Executive Watch

Business Week just published a cover story entitled, “The 50 Best Places to Launch a Career.” Guess what? Not one real estate company made the list. Actually, it’s not surprising. We’ve mentioned before the sad fact that the real estate industry does a poor job (I’m being generous) attracting bright, young talent, and the competition is getting stiffer. The Wall Street Journal recently featured a six-page supplement, “The New Battle for MBA Grads,” and two respected business journals highlighted the fierce competition that exists for the next generation of talent. We need to rally as an industry and focus on this issue, because it’s not going away; it’ll just get worse as the competition from other industries heats up. Companies like Whirlpool and IBM are using new, aggressive tactics (in addition to more money), to attract bright-eyed graduates. Let’s face it, the only way to attract the best talent is to make it an organizational priority, and the associations that support the industry also need to lean in to provide a broader industry commitment to the agenda.

Job Opportunities RREEF Portfolio Analyst (CHICAGO) The analyst will provide support for the portfolio manager, have real estate experience with knowledge of the asset management and portfolio management process, and more. ROCKBRIDGE CAPITAL LLC Vice President Investment Group (COLUMBUS, OH) The VP will be an accomplished professional with a proven track record, demonstrated leadership, and ability to balance and handle urgent demands while identifying, planning and executing key strategic objectives. HOLLIDAY FENOGLIO FOWLER LP Analyst–IS Multifamily (ATLANTA) Duties include preparing real estate investment sales offering memorandums and RFP submissions, preparing and maintaining financial models in Excel, underwriting issues and more. BANK OF SCOTLAND Vice President (NEW YORK CITY) Analyze, underwrite and monitor construction risk in all BoS USA credits. Focus primarily on construction loans originated by the Real Estate Finance Group and secondarily on construction loans originated by the Los Angeles-based Gaming Group. SELECTLEADERS Director of Global Real Estate (MIDWEST) This director will be responsible for developing and executing strategies designed to maximize the utility of the corporation’s real estate holdings, and serve as the key interface with the executive management team for each business unit. PRUDENTIAL Business Analyst–Fixed Income (NEWARK) The hire will planning and conduct the analysis of the business process and system within a designated business unit, department, or group, and identify cost-effective solutions to address business challenges. SELECTLEADERS Product Manager (NEW YORK CITY) This manager will be responsible for the identification, evaluation and prioritization of product related opportunities that will enhance user (both client and candidate) experience and revenue. CONFIDENTIAL Property Manager (TUCSON) A property management firm in the Tucson area is seeking a professional to manage several of its retail and/or office properties. Promotions CALKAIN REALTY ADVISORS (RESTON, VA) Rick Fernandez, who joined the company in 2006, becomes business development director. COFINANCE INC. (HACKENSACK, NJ) After three years with the firm, James J. Maurer is named president. He most recently was COO. CB RICHARD ELLIS (TAMPA, FL) Ginger Gelsheimer rises to vice president after five years with the company. COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL UNITED (HOUSTON) Robert S. Lowery rises to senior associate from associate. He joined the company in 2005. ARC/ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES (CAMBRIDGE, MA) Sean Gaw, Jennifer Needham and Jan Taylor are named associates. O’DONNELL/ATKINS (IRVINE, CA) Tom Reimers becomes executive vice president, marking his fifth year with the firm. CROSLAND (CHARLOTTE, NC) David Ravin rises to president after 10 years with the company, most recently overseeing the Raleigh office. He is replacing Justin Little, who is retiring after two decades at the helm. Also earning promotions were Bill Anderson, senior vice president; Jim Anderson, director of the Raleigh operations; Jamie Dunn, vice president of investments; Julianne Smith-Hamilton, vice president of marketing and technology; Chris Squier and Austin Williams, vice presidents; Chris Grenier, director of design and construction; and Lonnie Willaby, director. FIRST INDUSTRIAL REALTY TRUST (CHICAGO) Robert G. Cutlip, a 25-year veteran, is named executive vice president-North America. He joined the company in March 2006 as managing director. Also, David P. Draft, executive vice president, assumes additional duties for the expansion into the Netherlands and Belgium. ACCOR NORTH AMERICA (DALLAS) Olivier Poirot, former CFO, becomes CEO of Motel 6/Studio 6 and Accor North America, and Jim Amorosia, former COO, is named president and COO. They are replacing Georges Le Mener, who is retiring as president and CEO. As part of the shift, Didier Bosc becomes CFO and executive vice president; Alan Rabinowitz, executive vice president and general counsel; Patrick Ollivier, executive