WOODLAND HILLS, CA—In its 20 years in business, NewMark Merrill Cos. has never had a company layoff and has emerged through every challenge a stronger and smarter company, CEO Sandy Sigal tells GlobeSt.com. The Woodland Hills, CA-based firm focuses on retail-based acquisitions, development, property management and leasing in California, Colorado and the Mountain states and Illinois. We sat down with Sigal for a chat about the firm's 20^th anniversary, the role of technology in its success and what the future holds.

GlobeSt.com: What have been the keys to NewMark Merrill's success during the past 20 years?

Sigal: There would be several things. First, we're fortunate to start with a team that has stayed intact, with a shared vision and a passion for everything related to shopping centers. This is still the case after all these years. Second, we have been very much a retail-focused company—we're not about industrial or office buildings. We've always had a culture of creativity and change and a number of other things that drive evolution. We still have fun and always have fun doing what we do. It's a combination that enables us to continue down the path we've been on for the past 20 years.

GlobeSt.com: What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned during the past 20 years?

Sigal: First, the world's a lot better if you surround yourself with people who share your vision. Don't compromise on who your people are. Ethics and values are not negotiable. Second, don't be afraid to embrace change. Some flexibility in your business plan is important, but you can't always run to the greener pasture. There's a fine line between adapting and changing your underlying business promise, and we've learned those lessons. Sometimes you experiment more than you need to in the name of trying to grow a business; you take shortcuts or convince yourself that certain underwriting rules don't apply or you get over your skis, and this almost always leads to trouble.

GlobeSt.com: What are some of NewMark Merrill's biggest accomplishments during the past 20 years?

Sigal: If I had to pick one, I'd say it's that we have kept our team intact. We've never had a layoff as a company. We have kept people with benefits and employed through a number of cycles and have emerged through every challenge a stronger and smarter company. There are a number of people who have been here 10, 15, 20 years. It's shocking. They didn't trade us out because someone offered them a few more bucks at some point. We're super proud of that and the people we have on our team.

GlobeSt.com: How has the evolution of technology played a role in NewMark Merrill's success?

Sigal: I'd say technology has been 157% responsible for our success. Technology has been the backbone of what's helped us be successful, but not in a dehumanizing way. I have a background in the computer business, so we used technology early on to monitor our retailer sales, what our tenants are telling us, as a way to help tenants be more successful and to track our customers and learn more about them. People who know us know we're thinking about short- and long-term technology trends. You don't want to let the Amazon effect or mobile-device challenge be looked at as an obstacle—I look at it as a huge opportunity. We are staying very focused on that. You will continue to see that. It's a balancing act between chasing every rabbit hole and figuring out what works. You try it out and make sure you have a balance between how technology helps you versus the time it takes—that's the value, and it's a defining characteristic of our company.

GlobeSt.com: What does the future hold for NewMark Merrill over the next 20 years?

Sigal: It will be the most exciting time. If you throw in driverless cars, mobile marketing and all the innovations we are facing, we will try things we can't imagine today. It's really an interesting time, in many ways like the transition from the horse and buggy to the auto—it's that dramatic. My goal is to find the secret sauce between using mobile technology to help our clients be successful and creating environments where people want to come out and away from their mobile devices and shop. It will be an exciting trip for us all.

WOODLAND HILLS, CA—In its 20 years in business, NewMark Merrill Cos. has never had a company layoff and has emerged through every challenge a stronger and smarter company, CEO Sandy Sigal tells GlobeSt.com. The Woodland Hills, CA-based firm focuses on retail-based acquisitions, development, property management and leasing in California, Colorado and the Mountain states and Illinois. We sat down with Sigal for a chat about the firm's 20^th anniversary, the role of technology in its success and what the future holds.

GlobeSt.com: What have been the keys to NewMark Merrill's success during the past 20 years?

Sigal: There would be several things. First, we're fortunate to start with a team that has stayed intact, with a shared vision and a passion for everything related to shopping centers. This is still the case after all these years. Second, we have been very much a retail-focused company—we're not about industrial or office buildings. We've always had a culture of creativity and change and a number of other things that drive evolution. We still have fun and always have fun doing what we do. It's a combination that enables us to continue down the path we've been on for the past 20 years.

GlobeSt.com: What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned during the past 20 years?

Sigal: First, the world's a lot better if you surround yourself with people who share your vision. Don't compromise on who your people are. Ethics and values are not negotiable. Second, don't be afraid to embrace change. Some flexibility in your business plan is important, but you can't always run to the greener pasture. There's a fine line between adapting and changing your underlying business promise, and we've learned those lessons. Sometimes you experiment more than you need to in the name of trying to grow a business; you take shortcuts or convince yourself that certain underwriting rules don't apply or you get over your skis, and this almost always leads to trouble.

GlobeSt.com: What are some of NewMark Merrill's biggest accomplishments during the past 20 years?

Sigal: If I had to pick one, I'd say it's that we have kept our team intact. We've never had a layoff as a company. We have kept people with benefits and employed through a number of cycles and have emerged through every challenge a stronger and smarter company. There are a number of people who have been here 10, 15, 20 years. It's shocking. They didn't trade us out because someone offered them a few more bucks at some point. We're super proud of that and the people we have on our team.

GlobeSt.com: How has the evolution of technology played a role in NewMark Merrill's success?

Sigal: I'd say technology has been 157% responsible for our success. Technology has been the backbone of what's helped us be successful, but not in a dehumanizing way. I have a background in the computer business, so we used technology early on to monitor our retailer sales, what our tenants are telling us, as a way to help tenants be more successful and to track our customers and learn more about them. People who know us know we're thinking about short- and long-term technology trends. You don't want to let the Amazon effect or mobile-device challenge be looked at as an obstacle—I look at it as a huge opportunity. We are staying very focused on that. You will continue to see that. It's a balancing act between chasing every rabbit hole and figuring out what works. You try it out and make sure you have a balance between how technology helps you versus the time it takes—that's the value, and it's a defining characteristic of our company.

GlobeSt.com: What does the future hold for NewMark Merrill over the next 20 years?

Sigal: It will be the most exciting time. If you throw in driverless cars, mobile marketing and all the innovations we are facing, we will try things we can't imagine today. It's really an interesting time, in many ways like the transition from the horse and buggy to the auto—it's that dramatic. My goal is to find the secret sauce between using mobile technology to help our clients be successful and creating environments where people want to come out and away from their mobile devices and shop. It will be an exciting trip for us all.