Happy New Year - 09.07.2010
The day after Labor Day is, in many respects, the beginning of the new business year. This year, 2010 is winding-down and approaching the history books, and businesses are now beginning to focus on 2011. The past year has been marked by a great deal of frustration; low-to-no deal flow on the real estate front, erratic economic news and a skittish stock market, anemic consumer confidence, a ballooning Federal deficit, and more of the same from the Washington crowd. With this as a backdrop, I offer my predictions on the New Year. First, expect the Democrats to get trounced in November and the Republicans will regain the House. I favor a balance of power, so that will be a good thing. Second, across the board, industry will report strong earnings, and the consumer will regain confidence and begin to spend. Third, real estate transactional activity will explode. Banks will aggressively disgorge REO and non-performing loans setting the stage for broader trading activity as buyers and sellers recognize the new norm and get down to business as usual. Finally, renewed activity and confidence will fuel hiring activity at all professional levels. This should turn out to be a very good year.

Tony LoPinto is a senior client partner and head of Korn//Ferry International’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

CLAIRVUE CAPITAL PARTNERS
Investment Vice President/Senior Associate
(SAN FRANCISCO) The VP/senior associate will lead transaction teams in the underwriting and execution of new investment opportunities; quantitative analysis; review and recommend investment decisions based upon market research; and prepare investment committee memoranda; among other duties.

POST INVESTMENT GROUP
Vice President of Asset Management
(DALLAS) The VP will develop and manage the asset management platform for over 8,000 multi-family units predominately located throughout Texas; negotiate and administer the property level contracts including but not limited to laundry, cable, internet and utility contracts; and monitor loan agreements and equity partner agreements to ensure compliance in reporting; among other duties.

DEVELOPERS DIVERSIFIED REALTY
Regional Property Manager
(LARGO, MD) The property manager will manage the maintenance and project activities for assigned DDRC centers and maintain security standards for shopping centers.

COHEN FINANCIAL
Asset Manager
(OVERLAND PARK, KS) The asset manager will monitor assigned portfolio to ensure compliance with loan servicing agreements; monitor assigned portfolio to ensure borrower compliance with loan documents; administer borrower requests; review monthly delinquency reports for assigned portfolio; and coordinate collection inquiries with Loan Administrator on assigned portfolios to ascertain nature of default, borrower's intentions with respect to collateral preservation and loan reinstatement; among other duties.

JONES LANG LASALLE
Marketing Associate, Business Development
(WASHINGTON, DC) The marketing associate will track marketing metrics, including but not limited to, win/lose rates and marketing contribution; collaborate with marketing team to produce targeted materials, focusing on copy writing and editing; among other duties.

CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
Project Manager
(COLUMBIA, MD) The project manager will be responsible for all aspects of the implementation of project development strategies with direct accountability for project execution while leading a team to accomplish specific objectives; develops detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans and status reports; plans, directs, coordinates and schedules all elements of project development; among other duties.

SELECTLEADERS
Analyst
(BOSTON) The analyst will create pro forma financial models for the financial analysis of investment properties debt transactions and other structured finance transactions; assist in the preparation of offering memorandum packages and new business presentations; and gather and evaluate real estate market data; among other duties.

MCMORGAN & COMPANY, LLC
Acquisitions Associate
(SAN FRANCISCO) The associate will coordinate and supervise annual external appraisal process; coordinate and maintain quarterly asset valuation schedule; coordinate and supervise processing of property taxes and tax appeals for all real estate holdings in a timely manner; and provide administrative support to escrow manager; among other duties.

No more than one submission per company will be considered per week.
Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch.

ALEX.BROWN REALTY, INC.
(BALTIMORE) Alex.Brown Realty is promoting Thomas R. Burton to COO.

MARCUS & MILLICHAP REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT SERVICES
(DALLAS) Marcus & Millichap is promoting Ron Hebert to the position of vice president investments. Most recently, Hebert held the position of associate vice president investments.

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
(INLAND EMPIRE, CA) Colliers International is promoting David Pinsel as managing director for the Inland Empire. Previously, Pinsel served as managing director of investments for Colliers' Greater Los Angeles region.

No more than one submission per company will be considered per week.
Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch.

GRUBB & ELLIS CO.
(CLEVELAND) Grubb & Ellis is hiring Kevin J. Riley as vice president, Tenant Advisory Group. Riley joins Grubb & Ellis from Colliers Ostendorf-Morris.

CB RICHARD ELLIS
(STAMFORD, CT) CB Richard Ellis is hiring Jon Knudsen as an associate.

SRS REAL ESTATE PARTNERS
(DALLAS) SRS Real Estate Partners is hiring Steve Dawkins as executive vice president.

STARWOOD CAPITAL GROUP
(PARIS) Starwood Capital Group is hiring Steven R. Goldman as CEO of its French Affiliate, Groupe du Louvre.

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD OF ILLINOIS, INC.
(CHICAGO) Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois is hiring Tim Gallagher as a director in the industrial brokerage practice. Gallagher comes to C&W after spending the last seven years as president of his own company, Gallagher Realty Inc.