The Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with Skylar Romines, founder and owner of ATW Advisors in Orange County, California. Skylar is an expert in commercial real estate insurance with 15 years experience in the insurance industry. She passionately advocates on behalf of business owners, helping them secure better insurance terms and control over their programs. Skylar described herself as a late bloomer who struggled socially in high school, but found her footing later in life. During college, she started working at Nordstrom, but later transitioned to insurance after...
info_outline E 94: Ken Ashley - The CRE PrescriptionThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with Ken Ashley, CCIM, MCR, SIOR, Executive Director of Cushman & Wakefield and Founder of CREI, Commercial Real Estate Influencer. Ken is a successful Atlanta broker with nearly 30 years experience with tenant representation and sales in the commercial real estate industry. They discuss the importance of building a personal brand and using social media effectively in the commercial real estate industry. Ken shares his strategies for engaging with prospects, valuing your time, and creating a strong online presence. He emphasizes the...
info_outline E 93: Ron Koenigsberg - Power Broker: How to Succeed In Life And BusinessThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with Ron Koenigsberg, Founder & President at American Investment Properties, a successful Long Island Broker with 30 years experience in the commercial real estate brokerage industry. As Ron recalled the pathway to his start in commercial real estate he stated that he “[wished] everything was a straight path… but there are lessons to be learned that are probably never in a straight path, and you certainly have to have a little bit of resilience along the way.” Ron describes his journey from growing up in Long Island...
info_outline E 92: Jerry Anderson - Surviving Inflection Points in CRE BrokerageThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with one of his mentors, Jerry Anderson, a veteran in the commercial real estate brokerage industry with over 50 years of experience. Jerry, currently a Corporate Advisor for eXp Commercial, has successfully run two international brokerage companies and is a pioneer in single point of contact and master franchise brokerage models. Jerry has succeeded and thrived through at least four economic downturns, otherwise known as inflection points in brokerage, throughout his career, so Rod begins the podcast by asking him about the current state...
info_outline E 91: Bobbie Mastracci - Secrets to Success In CREThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with Bobbie Mastracci, CCIM, SIOR and Principal of Phoenix West Commercial, LLC, also known as the “Go To Broker” for the West Valley of Phoenix Metro. Bobbie is a successful real estate broker and Massimo coach with 20 years of CRE experience. She works with corporate and small business clients, both locally and nationally, and prides herself on her faith, dedication, and ability to deliver unmatched customer service. Bobby shares her journey from her first job in high school, to being a hair color platform artist, and then entering the...
info_outline E 90: Rich Vaaler - Tertiary TreasureThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with Rich Vaaler of Vaaler Commercial Real Estate, a commercial real estate broker with 43 years of experience. Rich has owned, managed, and developed property throughout his career, a facet that the typical broker may not have to share with their clients. It gives him a perspective to help his clients, especially older people, streamline their portfolio/assets and get rid of the complicated ones to transition into simplified properties. He loves what he does and he’s always trying to get better, always trying to learn more to help his...
info_outline E 89: Dominators Of Commercial Real Estate BrokerageThe Massimo Show
On this Special Episode of the Massimo Show Host Rod Santomassimo is joined by 3 guests who are all highly successful and influential figures in the commercial real estate industry: Ken Ashley, Executive Director and Chairman for Cushman & Wakefield's Tenant Advisory Group; Brad Ahrens, President of Concord Development Partners; and Bob Knakal, Head of New York Private Capital Group- JLL. They delve into various aspects of commercial real estate, centering the conversation around their experiences, insights, and strategies that have contributed to their success as top producers. They each...
info_outline E 88: Rod Santomassimo- What Hard Feels LikeThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod talks about what hard feels like, especially when it comes to commercial real estate brokerage and how to handle it in the current markets. Rod thought it'd be important to address something that's going on right now, the market is shifting and we're seeing less velocity, more challenges than we have before, inflation, increasing interest rates and even bank solvency. It's a fact that you have to work 10 times as hard to produce maybe half the results. Every transaction becomes a fight as the speed of transactions declines, even though you're...
