Berman of The Berman Group: Issues of sustainability and efficiency are coming to the fore

Name: Sarah Berman Title: President Company Name: The Berman Group Follow my company on Twitter @TheBermanGrp What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 1998 What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? The Berman Group was recently hired to launch a major tenant sustainability project. The project will enable tenants and owners in commercial real estate to reduce operating costs through energy efficient practices. The project, which is to launch in the fall, helped provide the framework for the Tenant Star program - a voluntary, cost-free program to encourage energy efficiency in leased commercial spaces, which can account for 50% or more of a building's total energy usage - recently passed in Congress. The project will provide an important service to the commercial real estate industry. I'm proud of my involvement in this work, particularly at a moment when issues of sustainability and efficiency are coming to the fore. Please reflect on a recent achievement and/or milestone for your company: This year marks The Berman Group's tenth year in business. When I founded the company in 2005, I wanted to help the construction and real estate industries define what they do. I found public relations to be a creative vehicle to spread the word. I was lucky to make many friends in construction and real estate early in my career and my vision was really just to support the friends I had made in these industries. Today we are fortunate to be one of the top agencies serving these fields and I love to push the envelope of what is possible—whether it's using new technology, hosting a huge industry event, or engaging the public in a publicity campaign. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? My dad—he owns a small auto repair business in Norristown, PA. I think we deal with the same issues every day but with a different cast of characters. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning? When I arrive in the office, I typically drink coffee and respond to emails—but most mornings I'm off to an event run by our team. What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you? I schedule brief, regular discussions with all members of my team to stay on top of all of the activity in the office. These meetings also ensure that the channels of communication stay open. List 3 women that you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go? Hillary Clinton, Eileen Murray and Irene Chang Britt. I recently heard Ms. Murray and Ms. Britt give keynote presentations at the Wall Street Women Forum, and I was very impressed by the stories of these two successful women in business. What is your favorite quote? "Life only happens when you show up." What did you want to be when you grew up? A news anchor.