cushman for 3+ years so when the opportunity of working for the company was offered to me, I didn’t hesitate and joined a talented group of people both on the Finance and GTS side.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
I am still working at Cushman & Wakefield because of the people. We have great employees who are passionate on what they do which is very positive.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
The growth of the company with all the acquisitions gave more demand to the system I am managing. My team and I are prepare to any changes in the reporting requirements needed for External and Management reporting which are the result of this continuous growth.

 

What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
My passion on my personal life is to share my achievements to people in need. My family and I sponsored medical mission about 3 times in the past few years in the Philippines. My family and I are active in promoting two foundations in the Philippines. One of the foundations is for street children where they house, educate and rehabilitate young kids so they can be turned around and be normal part of the society. The other foundation is for abuse kids. At my work, both in the industry and consulting, I always looked out for the younger team members and trained them. I always believe in sharing what I know and always looking out for my team. For me, it is all about people and helping each other.
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Veronica Bruno

 

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
In today’s world, the structure, content, and process of work have changed. i.e.; it is more team-based and collaborative; dependent on social skills; dependent on technological competence, and a lot more time pressured.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
It’s been very interesting for me. I have experienced 5 mergers since I started my first job in commercial real estate on July 6, 1993. I started to work for KTR (Koeppel, Tener, Riguardi), Colliers ABR, to Cassidy Turley, DTZ and now C&W. I can honestly say that with each company, I’ve learned that there is always more opportunity and knowledge to gain. Cushman & Wakefield is a very professionally-evolved company.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
The firm believes in developing and supporting the talents of their women team members through WIN, Women’s Integrated Network, which offers Mentoring and Professional Development, Career Development, Events and Industry Partnerships and Recognition. C&W offers their employees an opportunity to Learn and grow by offering Online Webinar courses. They believe in the word LAUNCH – LEARN, ASSIMILATE, UNDERSTAND, NURTURE, COLLABORATE, HELP OTHERS and that is important to me.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
I can honestly say that we’ve had a great momentum and it’s definitely a plus to work with a strong company. I have had a few friends who either worked here or in the industry, and they’ve always raved about the atmosphere of professionalism. Cushman and Wakefield is a place that continually demands excellence while still allowing a healthy and positive work environment.
With the breadth of services we have now, how are you able to do more today for your clients?
It is always important for me to stay current with the market and have knowledge about the company and the overall industry. My team uses all of the company’s services and expertise to present to their prospective clients.
What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
My dedication to my family has helped me to maintain a conscious balance of work life and personal life. I’m a “go with the flow” employee. I welcome constructive criticism and any opportunity to learn and grow.

 

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Warren Mead

With the world constantly changing, how has your job, or client’s job, evolved over the past 10 years?
In Property Management, we are more and more involved in the Asset Management aspect of running properties. There is a much larger financial responsibility and asset strategy is executed more and more at the property management level. Clients tend to have leaner staff, putting more responsibilities on us as a service provider.
Tell us about your story. How did you come to Cushman & Wakefield? What do you do?
After spending my 20’s working in parks & recreation, merchandising, retail,and customer service, I applied for a Tenant Services Coordinator in 2001 with C&W, and was hired to work with a team of property management professionals running Post Montgomery Center, an 800,000 sq. ft. office and retail property in the financial district of San Francisco, CA. I was promoted to Associate Portfolio Manager in 2003 to run a small portfolio of “relationship building” properties with multiple clients. Soon after, I was asked by my supervisor to run a 220,000 sq. ft. historical office property in San Francisco. A few years later, one of my clients from my gig as Associate Portfolio Manager hired me on as Asset Manager to do acquisitions, dispositions, hire property managers, set up accounting systems, and develop management platforms for new acquired properties. In 2009, the market was at a standstill, and I came back to C&W to manage a 300,000 sq. ft. office property in San Francisco. In 2012, the property sold and I took a few positions with owner operators (tech, film, and biotech). Eventually, I was hired on at Cassidy Turley as a Senior Property Manager to help run and grow the San Francisco East Bay and Marin markets. Working with our city leader and capital markets teams, my portfolio grew from 600,000 sq. ft. and three employees to 7,000,000 sq. ft., and 15 property management staff. I was promoted to Associate Vice President in 2014, and then Director in 2017. I currently oversee a little over 7,000,000 sq. ft in San Francisco, SF East Bay, Marin County, and Silicon Valley.
Why do you work here at Cushman & Wakefield and not somewhere else?
My experience thus far is that the main differential between management companies is the people and the culture. C&W offers a huge platform to offer our clients. We’ve been able to attract the best talent in Northern California. It’s an exciting time to work for C&W.
Cushman & Wakefield has one of the most interesting growth stories in our industry. How has our recent momentum made an impact on your role or created opportunities for you?
It has been my goal to run a large portfolio, participate in business development, and utilize my skills to recruit talent. With our rapid growth and platform development, it has allowed me to excel at my strengths, grow the business, and continue to acquire new properties and clients.
With the breadth of services we have now, how are you able to do more today for your clients?
So many of our clients need a “one stop shop” where they can get access to valuation analysis, project management, leasing, capital markets, and sustainability. Whenever a client reaches out with a request for any of our offered services, it’s a huge help to be able to introduce them to a C&W expert quickly.
What solution, achievement, or moment is the best example of your passion while either working at Cushman & Wakefield or in your personal life, or both?
Professionally, my ability to attract strong talent and mentor and grow them has been a real joy and is a result of my passion for hiring and retaining the best talent in our industry. I work with a professional coach to help me continually grow my own skills around helping our teams excel in our business. Personally, I learn so much from my sports endeavors. Competition and athletics plays right into being able to compete with other firms for business, talent, and clients. My skill set, which is always evolving, is related to both my career and my extracurricular athletic activities.