info_outline E 87: Mike Gallegos - MoneyballThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with The Massimo Group's own Chief Strategy Officer, Mike Gallegos CCIM, MCR, to discuss AI and how it's taking the world by storm. You can either chose to adopt AI or get left behind. At the Massimo Group we've been helping businesses like yours integrate AI into their everyday business practices. If you'd like to learn more visit
info_outline E 86: Ronsley Vaz - 5 Million Podcast Downloads And CountingThe Massimo Show
On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with entrepreneur, author and international speaker, the one and only, Ronsley Vaz. First and foremost, he's the executive producer and host of multiple top rated podcasts, including The Psychology of Entrepreneurship, Should I Start a Podcast, and Bond Appetit. His podcasts have been downloaded more than 5 million times across 133 countries. In addition, he's the founder of the award winning audio marketing agency Must Amplify, which has helped entertainers, government leaders, athletes, and businesses raise their voice through podcasts. He's...
info_outlineOn this Special Episode of the Massimo Show
Host Rod Santomassimo is joined by 3 guests who are all highly successful and influential figures in the commercial real estate industry: Ken Ashley, Executive Director and Chairman for Cushman & Wakefield's Tenant Advisory Group; Brad Ahrens, President of Concord Development Partners; and Bob Knakal, Head of New York Private Capital Group- JLL. They delve into various aspects of commercial real estate, centering the conversation around their experiences, insights, and strategies that have contributed to their success as top producers. They each offer valuable insights and expert advice taken from and highlighting the information found in Rod's new book, Dominators of Commercial Real Estate Brokerage.
Our podcast begins with an introduction to today's objective: sharing clarity in the chaos that's forming in this market downturn, sharing approaches every broker should be thinking about and considering, and tactics that have worked in the past and continue to generate results, to help us all get through this part of the market cycle.
Ken Ashley shares his journey in commercial real estate and his passion for solving complex real estate problems, emphasizing that the market is always evolving. The discussion moves on to the current state of the office market and how office tenant reps can thrive. Ken highlights the need for adaptation and the changing dynamics of office spaces post-pandemic. He urges tenant reps to focus on building relationships, marketing their brand effectively, and adopting a strategic approach to business development using the A, B, C system.
Brad Ahrens then shares his experiences in managing active projects during the pandemic and how his team adapted to mitigate risks. He discusses the importance of automation, outsourcing, and integrating technology to streamline processes and manage deal flow, leading to increased efficiency and faster decision-making. Overall, allowing him to optimize operations.
The podcast conversation then shifts to social media and its impact on the commercial real estate industry. Ken Ashley emphasizes that social media is a powerful platform to spread one's brand and message, but it requires focus and intentionality. He encourages professionals to adopt a thoughtful approach and provide valuable content to stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
Our guest speakers also explore their tech stacks, communication preferences, and the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the industry. They agree and emphasize the importance of using technology effectively to streamline processes and improve productivity, but caution that while technology and AI offers many benefits, the human element will always be crucial in commercial real estate. It's the ability to connect, build relationships, and provide personalized expertise that sets professionals apart in this industry.
Next, Bob Knakal, a veteran with 39 years of experience in the New York real estate market, gives a quick introduction to himself and his remarkable achievements in the industry. He then talks about his recent project during the pandemic, where he personally inspected and documented every building under construction in Manhattan, creating a comprehensive and accurate database that sets him apart in the market.
Brad Ahrens, who transitioned from brokerage to real estate investment, discusses the differences between representing investors as a broker and understanding investment deals as an investor. He emphasizes the significance of quantifying information to provide clients with data-backed insights, leading to faster decision-making and building trust.
Ken Ashley highlights the importance of emotional and tactical listening in building trust and strong relationships with clients. He stresses the value of being genuinely interested in others, actively listening, and being confident in oneself while showing vulnerability.
Finally, our podcast concludes with our guests sharing their reasons for remaining passionate and dedicated to the industry, ranging from enjoying the business challenges to wanting to change the world. Leaving us with the idea of embracing an abundance mentality and giving back to the community. They also emphasize the significance of mentorship, surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals, and always striving for growth and improvement in the commercial real estate industry.
Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and lessons from highly successful professionals, giving listeners actionable strategies and a glimpse into the mindset needed to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, continuously evolve and stay relevant, and excel in the world of commercial real estate brokerage and investment. All of this making this episode a must-listen for industry professionals.
Note: These highlights of the key points discussed in the podcast are designed to provide an overview of the episode's content. Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.