How did you get your start in commercial real estate?
SB: I fell into the world of commercial real estate, which seems to be the case with most people I meet in our industry. I actually moved to Nashville from Mississippi in 2005 to try and make it in the music business. While working toward that goal I also needed to pay bills and needed a full-time job.
The real estate route came to fruition through a friend who was a Property Manager and in need of hiring a Property Administrator at a building that Commonwealth Commercial happens to manage today. Once I started, I quickly realized I had a passion for this industry and decided to jump all in. I climbed the ladder slowly from Property Administrator to Assistant Manager with one company, to Property Manager with another, and finally joined Commonwealth Commercial as a Senior Property Manager in 2013.
I left Nashville in early 2020 and moved to Indiana for family reasons and I’m so thankful we were able to create a position that would allow me to remain part of the Commonwealth family and work with the entire region.
Your role at CCP is unique in that you travel a lot to visit different markets and meet with people from across the company. Can you talk a little bit about this?
SB: This is one of the things I love most about my job! I love that I am able to be in front of almost every single person in the company; I get to see so many different perspectives firsthand. It’s so neat to see how different property managers approach different situations, knowing that we’re here to support them no matter what.
These visits also give me the opportunity to collect feedback from our property managers to try and gauge how we’re doing internally as a company. It’s thanks to their feedback that we’re able to continue to grow and improve our processes.
Can you talk a little more about the training aspect of your role?
SB: We have a training program that we go through with any new property manager hire, preferably in groups, if possible. Group training has the benefit of the camaraderie with new co-workers and the ability to partner with multiple team members from our Corporate office providing integral training on their expertise/field in the company (such as program training, reporting, etc.). Part of my role is to ensure that new property managers are given the tools and information they need to feel confident in their new role. This includes introducing them to their local team, as well as the coworkers they will be working with from the corporate office. My goal is to be a resource for any new hire and set them up for success. The most exciting thing about training is the opportunity to focus on the importance of our Core Values. We incorporate them in everything we do and work hard to make sure they are infused throughout every office/market.
For me, our Core Values are the foundation of what makes CCP a great company to work for and with. Finding the “RIGHT” people who understand, value, and implement our values will be our greatest success!
What advice would you share for individuals in the industry who are looking to build community within their market?
SB: One of the biggest things that we encourage all property managers to do is to get involved with professional organizations like BOMA, IREM, CREW, etc., which gives them the chance to get to know other people in the area, grow awareness of the Commonwealth name, and share ideas and perspectives on challenges and solutions that are specific to their area.
I would encourage them to give back to their community. For instance, each November we kick off our “CCP Gives Back” initiative, where we volunteer our time and resources to local nonprofits and organizations in need.
What makes Commonwealth Commercial unique in the industry?
SB: To me, there are two parts to this: I think we provide valuable services with a good group of people. I value that we are a company that can tailor our services to meet our partners’ needs depending on their goals and objectives. If someone only has a current need for property management, we can provide that. And yet we also have our Asset Management, Construction Management, Facility Management, Forestry Consulting, Hospitality Management, Investment Sales, Rural Land Sales, Sales & Leasing, and Project Management/Development services, which allows us to provide so many opportunities to partner.
Secondly, Commonwealth Commercial truly cares for its people and provides opportunities within the company for people to grow. Our people are our number one focus, and our success elsewhere stems from our talent.
What can we find you doing outside of work?
SB: Family is very important to me, so you will most often find me spending time with them. Currently, my husband Daryl and I are working on a few home interior design projects and every now and again I will still jump at an opportunity to get up and sing.
