Executive Watch

Perspective

Can a typo derail your next career opportunity? Maybe so, if it's in your resume. The resumes that we receive on a daily basis are filled with backgrounds outlining impressive careers. However, almost as plentiful as the accomplishments is the unfortunate frequency of typographical errors made by otherwise accomplished and careful professionals. In some respects, this is not surprising because most of today's communication is in short, choppy and abbreviated emails punched-out on a Blackberry, and we rely too often on Spell Check. Is the written word as important as the fact that you completed a $3-billion joint venture? We have proof positive that, despite an otherwise sterling resume, typos can make or break a firm's consideration of your candidacy. At least it will create a significant concern about how careful you will be on the job. It behooves even the most senior executives to have another pair of eyes review their resumes and other background documents to spot what may have been missed. So, while the big numbers certainly showcase your talent, in the end, the devil's in the details.

Tony LoPinto is CEO of Equinox Partners, an executive search firm specializing in the real estate industry, and parent company of SelectLeaders.The views expressed in this article are the author's own.

Job Opportunities

GRUBB & ELLIS
(CHICAGO) Manager, Affiliate Research Services Responsible for research services for the Affiliates and related programs including but not limited to database management, data integrity, forecasts and training for the Affiliates in various areas. This is a hands-on research focused position, which requires outstanding client service skills and abilities.

BERKSHIRE PROPERTY ADVISORS LLC
(BOSTON) Asset Manager The experienced asset manager will create annual asset business plans and oversee the execution by property management on behalf of investors.

GROSVENOR
(SAN FRANCISCO) Construction Project Manager Responsibilities will include supervising and managing construction projects, supporting development and asset managers, supervising and coordinating due diligence activities for acquisitions, and providing construction estimates for new development.

YALE UNIVERSITY
(NEW HAVEN, CT) Director of Real Estate The director of real estate will direct the merchandising, leasing, marketing, and promotion of 85 retail tenants in properties adjacent to the campus; negotiate complex real estate transactions; and manage a one-million-sf real estate portfolio of office, residential, and retail space.

SELECTLEADERS
(NEW YORK) Senior Accounting and Finance Officer The finance professional will be the point person for a multibillion-dollar real estate investment fund. This person will be a key player in providing accounting, finance and solid business skills to the portfolio team.

SELECTLEADERS
(HOUSTON) Managing Director of Development Reporting to the president of the Southwest Region, the managing director of development will assume a leadership position in establishing the company as a major player in the market, and will oversee the growth of ground up construction of commercial, industrial and retail projects in the Houston market.

FOREST CITY RATNER COS.
(BROOKLYN, NY) Finance Associate The finance associate will work with senior finance originators and development personnel in the sourcing, negotiating and closing of various capital transactions, including construction, permanent, mezzanine and bridge financings. Duties will include preparation of offering memoranda, financial modeling and analysis, written and verbal presentations, loan administration and financial reporting.

Promotions

O'CONNOR & ASSOCIATES
(HOUSTON) Mike Olivares is named regional director for the federal tax reduction division. Olivares joined the company two years ago as a regional manager.

CB RICHARD ELLIS
(PHOENIX) Bob Pearlstein is made senior vice president and Jack Hannum rises to first vice president. Pearlstein joined CBRE in 1996 and Hannum came on board two years later.

CB RICHARD ELLIS
(SADDLE BROOK, NJ) Ray Sohmer is named senior managing director for New Jersey, replacing Stacy Wallach who retires Jan. 1, 2007. In line with the executive shift, 10-year veteran Tom Krieger has been tapped to fill Sohmer's role as managing director for Central New Jersey.

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
(NEW YORK CITY, EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) Ed Donnery and Charles Wu are named senior managing director and director, respectively, for the global consulting group. In addition, the company hires Tania Hodge as a senior research associate in New Jersey.

CRESA PARTNERS
(WASHINGTON, DC) J. Russell Canard earns a berth as vice president after five years as a Cresa adviser.

New Hires

FAIRCHILD PARTNERS
(MIAMI) John Ellis Bush Jr. and Oscar Varona join as sales associates. Jeb Bush Jr., the governor's son, and Varona will focus on leasing and sales of office and industrial space in South Florida's tri-county region.

SHEA COMMERCIAL
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) The firm creates new positions to expand its senior management team. Scott Daniels, previously owner of Daniels Development Group Inc., joins as vice president of development and construction on the West Coast. On the East Coast, Daren Hornig is named managing partner in New York and Joseph A. Riggs Jr., vice president. Hornig formerly was CEO and president of Dwelling Quest. Riggs was president of Riggs Real Estate Management Co.

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
(WALNUT CREEK, CA) Tom Schmidt starts as an associate after a stint with Prudential CRES in San Francisco. He will focus on retail and investments in the North 680 corridor and Central Valley.

GREATER DALLAS CHAMBER
(DALLAS) Jay Barksdale becomes vice president of government relations. Barksdale most recently was manager of federal relations for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

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NOT FOR REPRINT

Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn Ferry’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. For the past 18 years LoPinto has been serving his clients with deep knowledge and perspective on talent needs and organizational challenges to public and private companies – knowledge gained from a 25-year career in real estate. Prior to his current position, he founded and served as chief executive officer of a boutique real estate executive search firm, where he oversaw offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has successfully led several high profile search engagements for chief executive officers, directors and a wide-range of executive level positions across all industries and sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history from Loyola University in Chicago.