Executive of the Month: Pepe, president and lead broker of NC Pepe Corp. - Brooklyn-based, family-owned business celebrates 85th year

Seizing the helm of a three-generation family business, which opened its doors two days after the stock market crash of 1929, Chris Pepe is the president and lead broker of NC Pepe Corp. The business is based in the borough and despite numerous opportunities to expand or move into different locations, Pepe says the "Borough of Trees" is the greenest pasture of them all. "It's a hybrid of the perfect polished stone and a bottle of wine that has appreciated with time. Even after the major financial institutions collapsed in 2008, the Brooklyn real estate market was still able to maintain its financial integrity and strength," said Pepe. Pepe believes that the borough is a fantastic place for real estate for investments because of its great return on your capital (approximately 5% average) and inventory is low and demand is high. It is also close proximity to Manhattan, has high quality public schools, and is a historical location rich in American culture. While most children play tag and make believe, Pepe was hard at work learning the family business at age ten. He bought his first property at the age of 25. With his father as his mentor, they grew professional and personal connections with the community through their family-owned firm which serves all of Williamsburg and Greenpoint in three locations. "My father was my best friend and taught me everything I know. His high sense of honor, personal touch with people, passion for the business, devotion to the local community and deliberate kind hardheartedness is what I've always sought to emulate," said Pepe. "The Pepe family has successfully lived and worked in Brooklyn for more than three generations and we have been able to maintain a local real estate portfolio that has consistently garnered a high financial return." Since Pepe became president of the firm in 1996, he's overseen the closing of over $130 million in commercial and residential sales and rentals. He's also managed 15 multifamily buildings (with approximately 80 tenants) and continued to grow the business which just celebrated its 85-year anniversary. Each morning, Pepe awakens with a relentless drive to preserve and grow the honor of his family's name and cultivate greater tiers of personal success though succeeding for clients. Pepe's secret for coming out on top: honesty. "I've lost deals and listings because I'm honest and didn't tell people what they wanted to hear. Lying in this business is the worst thing you can do," said Pepe. "Also I'm a good listener and can estimate the market and what properties are worth quickly and with consistent accuracy." A person of diverse interests, Pepe is also a self-taught musician and toured China with his band in '94 and '95. He then became a New York real estate salesperson in 1996, soon after receiving his broker license in '98. Pepe received a BA in English from C.W. Post in January of 2001. Pepe resides in Long Island with his wife Erin and two children Jack and Lauren. Erin, who earned a full academic scholarship to Providence, was a director of NASDAQ equity trading desk at Smith Barney before leaving to become a full-time mom. In terms of who might take the helm of the fourth generation in family-owned NC Pepe Corp, we bring you this exclusive news: "My daughter Lauren, at eight-years old, runs our entire house and her management skills and people skills (she can convince anyone to give her ice cream) are excellent indications of a potential successor at our firm," said Pepe.