Rising Stars: The Next Generation of Commercial Real Estate

What do the next generation of commercial real estate leaders look like?

For the third year running, BOMA International asked its members to nominate "rising stars" in the industry. While each has only worked in the field for a few years, the four emerging professionals recognized here all demonstrate exceptional drive, dedication and the potential to shape the future of real estate.

 

Some people serendipitously stumble upon a career in commercial real estate, but for Damon Skelly, whose father works in property management and grandfather works as a broker, joining the industry was a less surprising destiny. “Real estate is in my blood,” Skelly explains, and he hasn’t wasted any time diving into “the family business.” In fact, Skelly’s first gig in the field dates to his freshman year of college, during which he held a clerical position for a residential property management company and began honing foundational professional skills like relationship building that he still uses today.

Upon graduating in 2018, Skelly joined USAA Real Estate as an operations analyst, where he serves as the expert on data analytics and management for all things related to property operations and sustainability. Seeing that a commercial real estate career and BOMA membership go hand in hand, Skelly began both on the very same day! Soon after joining BOMA/San Antonio, Skelly was inspired by his supervisors’ involvement with BOMA and set out to take on more duties himself, including spearheading the creation of the local association’s Emerging Professionals Committee.

 

Laura Dinan is quickly moving up the ranks in the Central Florida commercial real estate world, but it was only three years ago that she left a background in dance and education to take the industry by storm. She cut her teeth working as a portfolio administrator for a boutique, Orlando, Florida-based firm where she was promoted to assistant portfolio manager in just eight months—a testament to the discipline and work ethic she has gained from years of ballet dancing. It wasn’t long until Dinan’s skill and dedication were recognized by Denholtz Properties, an ownership company that she provided third-party management for, and was asked to join them in-house in as a property manager. In this role, Dinan oversees the management and operations of a more than 750,000-square-foot portfolio, comprised of three industrial flex properties and one office property.

In addition to receiving early-career recognition from her employers, Dinan was honored with BOMA/Orlando’s Emerging Professional Award in 2018. Being involved with BOMA during the foundational stages of her career is something Dinan has found integral to her success: “Whether it’s a question related to day-to-day operations or I need advice on a strategic career move, the support and mentorship I receive through the BOMA/Orlando network is critical for someone navigating their way through a new industry,” she says.

 

Ryan Walsh was initially hired by JLL to provide accounting support to their Pittsburgh properties, but the management side of the business quickly captured his attention. Leveraging these dual responsibilities earned Walsh the unique title of assistant property manager for Finance, which he held for about two years before being promoted to property manager in 2019. Today, he oversees a 272,000-squarefoot mixed-use building on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, and he recently played a role in JLL being selected to manage a new development that will also fall under his purview. Whether it’s working on projects to expand JLL’s footprint in the Pittsburgh market or developing a strong relationship with tenants, being able to see his efforts materialize into a positive outcome is what Walsh loves about working in property management.

“I recently worked with a tenant on a buildout and I found it very rewarding to work with them through that transition period,” Walsh shares. “Establishing that rapport and trust early on allows for a long-term, high-quality relationship.”

 

When Madeline Powers entered the workforce, she sought a role where she could play many parts. “I just wanted to do everything,” Powers explains. After gaining a wide range of experience in retail and operations management and even serving as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, Powers discovered the property management field and was “never bored again.” In fact, Powers’ ability to wear many hats was immediately put to the test when her first property team became short-staffed, challenging her to take on managerial duties only a couple months into the job.

Her willingness to take on new responsibilities led Powers to climb from property administrator to property manager in just one year—but it wasn’t without the support of her local BOMA community. “I relied heavily on my BOMA/Austin network at that time,” says Powers. “I was the only person on my very small team who handled the property management side of things, so I had to seek out guidance and expertise externally.” It was also through BOMA that Powers found her next opportunity with a larger company, Cushman & Wakefield, where she manages a nearly 500,000-square-foot portfolio of office, retail, industrial and mixed-use properties.

 

Read the full story at BOMA >

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