You have had a significant journey from a real estate marketing manager , The Georgia CCIM Chapter Administrator , and you are now leading the chapter as President . Can you elaborate on that journey and what it takes to become a chapter President ? I accepted the chapter administrator position at a time when I thought my work options as a new mom were limited – work or don ’ t work . The Georgia CCIM chapter offered an opportunity to stay connected to my industry and prioritize my family while at the same time creating an amazing network of colleagues and friends . Pursuing the Designation gave me the skills and tools to be successful as a broker . Putting these things together gives me a unique perspective as Chapter president today .
What did you do prior to commercial real estate ? How did you become a Chapter Administrator ? I ’ ve had a pretty wide career arc . Before moving to Atlanta when my husband relocated for his job , I had roles as an executive assistant , a toy salesman , and managed corporate events . In 2009 , our first son was born , and I decided to leave First Industrial to be at home with him . A year later , Kent Mason , who was now Georgia CCIM President , needed to find a replacement for the Chapter Administrator who was moving out of state . A serendipitous conversation with his assistant landed me in front of the search committee interviewing for the position .
One member of the search committee that hired me as Chapter Administrator was Jeff Pollock , CCIM , the 2013 Chapter President who had recently opened his own firm and needed some of my “ Gal Friday ” skills . At the time , I wasn ’ t looking for one job , let alone two ! I ’ ve been on Jeff ’ s team for almost 13 years now . That partnership has allowed me to evolve from a support and operations role into transactional brokerage .
Was there anyone who helped encourage / motivate you to get your CCIM Designation ? How did this help propel you to the leader you are today ? I kind of had the whole chapter encouraging me . I mean this in the best possible way , but it was kind of hard to hide if you know what I mean . Jeff Pollock , CCIM is also a major factor in how I got to be where I am today .
Where do you find inspiration ? In others . Seeing how others take on challenges or find success is very inspirational .
I see that you studied Art History in college . Are there any concepts or practices from that discipline that can be applied to the real estate industry ? Perhaps that beauty is in the eye of the beholder . In a commercial real estate context , that can be applied to the fact that each client or project has its own unique set of goals and objectives , and you have to incorporate that into your approach .
How has being a CCIM Designee enriched your life ? It gave me a community . As a broker , it is easy to feel a little siloed . Knowing there are thousands of people around the world that I automatically have something in common with and who would take my call is pretty amazing .
What advice would you give to anyone that may be thinking about becoming a volunteer leader ? Just do it . It may sound self-serving , but I get just as much in return as I give to The CCIM Institute . It is a great way to develop not just leadership skills , but also communication and collaboration skills . It also forces you to stretch and sometimes step out of your comfort zone . And you meet so many interesting people along the way .
Do you have any advice for real estate professionals looking to pursue a CCIM Designation ? Get engaged with your local chapter , of course ! It can feel daunting working through the process , taking classes , and preparing your portfolio . Having a support system of not just Designees , but also other Candidates is invaluable . Over the years I have seen so many candidates from the same cohort forge close friendships .
What kind of legacy would you like to leave behind ? Hopefully , both my professional path and the relationships I ’ ve formed along the way speak of service . From the part-time assistant to the President , we can all serve one another . It ’ s what true friendship is made of .
What is your proudest career moment ? Earning my CCIM Designation .
How do you define leadership in your role and in daily life ? A famous quote by Arnold Glasow that goes , “ A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame , a little less than his share of the credit .” Maybe it is because I am more comfortable behind the scenes , but this has always resonated with me .
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