 

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Sampah Bin Mahadi

Sampah now works with the maintenance team at Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education College West as part of the Facility Management services on campus.

On campus, Sampah serves as a reactive maintenance technician, managing day-to-day facility operations at ITE College West and attending to user complaints regarding building services. He addresses issues and liaises with users to close every case as quickly and efficiently as possible.

While Sampah himself is a man of few words, his supervisor, Lok Tonglin, praised his outstanding skill set and experience: “Sampah is very experienced and is able to attend to a wide scope of building problems – ACMV, plumbing and general building services; he is able to respond to facility issues with high-quality solutions independently.”

When asked how he feels about Cushman & Wakefield, Sampah says he is glad to see that the company is growing bigger and stronger each year. He enjoys coming in to work every day, and he looks forward to the future of the company.
You first joined Cushman & Wakefield in March 1972. What was your first role and what was it like to work for the firm and industry in your first years?
My first role was technician for building maintenance. Working there was a great experience, and shortly after my first year, I felt bonded to the people.
What major roles have you played over the years?
Leading a team of new staff and sharing my experience with them.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen to the way business is done over the decades and what hasn’t changed?
The biggest positive change is that the company is growing bigger and better every year.
If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
Diligent, receptive, quality.
If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would it be?
My wife.
What have you liked most about working for Cushman & Wakefield?
I enjoy working with and for my friendly colleagues and clients.
What are some of the secrets to your success?
There are no secrets — just keep working hard.
What’s one or two things that many of your colleagues would not know about you.
I enjoy watching and playing soccer – my favorite team is Liverpool. I have two daughters who are 30 and 20 years old and a son who’s 19. I also have two grandchildren, a 1-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.
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Robert F.R. Ballard

A native New Yorker, Executive Managing Director Robert Ballard joined Cushman & Wakefield in 1968. In 1974, Robert won The Real Estate Board of New York’s prestigious “Most Ingenious Broker of the Year” award for leasing The Great Hall and its underlying Greenwich Street level at 25 Broadway to the U.S. Postal Service in a long-term lease.

Among many notable achievements over a long career, Robert, a graduate of Harvard University, authored the Directory of Manhattan Office Buildings, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company in 1978, and to this day maintains a file of 2,036 office buildings. In 2013, he represented NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation in a 221,180 square foot lease at 55 Water Street.

Below, Robert discusses his long-term career, memorable experiences, what makes him tick, and seek his advice for young people in our business.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen to the way business is done over the decades and what hasn’t changed?
Soliciting new business has gone from walking an office building and knocking on doors to the sophisticated use of the internet.  Yet it is still a people business; it is still about relationships, face-time, teamwork, persistence, and serving the client.
What were some high points in your career?
The Case of Mistaken Identity: Long ago, when canvassing meant taking the elevator to the top of a building, and then knocking on doors all the way down, I was welcomed into an office by a secretary who said, “Go on in, he’s expecting you.”  As this was a cold call, I knew he wasn’t!  Once in his office I was asked what I had for him.  I responded with a listing in a nearby building. He wanted to see it and when I showed it to him, he wanted to rent it.  When we returned to his office to discuss details of the deal, he said, “But I thought you wanted to show me space in this building?”  Clearly, he had mistaken me for his building’s leasing agent with whom he had an appointment.  Lesson learned: Go with the flow!

