Friday, November 15, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Two ways to circle the world / Holidays in the Big Apple / Hot Food and Beverage Trends
Two ways to circle the world
When coaching people on how to ‘work a room’ I offer two
methods: circulate the room or let the
room circulate around you. Spinning this
concept a bit - this week, rather than being ‘on the road’ I was in New York,
but had numerous meetings with people from other parts of the world.
One young professional, born and raised in the US and
employed by a global real estate development company, had just returned from one
of many periodic trips to China when we saw each other. He is raising money from individual investors
- the Chinese love investing in the US and especially New York City!
Another meeting was over lunch with a good friend in from
San Francisco. His capital raising
efforts are strictly domestic, although he works for a global real estate
investment management firm. We talked
about the not un-common challenge of getting people to reply to an email or
return a phone call and the ‘elation’ when they simply do!
Brainstorming on ideas to improve results
were relegated to our next encounter which we agreed would be over cocktails
and dinner and which would certainly produce the answer!
Visiting from Hong Kong was a former colleague who started
her own real estate investment advisory firm about two years ago. Her niche is partnering European and Asian
capital with US real estate developers.
Business is good. She and I both favor the exciting and fulfilling ‘uncertainty’
of entrepreneurship over being an employee in a large corporation.
Imagining Manhattan as the ‘room you’re working’ is a daunting
thought. But given the magnetic
character of the real estate capital of the world, if you make yourself
available to your global colleagues, in time the ‘room’ will circle around you!
Holidays in the Big
Apple
It’s special in New York as we head into Thanksgiving and
the gift-giving season. The brisk early winter air is invigorating. The ice on the Rockefeller Center rink has
been in place since October 12 and more and more holiday lights
are being plugged in every day alerting the consumer that it’s time to get busy!
The city is a wonderful place to bring children of all ages,
to simply walk around, shop or perhaps take a spin on the ice at Rock Center or
Bryant Park. Hey, if you are going to be in New York over the holidays and have
some extra time, please reach out to me.
I’d love to meet you and toast to a healthy, happy and prosperous 2014!
Hot Food &
Beverage Trends
Some years ago my former boss
hired a restaurant consultant named Michael Whiteman. We were planning to build our second enclosed regional mall in
the Baton Rouge, LA market and wanted to differentiate it from the first.
Whiteman’s idea was to create
a unique food court of local and regional restaurants. He suggested a Louisiana
road trip to experience the indigenous cuisine. I was lucky enough to be asked
to accompany Michael on this adventure.
That trip is indelibly etched in my mind and on my palate!
Over the course of four days
we worked (and ate) our way through Bayou
country, stopping to sample truly incredible Creole and other cooking. It was a delightful experience as Michael really
knew his way around, bringing us to some tiny gems of restaurants that only a
local might know.
Baum+Whiteman, a consulting
business formed by Michael and the late restaurant industry legend Joe Baum, are considered to be on the leading edge of the food
and beverage world. The firm just
released their annual “12 Hottest Food & Beverage Trends for Restaurant and
Hotel Dining for 2014 + 30 Buzzwords.” Take a look at it here: (http://baumwhiteman.com/2014TrendForecast.pdf).
After devouring it, you will
be the one making the cool gastronomic suggestions to friends and
colleagues. Bon appetite!
On The Road...
