GCG's Sara Greenwood talks sustainability

This week’s broker spotlight showcases a different kind of broker - one who brokers environmental excellence, sustainable business practices and climate services for businesses across the Kansas City metro.

With over sixteen years of experience, Sara Greenwood, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP + WELL FACULTY, is a sustainability consultant with Greenwood Consulting Group (GCG). Greenwood helps teams manage the certification process to achieve their performance goals.

GCG, certified as a Women’s Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in Kansas and Missouri, is working on the following projects:

Kansas City Airport, Grand Place (former KC Star Building), NextGen Building at the University of Missouri Columbia, St. Luke’s South Rehabilitation Institute, Johnson County Medical Examiner Building, Georgia Aquarium expansion, 9800 Metcalf Office Building, Brookridge Development and several K-12, multifamily and warehouse projects located coast to coast.

In this week’s MWM Broker Spotlight, Greenwood shares her passion and unique perspective behind emerging green building practices and technologies - especially interesting for clients pursuing green building certification and sustainable business initiatives.

RT:  What was your lightbulb moment to get into commercial real estate?

SG: When I see projects come to fruition and the building occupants are bragging about the sustainable building features that I worked hard to implement. I was in an elevator of a multifamily building in Anaheim next to a mom who was telling me she just moved into this building from down the street because she saw that it was LEED Certified and her child has asthma and she really wanted to ensure a healthy home environment.

RT (Rachel Treanor):  What gets you excited to get to work every day?

SG (Sara Greenwood): The diversity in my projects really inspires me to work each day. Also, I have a personal affinity for projects that benefit children and disadvantaged people in our community. I love to watch projects evolve from a design on paper through construction to completion. Then to attain a certification target because of my consulting expertise is very fulfilling!

RT:  What keeps you up at night about commercial real estate?

SG: Politics. Cuts on incentives to implement green building performance measures.

RT:  What does a Kansas City CRE Comeback look like to you?

SG: More emphasis on the health of building occupants and awareness that buildings impact our lives daily. People spend more than 90% of their time indoors. It is crucial to consider building health when we are talking about our own health.

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

SG: Sara@GreenwoodCG.com Cell: 415-602-9220 and our website is www.GreenwoodCG.com

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NAI Heartland's Joe O'Neill shares win-win attitude

This week’s Broker Spotlight features Joe O’Neill, an associate in industrial properties with NAI Heartland.

O’Neill first gained interest in manufacturing, logistics, distribution and warehousing while attending the University of Kansas during his involvement with KU’s Supply Chain Management Club.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from KU, O’Neill attained valuable sales experience selling capital equipment. These unique experiences, combined with his personal interest in real estate, ignited the beginning of his career in industrial commercial real estate.

Today, O’Neill’s primary areas of focus are landlord and tenant representation with regard to leasing, property acquisition and disposition of flex and industrial properties in the Kansas City metro area.

O’Neill explained how working with the other members of the NAI Heartland industrial team and learning from each other’s experiences has made him a better broker in the industrial market. He shares his winning attitude, interesting insights and more in this week’s Broker Spotlight:

RT (Rachel Treanor):  What does a Kansas City CRE Comeback look like to you?

JO (Joe O’ Neill): The dream comeback is for more businesses to look at Kansas City and realize the value here. Additionally, for them to believe in the greater potential our city has to offer with a new airport coming, our great central location, ample space for growth, and the work ethic of our Midwest people. Through these four big picture pieces, I hope business leaders will have a chance to notice and attract their businesses to the area. If this hope came true it should drive strong demand for commercial real estate throughout Kansas City.

RT:  How do you keep your skills sharp in this competitive climate?

JO:  Staying current with news and market trends. Work hard, stay current, more business comes in and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy to staying competitive.

RT:  What gets you excited to get to work every day?

JO:  Creating win-win situations. When you can source the property a client, partner or colleague is searching for that makes them happy, and you provided them that service. That is a win-win and a really good feeling.

