Mr. President It is appropriate that I focus today’s Inauguration Day column on our freshly minted President. Who would have thought two years ago that Barack Obama would be taking the oath of office? He ran a remarkable campaign and had an exceptional organization around him, at a time when the United States was focused on the need for a change. However, the parallels that are now being drawn between Obama, Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt are a bit premature for me. He appears to be making the right early moves and appointing a solid and diverse set of advisors and cabinet members, but Obama will make his mark only if he is able to quickly and effectively deal with the economic malaise gripping the US, and get the credit system working again. If he doesn’t, the real estate industry is in for a tough road ahead. However, he does have a clean slate, and if he can right the ship, President Obama has an opportunity to rank among those great presidents. Only time will tell.
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 GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP. Analyst (LOS ANGELES) The analyst will assist with the administration and management of 10 to 15 loans, including monthly balancing, loan fundings and repayments, and assessment of monthly operating performance of underlying property, among other duties. LEXINGTON REALTY TRUST Asset Manager Coordinator (NEW YORK CITY) The asset manager coordinator is responsible for the overseeing and monitoring of departmental programs such as tax systems, rents received, roof reporting, website editing, company-wide travel, asset valuations and lender reporting. MCWINNEY Controller (LOVELAND, CO) The controller is responsible for the development, implementation and operation of the company’s accounting policies, procedures and internal controls, as well as ensuring company wide compliance with same, in addition to other budgetary-related duties. CB RICHARD ELLIS Assistant Chief Operating Engineer (RICHMOND, VA) The engineer will supervise and direct maintenance staff on shift and monitor performance of assigned responsibilities; perform and/or direct the performance of all maintenance departmental service requests, insuring that work performed in these areas is accomplished efficiently with a minimum amount of disruption and inconvenience. | ERNST & YOUNG Tax Senior Manager–Real Estate (SAN FRANCISCO) The senior manager will provide timely and high-quality services and work products, build client relationships and demonstrate knowledge of client business.. CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD Account Director (LOS ANGELES) The director is responsible for the day-to-day management of a National Client Solutions account, involving a large client and multiple service delivery. Responsible for budgeting, revenue generation, and profitability of the account LIBERTY MUTUAL GROUP Senior Real Estate Investment Analyst (BOSTON) The candidate will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining existing relationships with a core group of fund managers and assist in tracking cash flows, maintaining internal databases, preparing portfolio reports, and assisting with due diligence and analysis on investment opportunities. COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL Managing Director (SACRAMENTO) The managing director is accountable for growing the company’s client relationships through a managed process of providing best of class, time sensitive results that accelerate our clients’ success. | Promotions No more than one submission per company will be considered per week. Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch. BMC CAPITAL (DALLAS) BMC Capital announced on that Keith Van Arsdale has been promoted to the position of president and CEO of the firm. Van Arsdale has been employed by BMC Capital for 10 years and previously served as the managing director of its Southwest division. | KEYSTONE PACIFIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (IRVINE, CA) Keystone Pacific Property Management Inc., a property management firm, has promoted Merry Morgan from community association manager to group coordinator.As community association manager, Morgan serves primarily in mentor capacity to selected team members, ensuring team cohesion and handling unique client needs. | New Hires No more than one submission per company will be considered per week. Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch. AVISON YOUNG INC.-QUEBEC (TORONTO) Bernard Poliquin will join the company as president and managing director of Avison Young (Canada) Inc.-Quebec. Poliquin joins Avison Young from Jones Lang LaSalle where he was a managing director. UGL EQUIS (CHICAGO) Michael D’Angelo is joining the company as a senior vice president after being president of Binswanger Midwest. PROPERTY PORTFOLIO RESEARCH, INC. (BOSTON) PPR is hiring Stephen Miller as director of risk Management and debt research. | DMR ARCHITECTS (HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ) The firm is hiring Chance Parker as a construction manager, involved in the design of sustainable projects and responsible for general construction management and administration. Parker was recently part of the Green Team Real Estate, a start-up company specializing in energy efficiency and green building technologies. FRASER FORBES (MCLEAN, VA) Seth Z. Potack is becoming the senior vice president of operations and business development. Previously, Potack served as vice president with McWilliams Ballard. | |