Perspective Last week I reported that women are scarce in graduate real estate programs (less than 19%) when compared with general MBA programs (more than 33%), and I invited readers to comment on why so few women are pursuing real estate careers. I received more than 50 responses (95% from women) and the perspectives that were shared were, for the most part, consistent across the board. The overriding reason given for the scarcity is the demand to juggle career and family. As opposed to men, most women divide their time and this is a significant challenge and career compromise. There was also a general view that this “counts against them” in career progression and compensation. The second, third, fourth and fifth top reasons all revolved around a common theme: It’s a man’s world, still an old-boy’s network that self-selects in its favor. Words and phrases such as “gender discrimination” and “cutthroat” also appeared in a number of emails. Many respondents pointed to the low attendance in graduate real estate programs as evidence that young women steer clear of the industry because of its less-than-desirable reputation. Conversely, a number of women said that they love the business and have carved out a great career, despite the “issues.” This was a very interesting exercise that highlighted that we have not progressed as far as we should have by now, or as much as some may think we have.
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 | SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING INC. Acquisitions Director (DALLAS) This executive will have complete bottom line “P&L” responsibility for the total development of assisted living facilities, and the education and supervision of real estate managers and project coordinators. TISHMAN SPEYER PROPERTIES Associate (WASHINGTON, DC) The candidate should be able to analyze/underwrite real estate acquisition opportunities and coordinate internal due diligence efforts, analyze real estate development and redevelopment opportunities for both residential and commercial assets. TIAA-CREF Director, Asset Management (NEW YORK CITY) The hire will assist in asset managing real estate equity investments consisting of office, industrial, retail and multifamily located throughout the Western US. COLE COS. Director – RE Acquisitions (PHOENIX) The director shall report to the Investments VP and will be actively involved in all facets of the company’s opportunistic real estate investments. | INLAND REAL ESTATE Senior Loan Originator (LOS ANGELES) The originator’s responsibilities will be to market, source, structure, perform preliminary underwriting and assist in closing short-term, value-added opportunistic real estate transactions. CBRE TORTO WHEATON RESEARCH Research Strategist (BOSTON) The position will report directly to the director of Investment Strategy Services Group, with the responsibility of maintaining client relationships and guiding ISS analysts as they complete projects on behalf of clients. RCLCO Vice President–Development Services Group (BETHESDA, MD) The responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: serving as the engagement manager on development assignments, developing new business opportunities in partnership with other DSG team members, and more. TRANSWESTERN Financial Analyst (BEVERLY HILLS, CA) The analyst will provide financial underwriting related to an estimated $3 billion of annual real estate finance and sales transactions throughout the country. |  Promotions | OPUS WEST CORP. (PHOENIX) The firm doles out a series of promotions. John Boyle and Jamie Godwin are made senior directors in real estate development and construction, respectively. New directors are David Lodwick in real estate finance and sales and Theresa Schultz in the construction division. Curt Kremer rises to manager of real estate development and Linnaea Godwin is named marketing manager. Craig Zupancic and Joel Wage become senior project managers and Chad Buck, project manager. HAMPTON HOTELS (MEMPHIS) Kurt Smith is made senior director of product service and development and leader of a six-member team. He formerly was director of global brand integration. | TRANSWESTERN (CHICAGO) Tamara Kos rises to executive vice president of agency leasing services after five years with the company. Kos joined the company in 2002. |  New Hires | KEYSTONE COMMERCIAL CAPITAL (PHOENIX) Jon Krieger, Scott Holland, Shari Stults and Jim Cooper open an employee-owned mortgage banking firm. The quartet had been with Capmark Finance Inc. GRUBB & ELLIS CO. (CHICAGO and SEATTLE) Erik Foster becomes the leader of the capital markets group, stepping into a newly created position of senior vice president and director. He had been director and top producer for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services’ Chicago office. Coming with him are John Meyer and Mike Wilson, both accorded associate vice president titles. In Seattle, the firm gets Geza Berger and Dennis Evans, both starting as senior vice presidents in the multi-housing investment group. STREAM REALTY PARTNERS (DALLAS) Randall A. Hart and Damien Rivera begin as vice presidents. Hart assumes day-to-day responsibility of construction management services’ tenant-improvement division. Rivera will join the industrial division for tenant representation and investment sales. WEITZ CO. (PHOENIX) Robert Roble and Katherine Gordon-Wheat join as vice president of preconstruction and business development manager, respectively. Roble most recently was regional director for a nationally ranked construction management firm. Gordon-Wheat previously was director of business development and marketing manager for a full-service engineering firm. NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE BANK (NEW YORK CITY) John P. Donahue becomes vice president and business development officer of national real estate/CMBS capital markets. He most recently was an originator in Genworth Financial’s Stamford, CT office. REALNET INVESTMENTS (PORTLAND, OR) Mitchell Seitziner joins as finance director, Eric Pubols as acquisitions manager, Jarvis Brecker as asset manager and Heather Kudray as transactions coordinator. GUARDIAN MANAGEMENT (PORTLAND, OR) Attorney Ronal Shellan comes on board as executive vice president, general counsel and principal. He most recently was a partner at Miller Nash. URBANAMERICA (NEW YORK CITY) Thomas Poitevent joins as vice president of project management. He had been director of project management and technical services for international projects of the St. Regis and luxury group brands of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. GRANITE PARTNERS (NEW YORK CITY) Meredith Oppenheim starts as senior vice president to expand the healthcare real estate practice in senior housing transactions. Her background includes an adviser for senior housing transactions for major investment banks, private equity firms and hedge funds. | WRIGHTWOOD CAPITAL (CHICAGO) Geoffrey Koss is named senior director of fund management. He previously was group senior vice president for LaSalle Bank/ABM AMRO, responsible for real estate mezzanine finance and national residential lending divisions. CLARETT GROUP (NEW YORK CITY) Annu M. Chopra joins as senior acquisitions director, bringing more than a decade of development, investment and acquisition experience to the firm. She most recently was corporate development director for Lennar Corp. BAIRD (MILWAUKEE) William Sinsky is named real estate and facilities director. He previously was real estate transaction manager for corporate real estate management at Johnson Controls. POWER EXPRESS MORTGAGE BANKERS (PASADENA, CA) Nectar Kalajian comes on board as executive vice president of the West Coast region. Kalajian previously was president of the retail division for the former Ownit Mortgage Solutions Inc. APARTMENT REALTY ADVISORS (BOSTON) Brendan H. Reilly starts as a broker. He previously was a vice president at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. TRANSWESTERN (CHICAGO) Christy Domin begins as senior associate of agency leasing. She previously worked for Lincoln Property Co. APOLLO REAL ESTATE ADVISORS (NEW YORK CITY) Jason Kelley gets a vice president’s title to join the firm. He most recently was chief credit officer for Sorin Capital Management. LILLIBRIDGE (CHICAGO) Mike Kassarjian and Patrick Napue join the headquarters office and Ross Goyer becomes part of the Indianapolis team. Kassarjian is named director of Lillibridge Advisors. He most recently acquisitions associate for Brookdale Senior Living. Napue starts as director of property accounting, the same title he had at Inland Retail Real Estate Trust. Goyer begins as general manager. He previously was general manager for Lauth Property Group. SPERRY VAN NESS (GREENVILLE, SC) Frank O’Brien assumes a senior adviser’s role to open the new office. He was founder and principal broker for O’Brien Commercial Real Estate. | |
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