RT:  What deal do you wish for in your future portfolio?

JO: Referrals and repeat clients. Both are testaments of great service and again that win-win I always aim for. Repeat clients often means a business is growing and that is exciting to be a part of.

RT: Who is your mentor and why?

JO:  Nathan Anderson has been monumental in getting me up to speed in the world of CRE. Before getting into the business I met with multiple industry veterans and everyone said a good mentor is key to success. This has proven to be true. Nathan has the rare combination of being very successful in this field as well as possessing strong coaching skills. I feel very lucky to work with him.

RT:  Who do you mentor?

JO: Starting out not knowing anything in a new industry it is a lot of take. Any chance I get to share what I have learned or let my colleagues know of a successful strategy is an opportunity for me to give back or pay it forward. We are all learning every day and the NAI Heartland office has a great culture where you can ask anyone a question.

RT:  How can prospects contact you for more information?

JO:  Thank you for the opportunity to share my contact info. I can be reached by email: joe@nai-heartland.com or by phone: 913-890-2010.

NAI Heartland's Sean Ellington shares ambition for KC CRE

Sean Ellington joined NAI Heartland as an associate of the brokerage team in October 2017. His primary areas of focus are landlord and tenant representation with regard to leasing, property acquisition and disposition of retail and office properties in the Kansas City metro area. 

Ellington is a licensed commercial real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri. His current projects include:

·     Cherokee South Shopping Center – Overland Park, Kan.

·     Former Kneaders Bakery – Blue Springs, Mo.

·     Former Boston Market – Overland Park, Kan.

In this week's Broker Spotlight, Ellington shares his ambition of commercial real estate with MWM - including his goals, excitement and the new ideas he has for the industry.

Rachel Treanor (RT): What gets you excited to get to work every day?

The “maybe” or “what if” factor that gets me up every day is the potential for new business or projects! I am always excited to bring new brands or concepts to Kansas City. 

RT: How do you keep your skills sharp in this competitive climate?

Sean Ellington (SE): Stay on the phone and stay connected to the areas where you have projects. They will quickly overlap and your knowledge and contacts within a larger area will grow.

RT: What was your lightbulb moment to get into commercial real estate?

SE: My lightbulb moment was most likely when I worked in property management while attending KU. I saw how passive income was generated through real estate and I wanted to get involved. After property management, I was a commercial appraiser before I became an associate at NAI Heartland. The real draw of commercial real estate for me was the entrepreneurship aspect and how different being a broker is from a typical employee.

RT: Who is your mentor and why?

There are several partners within NAI Heartland that I would consider a mentor. Carl LaSala has been a constant resource and pillar to lean on during my time as an associate. Carl and I have discussed numerous topics; from contract review to stress management, he has made it easier to navigate the challenges of this business.

RT: Who do you mentor?

I probably don’t have enough gray hair to be considered a great mentor but usually start-ups and potential clients are the individuals I can help the most. My advice revolves around how to present a tenant’s vision and the resources and tools necessary to get a second look from a landlord or gain trust.

RT: What deal do you wish for in your future portfolio?

SE: It probably isn’t a specific deal as we all want to lease and sell larger and more impressive properties. My wish is to have a portfolio that the majority of deals are working with Kansas City based investors/businesses. I would like to better understand the younger investors/businesses that are getting involved in CRE as I am growing my portfolio. 

RT: What leads do you look for?

SE: Currently I am focusing on landlord representation leads. Most of my business has been a combination of landlord rep and tenant rep, but right now I would like to be speaking with landlords on projects that have not leased for some time or have just become vacant.

How can prospects contact you for more information?

SE: Give me a call or send me an email! (913)-907-9454 or sean@nai-heartland.com

Do you have a broker or developer you would like to feature in in the MWM Spotlight? We want to hear from you! Please send info to kcnews@metrowiremedia.com