Nov. 20 - 21: Johns Hopkins University to conduct a workshop for students in the Edward St. John Real Estate Program, Washington, DC
Jan. 22 - 24, 2014: IMN (Information Management Network) Winter Forum on Opportunity and Private Fund Investing, Laguna Beach, CA
Mar. 11 - 14: MIPIM, Cannes, France (planned)
Disclaimer
All content in this blog is created for
informational purposes only. Content, which includes all text, photos, video
and graphics is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club,
organization, company or individual. Steve Felix makes no
representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this
site or other information as a result of following any featured link to or from
this site. The intention of this blog is to do no harm in regards to
injury, defamation or libel. What is written or shown is not to be taken as
fact or absolute. Steve Felix will hold himself harmless for any
errors or omissions in this blog’s information; including but not limited to
external link information, translation or interpretation of content or
incorrect grammar or punctuation.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
PREA / Music & Business Mix / Where Angels Play
PREA
Congratulations to Gail Haynes, President of the Pension Real Estate Association, and her team for producing another successful event! Approximately 900 commercial real estate industry professionals converged on Chicago’s Fairmont Hotel last week for the 23rd annual Conference. This is historically the most well attended event in the industry bringing together pension funds, their managers and other service providers. The upbeat conversations at the venue were sprinkled with talk of bursting bubbles, sinking cap rates, and rising interest rates.
During breaks and meals I noticed many people hanging out with their peers, often in the same age range. While this is often comfortable, this may limit opportunities to hear fresh ideas.
I’m including a link to an interesting Forbes posting on ‘reverse mentoring’ which talks of the benefits of generational knowledge sharing. I challenge you to read this 2011 article, if you haven’t already, and not think differently.
(http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/01/03/reverse-mentoring-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-beneficial).
Music and Business mix
Last Monday night two well-known industry personalities hosted their third annual music event during a PREA conference. Fred Gortner of Paladin Realty and Ryan Krauch of MesaWest were the orchestrators of this get-together.
Held in Chicago’s House of Blues, it was one of the most fun evenings I’ve had in a long time. A blues band had been hired and alerted to the fact that some of the audience may want to sit in with the band – and that’s just what happened!!
Gortner is a fabulous guitar player with whom I’ve jammed before. Joining us was Triton Pacific’s Scott Arden, a solid drummer. Steve Vittorio of Prudential and Joe Nahas of Equus Partners were dynamic rhythm guitarists – Vittorio also adding vocals to the mix. I have known Steve a long time but until that night didn’t know he was a musician. Quilvest's Ione Permison and her tambourine added a special dimension and I played keyboards and sang a few songs.
The next day there was a little music buzz at the PREA conference. It was a real treat to mix business and pleasure and share the stage with industry friends who happen to be talented musicians as well. Thanks Fred and Ryan for thinking outside the ‘box set’ of business.
Where Angels Play
Congratulations...
It’s been a year since Hurricane Sandy devastated the northeast and almost one year since the senseless shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Last weekend while visiting friends in Island Park, Long Island we stopped at the site of a brand new playground, which replaces the one damaged by the hurricane. A group of New Jersey firefighters created a non-profit organization called The Sandy Ground Project to build 26 playgrounds in 26 different communities - one for each of the 26 Newtown victims. ‘Where Angels Play’ is the theme of the Sandy Ground project.
The new pink 2,600 square-foot playground in Island Park is named after 6-year-old Sandy Hook victim, Caroline Previdi. She loved the color pink. Seeing her photograph at the entrance to the playground was so very sad. The loss of the possibilities of life that Caroline left behind is unfathomable. The naming of playgrounds after her and other young victims is a beautiful, simple and powerful tribute.
Doug Abbey has joined Swift Real Estate Partners as Chairman
Mike Coster has launched Kimberlite Advisors
Benjamin Linder joined LGT Clerestory
On The Road...
Nov. 20 - 21: Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School, Edward St. John Real Estate Program; Conducting a workshop for students: Careers in Real Estate / Interview Skills, Drills & Thrills, Washington, DC
Disclaimer
All content in this blog is created for informational purposes only. Content, which includes all text, photos, video and graphics is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company or individual. Steve Felix makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or other information as a result of following any featured link to or from this site. The intention of this blog is to do no harm in regards to injury, defamation or libel. What is written or shown is not to be taken as fact or absolute. Steve Felix will hold himself harmless for any errors or omissions in this blog’s information; including but not limited to external link information, translation or interpretation of content or incorrect grammar or punctuation.
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