COVER STORY : HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Building on Hispanic Achievements : CBRE Executive VP Gil Medina
By Diane C . Walsh Contributing Editor
Born in Puerto Rico , Gualberto ( Gil ) Medina grew up in a poor neighborhood in Camden , where he spoke Spanish at home and learned English at school .
“ I was blessed ,” he said , however . “ I understood the language of Shakespeare and Cervantes . I was able to speak the language and enjoy the literature of two great civilizations .” His immigrant family might have lived in “ financial poverty but we lived in cultural splendor .”
When his mother introduced him to classical music as a young boy , he was transported by the works of Tchaikovsky , Brahms , and Beethoven . Medina ’ s love of books he ascribes to his father , who was an avid reader . A thirst and appreciation for knowledge molded him into an excellent student .
Rutgers University awarded him a full scholarship , resulting in a degree in history . Temple University Law School also recognized his talents , as well as his high GPA , and recruited him as part of its diversity and inclusion initiatives . Good students like him were enticed with scholarships and a support network . Medina ’ s juris doctorate landed him a job as an attorney / advisor in the regional office of the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development , which was the steppingstone to a rich and multi-faceted career .
His resume touts a term as secretary of the N . J . Department of Commerce , manager at two CPA firms in Philadelphia ( after returning to Temple to complete the coursework necessary to become a CPA ), executive at a telecommunications company , and president and general counsel of a startup biotechnology company .
For almost two decades he has been immersed in the real estate industry . In 2014 he became an executive vice president at CBRE Group , Inc ., the world ’ s largest commercial real estate and investment firm . Medina is proud of the robust diversity initiative established by CBRE CEO , Robert Sulentic , who is personally helping to lead the initiative . Medina believes that , “ For a corporate diversity initiative to succeed , it requires the level of commitment that CBRE ’ s senior management team is making .”
At CBRE Medina is focused on providing and coordinating integrated real estate solutions for corporate , governmental , non-profit and academic research organizations . He is also responsible for local and global business development across all of the company ’ s service lines , including office , industrial and retail brokerage , asset services , project management and financial consulting .
“ She taught me how to be a leader , how to be a better human being and she taught me public policy .”
Medina said his tenure in former Gov . Christie Todd Whitman ’ s administration was formative for him . “ She taught me how to be a leader , how to be a better human being and she taught me public policy ,” he said .
He first met Whitman when in 1993 he helped convince the Camden County Republican Organization to endorse her bid for governor in the Republican Party primary . When Whitman was elected , she tapped Medina for her cabinet . He was impressed with her leadership style and by the way she sought input from department heads , giving them an opportunity to arrive at consensus . “ She governed by consensus but also fostered a spirit of constructive disagreement , from which often emerged creative policies and strategies . Everyone felt that their voice was heard ,” he recalled .
As Commerce Secretary from 1994 to 2000 , Medina helped oversee an era of significant economic and employment growth in the state . He consistently sought to improve the state ’ s business climate and to promote economic development by focusing the state ’ s resources on business attraction , business retention and Foreign Direct Investment . He organized trade missions and opened New Jersey offices in Brazil , Egypt , Israel , Mexico and the United Kingdom .
A successful trade mission , Medina quickly realized , must go beyond economic factors and free trade agreements . He liked to inject a cultural element and his favorite centered on the famed literary giant , Walt Whitman , who spent the last 20 years of his life in Medina ’ s hometown , Camden . He quotes a sentiment attributed to the Scottish writer and politician , Andrew Fletcher , “ Let me make the songs of a nation , and I care not who makes its laws .”
From a visit to one of the homes of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda , Medina discovered that Whitman had a profound influence on Latin American literature . “ Many of Latin America ’ s literary figures believed that Whitman was the first New World poet to create a unique voice for the Americas .” In connection with a large trade
CBRE Executive VP Gil Medina
mission to Brazil , Argentina and Chile , Medina helped organize a tribute to the poet , entitled “ Whitman in the South ,” with a keynote from Tomas Eloy Martinez , an Argentine writer who once taught at Rutgers . More than 200 attended the event held in the University of Chile , making it one of the most successful state trade missions to Chile and earning Medina compliments from the U . S ambassador to Chile , Chile ’ s Foreign Minister , and the President of Chile . The president of Brazil conferred upon him the rank of “ Commander in the National Order of Cruzeiro do Sul ,” an honor given to foreign nationals for their valuable service .
As Commerce Secretary Medina also developed strong relationships with the corporate community , international leaders and prominent figures from both sides of the political aisle . He serves on the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce as the second vice chairman of the board . He is a member of the board of trustees of St . Joseph ’ s Healthcare System and Thomas Edison State University , as well as other boards .
He is also the longest serving member of the Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust . Six different governors of Puerto Rico have extended his service to the trust , where as vice chairman he works on economic
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