Never Give Up: Some time ago, during a slow period, I began my “letter-a-day” campaign to CEOs of major corporations. Every day, a letter went out, followed up by a call. The letter was one sentence long, requesting a meeting. One day, after numerous letters had gone out, I hit the jackpot: Coca Cola called me, and it was the beginning of a great relationship.

Hurricane Sandy: When it was safe to venture out after Hurricane Sandy, my wife and I went downtown, where my major client had office space in 160 Water Street. We wanted to assess the damage. The insurance district was a ghost town, and my client’s basement was under water. The next day, my good friend and Cushman & Wakefield neighbor Jeff Lichtenberg, the leasing agent for 40 Wall Street, placed my client in a vacant, short-term sublet and they were up and running immediately. You always have to solve a client’s needs.
If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be, and why?
Gregarious, creative, and tenacious because I enjoy being with people, love parties, and think out of the box to solve difficult problems — and I never give up.
If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would he/she be, and why?
Winston Churchill, because he never gave up defeating Hitler.
What have you liked about working for Cushman & Wakefield, and how does the firm differentiate from the competition?
My fellow brokers have always been generous with their information and advice. Cushman & Wakefield is a collaborative institution.
What are some of the secrets to your success?
Minding my own business. Tenacity. Flexibility. Strong relationships based on mutual respect. Plus, I love New York City. I was born here!
What’s one or two things that many of your colleagues would not know about you?
I keep a file of every office building in Manhattan. It currently comprises 2,036 office buildings. Away from the office, I am a devoted family man. I was the long-term President of the East Side House Settlement, a social services agency in the South Bronx. I swim after work, and when on Nantucket I race my catboat. I am a voracious reader of history books, and I love walking the city, taking notes.
What do you see as becoming the biggest drivers of change for clients as we move forward?
Access to our experienced brokers who provide our clients with a wide range of research and expertise.
How do you see property strategies changing to meet future changes? 
The landlord of the future should provide amenities to their tenants such as an on-site gym and an on-site child care facility.
What advice can you offer young people in the business today?
Dress for success, arrive at 8 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m. Reach out to colleagues, find a mentor, and hang in there!
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Thomas J. Usher

Tom Usher ​got his early start in the business with Gilley Co., which was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 1979. That’s when Tom officially joined the firm famously founded by his grandfather, J. Clydesdale Cushman, and great uncle, Bernard Wakefield—and he’s never looked back.

Our firm’s 100th anniversary has special meaning to Tom. As he puts it: “Cushman & Wakefield’s Centennial means a great deal to me, and I am of course extremely proud to be a member of a company that so many of my relatives built or have been part of and helped make so successful.”

Tom has been an active participant in that success story. From 1980 to 2000, he played a leadership role in the growth of Cushman & Wakefield in the Pacific Northwest, acting as Managing Director for our Oregon operations. Over the last 17 years, he has parlayed his skills into strategic planning and problem solving for clients with complex real estate needs, working in collaboration with his “very talented and successful brokerage team”, which includes Mark Carnese, Doug Deurwaarder, and Matt Johnson. Tom also operates in an advisory role for both expanding and emerging companies.

Tom takes pride in being the kind of person who “genuinely enjoys working as a mentor to young people in the firm”—an attitude shaped by the guidance and sound advice he himself received from others as he moved up the ladder.

Explains Tom: “I’ve stood on the shoulders of some really great teachers at Cushman & Wakefield, and will always feel a debt of gratitude to those who were such great mentors to me within the real estate industry and my life. Those who deserve special credit include my cousins John and Lou Cushman, my brother Kirk Usher, who retired from Cushman & Wakefield after a stellar career of over 35 years, and Ted Bruno, a former colleague who passed away several years ago, at the age of 90. Reaching back to the beginning of my career, I also want to recognize Steve Gilley who took a chance on me in 1975, and hired me at the Gilley Company, which was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 1979.”

Below, Tom discusses his experiences and views on Cushman & Wakefield and the commercial real estate industry:
How has the way you did deals in your early years changed to how they’re done now – and how have client expectations changed?
Expectations are all based on speed today. When I started back in the 1970s we relied on snail mail, which alone often took several days for transactional correspondence and, subsequently, deals took a lot longer to complete. Today, everything happens “right now” at lightning speed. We get a lot taken care of within a single day.

