WoI Speaker: How Edna Meyer-Nelson Founded Richland Cos.
With 91% occupancy across 38 properties, “numbers tell the story and they do not lie.”
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HOUSTON, TX—As President and CEO of The Richland Cos., Edna Meyer-Nelson directs all business activities for Richland’s various divisions including office, industrial, office flex, single tenants and retail. Since founding The Richland Cos. in 1993, she has amassed a portfolio of 38 properties in five states representing more than approximately 2.5 million square feet of commercially owned and managed property throughout the southwestern US valued in excess of $250 million. GlobeSt.com spoke with Meyer-Nelson as part of our series on the speakers for our upcoming Women of Influence conference.
“My expertise is numbers. Numbers tell the story and they do not lie,” she tells GlobeSt.com. “I’ll look at something as long as the numerical profile says the deal will work.”
Meyer-Nelson began her career in the banking industry where she served as vice president, Commercial Loan Officer, and Marketing Director for several of the larger banks in Houston including Charter Bank, Great Southern Bank, American National Bank and Fondren Southwest Bank. During her tenure, Meyer-Nelson’s duties included originating commercial, small business and real estate loans, as well as executive lines of credit. While managing over $50 million in assets, she also assisted in the buy-outs of several independent banks, initiated and incorporated new, cost effective programs, and actively encouraged executive women to enter new business ventures.
“I remember being the only female in one of the bank’s training programs years ago,” reminisces Meyer-Nelson. “They had us wear A-line skirts and pin-striped jackets!”
When Meyer-Nelson first started in industry, there were multiple obstacles that women had to overcome, now there are a lot of women in CRE who will mentor and advise aspiring female colleagues.
“The good ole boy network has always thrived as they help each other progress and come up. Women, on the other hand, weren’t always as helpful to each other. Nowadays, women actively help each other and we are flourishing in the marketplace. After all, men typically focus on one thing while women aptly focus on many things. It’s safe to say that men and women now appreciate each other.”
A longtime board member of Houston Children’s Charity, Meyer-Nelson, earned the distinction of serving as its first female President in 2009. She also sits on the boards of several other non-profits and organizations including the Executive Advisory Board-Graduate Real Estate Program, C.T. Bauer College of Business and the Houston Police Foundation.
Meyer-Nelson is also an official member of the Houston Business Journal Leadership Trust and in 2018, she became one of 48 women in the country to be inducted into Real Estate Forum’s Women of Influence Hall of Fame.
“I’ve made it because I’ve watched every penny and know where every dime is being spent,” says Meyer-Nelson. “I have also spent a lot of time not only ensuring that our numbers are good, but also making sure our backroom is good. Make sure you have the right vendors and that your rent rolls, taxes, etc. are all in order. With 91% occupancy across 38 properties, my team and I are consistently cognizant and astute with all matters pertaining to our properties and business.”