Professional Profile: David Valdez 2017

Name: David Valdez - 2017

Title: Managing Director

Company: Mohr Partners

Location: New York, NY

Birthplace: El Paso, Texas

Education: BA from Whitman College; MPA from Maxwell School at Syracuse University; Goldman Sachs Nonprofit Leadership Program Certificate from Harvard Business School.

First job: Assistant to the president, Carrier International, United Technologies Corp.—completed special projects for the company’s general management in various parts of the world. 

First job in real estate or allied field: Real estate analyst at First Interstate Bank; director of leasing for the 750,000 s/f Miami Center class A office building in Miami, Fla.

What do you do now and what are you planning for the future?:I am the managing director and commercial property real estate broker at the NYC office of the global tenant representation firm Mohr Partners. As a member of the Mohr team, I assist corporate and non-profit tenants in the management of total occupancy expenses, negotiating new leases and expansions, terminations, subleases, and property acquisitions and dispositions. Most recently, I assisted Web.com and its division Yodle on the sublease of 55,000 s/f of office space in Manhattan and advised Colchester Global Investors on their New York City requirement.

How do you unwind from a busy day?:I attend events and social gatherings with friends– dinners, movies, exhibits, yoga, etc.

Favorite book or author: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Favorite movie: “Alien” by director Ridley Scott

Last song/album that you purchased/downloaded?:Several songs by Cat Power

One word to describe your work environment: Teamwork 

Rules to live by in business: Keep the whole team posted—manage risks and relationships; base your work in best practices. 

If you could invite one person to dinner (living or dead, but not related to you) who would it be and where would you go?:Virginia Wolf, her choice. 

What is your DREAM job (something other than your current job)?:Co-Head of The Yale Center for British Art at Yale University in New Haven CT.