There is also a lot more velocity and we are able to handle more transactions at one time. Further, when I started in the business, we were typically engaged in just one-off deals for clients. Today, we handle numerous transactions in multiple U.S. and global markets on behalf of a single client.
What were some high points in your career?
One of my greatest achievements occurred shortly after being appointed Managing Director of the Portland office. We won the leasing assignment for the landmark 42-story, 800,000+ square-foot U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Portland, which is the largest office building in the State of Oregon.I was appointed Managing Director in 1980 at the young age of 32, just five years after starting my career as a broker in real estate. That made me the youngest manager in the firm. In this role, I was proud to receive Cushman & Wakefield’s National Branch Manager of the Year Award on two occasions, which was based on professionalism, accomplishments, leadership, and the overall profitability of our Portland office.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be, and why?
Driven. Energetic. Hard worker. I suppose these qualities come partly from a fear of failure, and a need to rely on others to validate my work and my success. By nature, though, I am energetic and driven, and very much enjoy what I do, especially working with and helping others. Some of my most gratifying moments have come from watching young people mature and succeed..
If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would he/she be, and why?
Right now, it would be Sir Winston Churchill. I just read a book about him entitled Hero of the Empire, a story of this fascinating, inspiring man, who, at the age 24, was utterly convinced it was his destiny to one day be Prime Minister of England.
What do you like about working for Cushman & Wakefield?
In over four decades in the business, I have never worked for another firm other than Cushman & Wakefield (or merged firm). I think one of the key differences between our firm and others is our high quality of work. As a firm, we have always strived to be the best in all we do and deliver top-level service and results. We’ve survived 100 years and are heading into the future with confidence because we’ve always been the gold standard when it comes to exceeding client expectations.

Over the years, I’ve watched star brokers who I helped train leave our firm and then come back after a period of time. Their decision to return is always based on missing the unbeatable standards the Cushman & Wakefield brand offers — our great people, culture, values, and unwavering focus on delivering the very best services to our clients.
What are some of the secrets to your success?
My commitment, loyalty, work ethic, and the fact I am always strategizing and discovering new ways to stay ahead of the curve – whether that means applying the latest technologies or thought leadership, I constantly strive to sharpen my skillset for the benefit of my clients.

Equally, I love playing the role of a “coach”, which gives me an opportunity to help others learn and succeed, especially those newer to the business. When we help others, we help create a successful culture for everyone. Being a good listener is one of the most important skills in working with clients or in a team.
What’s one or two things that many of your colleagues would not know about you?
Back in the 1970s, I initially did not want to work for Cushman & Wakefield. At that time, I felt very strongly about being able to make it on my own and that having relatives in the company, especially at such a high level, might affect that. To my surprise and good fortune, the company I started with, The Gilley Co., was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 1979. Over the course of time my views changed as I realized I could have it both ways.

Today, our Centennial means a great deal to me and I am extremely proud to be a member of a company that so many of my relatives built or have been part of and helped make so successful.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
First and foremost, my family is my greatest joy. I have been married for 45 years to my incredible wife and best friend Ann and we love spending time with our family, and especially our three grandchildren — and with another on the way.Some may be surprised to know that I am extremely active and passionate about my leisure activities, which include traveling, playing squash, hiking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and more — despite being a master of none! Portland is an amazing place for the outdoors. I always joke that when I leave this planet, I would like to take with me items such as my skis, fly rod, road bike, and squash racket.
What do you see as the biggest drivers of change for our clients?
The biggest driver of change I see today has been the Millennials’ influence on office workplace design. In just the last five years alone here in Portland, I have seen greater changes happening in real estate than in all my prior years in the business.This goes back to the incredible speed of technology and innovation. In the 1970s, a carpet that started out orange (a hip color in those days) may have taken several years to be changed to brown, or simple lighting could take years to be upgraded. Today, upgrades can be completed in mere months, weeks, or even days depending on the degree of change required.
How do you see property strategies changing?
Re-design, redevelopment, or repurposed projects are transforming the real estate landscape in Portland, as they are around the globe. Here in our market, we are seeing a spike in repurposed projects. Presently, we are engaged in a number of projects where older industrial facilities are being converted into higher grade industrial space, creative office uses, or even mixed-use.Right now, workplace design, which caters to the modern workforce, is a major priority. Like other growth markets, our occupier clients in Portland are focused on being close to amenities and good transportation, including bike lanes, and offering a unique workplace “experience” for their employees.

E-commerce and the internet will continue to transform business, including real estate, and our lives in ways we cannot imagine. Driverless cars, for example, will be an enormous game changer for numerous aspects of business and life ahead.
What advice can you offer young people in the business today?
I think a young person should have a strong work ethic and be willing to make sacrifices to achieve success in this business. They need to find a mentor to help guide them and support their growth and development, and they should also always put their clients’ needs and goals first!