In this executive Q&A, Connect Media spoke with Kent Elliott, principal at RETS Associates, a leading national real estate recruiting firm, and Griffin Cogorno, director of client services at Unire Real Estate Group, a premier commercial real estate property, construction and asset management firm. Unire manages nearly 40 million square feet of space in Southern and Northern (now!) California. Kent and Griffin discuss Unire’s current activity, expansion and how to leverage human capital to achieve long-term goals.
Connect Media: Give us your perspective on CRE and hiring moving forward in this cycle.
Kent Elliott (KE): We are seeing less new talent entering the industry. However, today we have five different generations in the workforce, and each of them has different needs and wants. As we continue forward in this competitive environment, employers need to recognize that more people leave for lack of recognition and appreciation than for compensation reasons; money is a short-term fix for a long-term problem.
Likewise, younger industry professionals need to step back from the appeal of more money, and assess the company and opportunity as a whole. This assessment includes understanding the capitalization of the firm, the culture, its industry specialization, people, management and more. We advise talent of all ages that the ‘grass isn’t always greener on the other side’, and continue to stress the importance of doing your homework and understanding all the components, including growth plans.
Griffin Cogorno (GC): We’re at a time in this real estate cycle where a lot of our clients and potential clients are looking for someone to take a more hands-on approach. Having someone in the Bay Area that is experienced and can dive in to go that extra mile for a client is extremely important in our growth. We have to be substantially better than our competition, and strive to do so being a regional firm – offering our clients unparalleled attention to detail and experience. That’s true in hiring, and it’s true for the work we do as well. We’re really busy, not only with this Bay Area expansion, but with construction management and global portfolio growth. We see redevelopment as being a major focus for the next year or two as acquisitions subside a bit, and we feel that there’s a lot of opportunity for growth and the ability to add value to our clients portfolio, using our experience and creative team.
This has been a long real estate cycle, and I think we have another 18-24 months to go before we slow down again. There is a lack of flex and industrial inventory, and we believe it’s this lack of supply that is driving construction across the state. Additionally, tenants are getting smarter about the space they’re using, and owners are getting more creative about the real estate they’re delivering. In the end, it pushes the envelope for everyone, and it is this competition that creates good-quality real estate.
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The Hiring Squad - Why There's Still Demand and Room to Grow
Monday 29th August 2016
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In this executive Q&A, Connect Media spoke with Kent Elliott, principal at RETS Associates, a leading national real estate recruiting firm, and Griffin Cogorno, director of client services at Unire Real Estate Group, a premier commercial real estate property, construction and asset management firm. Unire manages nearly 40 million square feet of space in Southern and Northern (now!) California. Kent and Griffin discuss Unire’s current activity, expansion and how to leverage human capital to achieve long-term goals.
Connect Media: Give us your perspective on CRE and hiring moving forward in this cycle.
Kent Elliott (KE): We are seeing less new talent entering the industry. However, today we have five different generations in the workforce, and each of them has different needs and wants. As we continue forward in this competitive environment, employers need to recognize that more people leave for lack of recognition and appreciation than for compensation reasons; money is a short-term fix for a long-term problem.
Likewise, younger industry professionals need to step back from the appeal of more money, and assess the company and opportunity as a whole. This assessment includes understanding the capitalization of the firm, the culture, its industry specialization, people, management and more. We advise talent of all ages that the ‘grass isn’t always greener on the other side’, and continue to stress the importance of doing your homework and understanding all the components, including growth plans.
Griffin Cogorno (GC): We’re at a time in this real estate cycle where a lot of our clients and potential clients are looking for someone to take a more hands-on approach. Having someone in the Bay Area that is experienced and can dive in to go that extra mile for a client is extremely important in our growth. We have to be substantially better than our competition, and strive to do so being a regional firm – offering our clients unparalleled attention to detail and experience. That’s true in hiring, and it’s true for the work we do as well. We’re really busy, not only with this Bay Area expansion, but with construction management and global portfolio growth. We see redevelopment as being a major focus for the next year or two as acquisitions subside a bit, and we feel that there’s a lot of opportunity for growth and the ability to add value to our clients portfolio, using our experience and creative team.
This has been a long real estate cycle, and I think we have another 18-24 months to go before we slow down again. There is a lack of flex and industrial inventory, and we believe it’s this lack of supply that is driving construction across the state. Additionally, tenants are getting smarter about the space they’re using, and owners are getting more creative about the real estate they’re delivering. In the end, it pushes the envelope for everyone, and it is this competition that creates good-quality real estate.
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LATEST NEWS
Globe St. - Unire Receives Recognition for Best Bosses in CRE
Thursday 28th April 2022
Written by Griffin Cogorno
Guiding a company in the commercial real estate space is never easy even in the best of times. In times of disruption and upheaval, as the last two years have been, it can be downright difficult. And we can expect another year of choppy waters as inflation grips our economy, to say nothing of the uncertainty brought on by the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is these years where identifying and acknowledging the top leaders in our industry matter the most.
MARK HARRYMAN & GRIFFIN COGORNO Unire Real Estate Group was founded in 2000 to provide property, transaction, construction and asset management services to owners and tenants of institutional-quality commercial real estate. Mark Harryman founded the company and now serves as CEO and principal. With more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Harryman effectively serves as an executive-level point of contact for clients. As president, Griffin Cogorno directs the entrepreneurial growth strategy for the firm and he is responsible for growing the platform throughout the West Coast. Cogorno has more than 15 years of industry experience and has held positions with JP Morgan, Chase Bank and the O’Donnell Group. Unire Real Estate Group currently manages more than 50 million square feet of industrial and office assets throughout Northern California, Southern California and Las Vegas. Harryman is described as a leader and mentor who provides feedback, guidance and support. Cogorno, who joined the firm in 2014, provides fresh ideas and new perspectives and has the ability to see the big picture while understanding the small details. As a strong team, the two professionals continue to articulate the firm’s mission and cultivate a company culture that supports long-term growth. The growth of the company during the past 21 years speaks to their leadership abilities, having increased assets under management from roughly one million square feet with one client at inception, to more than 50 million square feet with 18 clients today. The firm has been recognized as a top workplace in Orange County on multiple occasions.
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Unire Real Estate Group Celebrates 20 years, Appoints Cogorno as President
Tuesday 22nd September 2020
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