NEW YORK CITY-Jacqueline Klinger partner with SCG Retail was the recipient of REBNY's Deal of the Year award for the Whole Foods market she helped bring to Harlem. And this is one of the many projects in which she has been involved during her illustrious career. As a commercial real estate professional, she has seen and experienced a great deal, but at the end of the day, she still has fun with her work. Which, for many, can be key to making connections, keeping them and truly finding the great deals.

How did you become involved in the commercial real estate industry and the retail sector in particular?

My first job after I graduated from college was working on the restoration of Grand Central Terminal at Williams, Jackson, Ewing. I was born and raised in Manhattan and thought it would be an interesting experience to work on such an important and historical project. I was in Grand Central Terminal nearly every weekend throughout my time at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Envisioning it as more of destination than simply a transit hub was fascinating. What appealed to me was the importance of using both business acumen and imagination to be effective.