Vet Bet

There was an important article in Monday's Wall Street Journal about the growing focus of corporate America to hire young military veterans. Shockingly, the unemployment rate for young vets is almost 3% higher than for non-veterans, and unfortunately, there is an increasing flood of newly minted vets who are joining the workforce in a very choppy economy. I have had an opportunity to speak with numerous real estate property and asset management hiring managers who have actively focused on hiring military vets, and they have universally found that the caliber of their training, discipline, and focus provides an exceptional foundation for these roles. Once hired, they learn fast and perform well above average. I propose that we all evaluate our hiring plans, and include the recruiting of military vets high on the list. It's a good and smart thing to do.

Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn/Ferry International's Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author's own.

CIM GROUP
Associate-Investments
(LOS ANGELES) The associate will be an integral part of the Investments deal team, responsible for handling the majority of the financial modeling, research, and underwriting of an investment. Duties include analyzing potential acquisition and development opportunities to include cash flow modeling, property valuations, investment analyses (IRRs, sensitivity tables, etc.), and joint venture structuring; supporting deal team by independently performing market research of investment districts and other market data by utilizing CIM resources, such as relationships with external experts, to inform decision making; and supporting the transaction due diligence and closing processes. In addition, this position will collect due diligence materials, utilize information to adjust underwriting, and coordinate with legal and accounting departments to facilitate the closing of a transaction

PROLOGIS
Senior Property Manager
(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) The senior property manager will coordinate customer relation functions and holiday activities/gift distribution; assume accountability for the property revenues and expenses and use sound financial measures to ensure that the budget and financial goals are met; prepare operating and capital budgets; establish estimated/actual recoveries; coordinate operating expense reconciliations with the accounting department; communicate tax issues to senior management; manage insurance requirements for properties and associated vendor/supplies; and manage the AP/AR invoicing process for site.

NBIM
Portfolio Manager
(NEW YORK CITY) The successful candidate will join NBIM as a portfolio manager in the Real Estate Asset Strategies team. The portfolio manager will source, invest, hold and divest property interests in North America. Specific duties include sourcing investment opportunities; leading and executing transactions; identifying, negotiating and establishing joint ventures; monitoring existing investments and relationships; representing NBIM vis-à-vis partners or 3rd parties; and driving the investment process.

REIT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
Assistant Property Manager
(CHICAGO) The assistant property manager will work with the general manager and property manager to assist with managing all aspects of a 2.1 million-square-foot portfolio consisting of first-class properties to ensure that all aspects of managing the properties are covered efficiently and professionally. This position will function as a generalist, working in the areas of operations, leasing and financial reporting.

FORE PROPERTY CO.
Chief Financial Officer
(WASHINGTON, DC) The chief financial officer will be based in Washington DC. Reporting to the chairman and sitting on the executive team, the CFO will provide management and leadership related to all finance, accounting, and corporate administration activities of the businesses with particular emphasis on taxation and asset management of luxury and low income housing tax credit apartments.

HEITMAN
Vice President, Research Apartment Specialist
(CHICAGO) The position will manage a research staff who collect and analyze data on property markets, capital markets and economic trends in North America; work alongside the acquisition team on prospective property acquisitions, including assessments of local market conditions and trends, competitive properties and identification of risks/opportunities; oversee the writing of the market section for annual business plans for properties within the Heitman-managed North American portfolio; write papers and articles for the Heitman Perspective series on market trends and their investment implications; and interact with clients in person and on conference calls.

INVESCO
Real Estate Product Specialist
(DALLAS) The role of the product specialist will be to provide support to the product manager to ensure a high level of client, prospect, and consultant support and to provide service for the products assigned. This includes, but is not limited to, client reporting, legal and compliance adherence, operations/data management coordination, RFP preparation, marketing materials, and product/portfolio analysis. The product specialist works directly with the product manager to plan, support and affect a strong internal and external client focus.

NEW YORK LIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Head of Real Estate - Technical Services/Chief Real Estate Appraiser
(NEW YORK CITY) The head of technical services and chief real estate appraiser reporting directly to the head of the real estate department will be responsible for appraisal, architectural, engineering and environmental activities. Additional duties include formulating and executing policy for valuation, architectural, engineering, construction and environmental issues; guiding the selection of third party consultants; supervising and reviewing the work of the architects, engineers, appraisers and the preparation of appraisal approval memos for all new loans and equities; overseeing the progress of the annual inspection/evaluation program; and interacting with industry experts to maintain a current directory of competent valuation, architectural, construction, environmental and seismic specialists.

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Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch.

CBRE GROUP
(DETROIT) CBRE Group, Inc. announced that Eric Stang has been appointed senior director and will lead CBRE's Business Transition & Move Management Services team. Stang, who has been with CBRE for more than 14 years, was previously the director of operations for the Move Management unit.

JONES LANG LASALLE HOTELS
(CHICAGO) Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels announced the appointment of Jalil Mekouar to the dual role of managing director of the firm's Strategic Advisory and Asset Management business and Americas chief operating officer. Mekouar established and led the Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Middle-East & Africa office in Dubai for five years. Mekouar succeeds Ted Tomaras who has been promoted to the role of global chief operating and financial officer.

THOMPSON NATIONAL PROPERTIES
(IRVINE, CA) Thompson National Properties has promoted James Wolford to president and chief operating officer. In this role he will oversee the day-to-day operations of TNP and its affiliates. He will continue to serve as the company's chief financial officer, as well as treasurer and secretary of TNP Strategic Retail Trust.

AVISON YOUNG
(PITTSBURGH) George "Duke" Kingsley, Bradley Totten and James Kelly join Avison Young as principals. Kingsley also becomes managing director of the new Pittsburgh office. Both Totten and Kelly will serve as senior vice presidents. They were all formerly at Grubb & Ellis.

OPUS DEVELOPMENT
(CHICAGO) Opus Development Corporation announced the addition of Mark Bell as a real estate manager in the Chicago office. Prior to joining the company, Bell was an associate at Colliers International, where he represented corporations and institutions in the acquisition, disposition, leasing and development of industrial real estate.

DAVACO
(DALLAS) DAVACO , Inc., a provider of high-volume programs and implementation services for global brands, announced today that Bruce Johnston has been named director of operations for the company's hospitality division. Prior to joining DAVACO, Johnston was employed by Matthews Southwest, where he was responsible for managing the recent development of the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel.

MARCUS & MILLICHAP CAPITAL CORP.
(LOS ANGELES) Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC) has named Chris Pecoraro a director in the firm's Los Angeles office. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of Petroleum Capital Management LLC in Los Angeles.

CSM CORP.
(MINNEAPOLIS) Bill Upshaw joins the company as president of lodging and residential. Bill joins CSM after serving as president and COO of Windsor Capital Group in Santa Monica, CA. In that position, Upshaw oversaw hotel operations along with the company's strategic objectives, asset capitalization and partnership relationships.