vice president of human resources and quality; Bernard Rudler, executive vice president of franchising and procurement; and Jeff Winslow, executive vice president and CIO. CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD (LOS ANGELES) Janice Cimbalo goes to senior director after two years as director. New Hires EQUIBASE CAPITAL GROUP (CHICAGO) Benjamin S. Nummy joins as managing principal, becoming a member of the management and investment committees. He most recently was an executive director in Morgan Stanley’s real estate group. THAYER LODGING GROUP (ANNAPOLIS, MD) James Rowe begins as director of acquisitions and development. He previously was an investment sales associate for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. MARCUS & MILLICHAP REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT SERVICES (PORTLAND, OR) Whitney Holcombe starts as an investment specialist for the multifamily group. BROWN HARRIS STEVENS (NEW YORK CITY) Shlomi Reuveni joins as executive vice president and senior managing director for the on-site marketing and sales group. Reuveni most recently was a broker for the Corcoran Group. NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK (MIAMI) Jon Bourbeau starts as senior managing director. He was a former managing director for Studley’s South Florida office. HALSTEAD PROPERTY (NEW YORK CITY) Bess Dulany starts as sales director in Brooklyn. Dulany was owner and manager of Harbor View Realty, a family-owned company. COHEN BROTHERS REALTY (NEW YORK CITY) Steven Alvarez comes back to the firm as senior vice president of building operations after a stint as vice president for One Source Facility Services. He originally joined Cohen in the mid-1990s, spending nearly 10 years with the firm. CB RICHARD ELLIS (DALLAS) Ran Holman rejoins as senior vice president in the office division. He previously was president and partner of Cawley Wilcox Cos. Holman began his career at CBRE in 1986, rising to executive vice president and executive managing director of the Dallas/Fort Worth office. NORMANDY REAL ESTATE PARTNERS (MORRISTOWN, NJ) Thomas J. Walsh joins as principal, assuming oversight for development and construction. The veteran was co-founder and president of Gale Construction Co. APOLLO REAL ESTATE ADVISORS (LOS ANGELES) Frank Buckley gets a partner’s seat in the firm. Buckley formerly was director of Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. RBC CAPITAL MARKETS (DALLAS) Dan Littauer begins as vice president. He spent 10 years as director of national brokerage accounts for GE Real Estate. PIRCHER, NICHOLS & MEEKS (LOS ANGELES) Aron E. Youngerwood starts as an associate after working in New York City and London in real estate practices for private and alternative investment funds. RESOURCE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE (INDIANAPOLIS) Jon W. Shuel and Matt Moore begin as advisers. Moore most recently oversaw sales efforts for FSN Indiana, a cable television network. NAI NORRIS BEGGS & SIMPSON (PORTLAND, OR) Attorney Eric Shreves will specialize in multifamily investment sales, taking a seat on the firm’s capital asset group. He most recently was with CB Richard Ellis. GE REAL ESTATE (NORWALK, CT) Joe Gorin becomes acquisitions director of direct investments. Gorin was vice president of acquisitions for Equity Office Properties. LCOR (BETHESDA, MD) Ross Little begins as development director, responsible for mixed-use and multifamily projects in metropolitan Washington, DC. For the past four years, he worked at the Bozzuto Group, rising to land acquisitions manager. TERRA COS. (LIBERTYVILLE, IL) Thomas Pisto is hired to lead the company’s new division, Terra Capital LLC. PM REALTY GROUP (DALLAS) Nathan R. Durham and Travis C. Ewert join as senior vice president and leasing manager, respectively. Durham spent seven years at Harwood International Inc. as leasing director. Ewert previously was project manager and IT adviser for KMPG International. CB RICHARD ELLIS (PHILADELPHIA) Douglas Rodio starts as vice president for the private client group. He previously worked for a local real estate company. SUFFOLK ADVISORS (LEXINGTON, MA) Albert J. Corr will join as principal in October. The former vice president of BPG Properties Ltd. had oversight for the investment portfolio throughout the New England region. JONES LANG LASALLE (ORLANDO) Scott Bell comes on board as senior vice president to oversee agency leasing, property management and tenant representation business in the market. He most recently was senior vice president of Carter Real Estate, with oversight for Central Florida and select national accounts. GALAXY COMMERCIAL HOLDING (BEVERLY HILLS, CA) Diane Erickson will head up the San Diego operations as vice president and project manager. She most recently was a project manager for a San Diego-based developer. Also joining the company is Brian Angelini, an attorney hired to assist with entitlements and project planning. He previously practiced with a Century City law firm. Nancy Symonds joins as project coordinator and assistant project manager after working as project manager for a homebuilder in San Diego.