My Amazon Bet

Over the last two weeks the news about Amazon's second HQ has reached a fever pitch. The Seattle-based behemoth said last year it was looking to invest $5 billion in a second headquarters that will employ up to 50,000 people over two decades. 238 cities applied, and 10 months ago the list was whittled to 20.

The flurry of recent news points to northern Virginia, and more specifically Crystal City which is owned by REIT JBG Smith as the winner. I have a special perspective on Crystal City because for 10 years is was CFO of The Charles E. Smith Companies (the Smith in JBG Smith). I know every inch of Crystal, and I wager that it will take the Amazon prize. It is a self-contained metro submarket that is incredibly well located; it has great public transportation, and you can get to Regan Airport in 3 minutes and Dulles in 45. Virginia is business friendly, the metro has a great workforce, technology abounds on the Dulles Corridor, and it's where Bezos can keep an eye on the Federal Government. Bezos owns a home there as well as the Washington Post. And the reasons go on and on.

I always thought that Crystal City would someday be something special. Well, I bet its time has come.

JOB LISTINGS

Sponsored Job: LOWE ENTERPRISES Development Manager (WASHINGTON, DC) Duties include: providing project development functions for large-scale mixed-use, office, retail and residential development projects in the Eastern Region, including Washington, DC.

COLLIERS INTERATIONAL Real Estate Manager (MINNETONKA, MN) Manager will be involved in all aspects of managing a commercial building, including operations, financial activities, and managing relationships with tenants and property owners.

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE ADVISORS, LLC Development Analyst (PHILADELPHIA, PA) Analyst will conduct detailed commercial real estate market and competitive position research, delivering accurate financial analyses relating to project budgets and feasibility, including validating assumptions and summarizing findings in written and/or oral presentations.

STARPOINT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC Acquisition Analyst for Commercial Office/Retail (BEVERLY HILLS, CA) Duties include: identifying feasible investment opportunities by researching property, demographic and other pertinent information within target markets and applying standard analytical processes to determine whether opportunities meet or exceed the company's investment criteria.

UNION BANK MUFG Vice President (Senior Portfolio Manager/Underwriter) – Commercial Real Estate (NEW YORK, NY) Position is part of the Institutional Markets Lending Unit, with offices in New York and San Francisco, within Union Bank's Real Estate Industries Group. The Institutional Markets Lending Unit focuses on secured Real Estate project financing as well as lending to public and private REIT's and Institutional Funds with a national focus. Position will include learning the Bank's various systems and maintaining data integrity.

LMC Director of Construction (PHOENIX, AZ) Position will provide leadership for all on-site field Associates and subcontractors and manage three separate construction projects. Role will be responsible for the budget, scheduling, quality assurance, and safety on the job site and ensure compliance with plans, specifications, and relevant building codes.

ML REALTY PARTNERS Asset Manager (Itasca, IL) Manager will work closely with 3rd party property managers to ensure efficient portfolio operation; assist director with portfolio management and special projects as assigned; assist with tenant lease documents and landlord waivers; and analyze property financial information for NOI enhancement.

VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA Asset Manager (OHIO) Position will gather and report on the operational performance and condition of assigned real estate assets; provide analysis, conclusions and recommendations regarding specific properties assigned as well as entire real estate portfolio, as required; and conduct on-site inspections.

REALOP Regional Property Manager (RALEIGH, NC) Manager will supervise and coordinate operations of the region to ensure daily business activity succeeds in creating a profit center for ownership; conduct routine property inspections; and participate in property tours associated with potential tenants, ownership, financing entities, sale of property, etc.

ADVANCE REALTY Capital Markets Associate (or VP) (BRIDGEWATER, NJ) Associate will assist the acquisitions and capital markets team with all aspects of the real estate investing process. Additional duties include: analyzing real estate investment opportunities; compiling property data; and maintaining current knowledge of market conditions, property values, and legislation that may affect the real estate industry.

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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.