Hiring Veterans is Smart Business Strategy

Stanley likes working with veterans and helping them transition from military life to civilian life.

HOUSTON—While still serving in the US Army in Bosnia, lieutenant colonel Frank Stanley began thinking about the future. A mentor encouraged him to consider commercial real estate. He completed the education requirements for a real estate license in his free time, and took and passed the test after he left active duty in 2000.

He joined the Cushman & Wakefield office in January of 2001, working first in corporate services and then seguing into brokerage. But after 9/11, Stanley was called back to active duty and sent to Iraq. In May 2004, he returned to Cushman & Wakefield and did brokerage work with the Kelley Parker and John Littman team in Houston for several years before being recalled out of retirement to active duty. Last year, Cushman & Wakefield asked the 33-year military vet if he’d like to rejoin the firm and develop a new veterans initiative. He jumped at the chance to be the firm’s manager of veteran recruitment and programs. Stanley shared his insights about military veterans and CRE in this exclusive.