Executive of the Month: Smith, founder of THE CABOT GROUP; Making and saving money for those we serve

The New York Real Estate Journal recently sat down with J. Michael Smith, founder of THE CABOT GROUP, for a question and answer session. Q: How would you define THE CABOT GROUP in one sentence? A: We act as our clients' real estate advisor and service provider making and saving money for those we serve. Q: How and when was THE CABOT GROUP founded? How has the company changed since it was founded? A: I founded THE CABOT GROUP in 1971, initially focused on property management services. As the needs of our clients expanded and the marketplace changed, we found ourselves providing a variety of real estate services that would maximize our clients' interests. I saw that THE CABOT GROUP had the potential to offer an outsourced real estate department that could accommodate real estate endeavors of any nature or scope. We soon added several new services to our offering including corporate services, facilities management, agency/brokerage, and most recently mortgage finance, all of which complement each other and allow the company to take on any real estate issue. Even today, we continue to evolve to address the ever-changing needs of our clients. Q: How is THE CABOT GROUP different from other real estate firms? A: Offering a complete spectrum of services is what still sets THE CABOT GROUP apart today. There are many organizations that can handle one portion of the spectrum. However, most transactions require several different services and that's where THE CABOT GROUP is able to stand apart. If a company decides to outsource its real estate needs to several different companies, each specializing in one side of real estate, managing these teams becomes a job in itself. To quote our Mission: Acting as our clients' real estate advisor and services provider, our mission is to unfailingly provide our clients with superior real estate solutions through unparalleled expertise, market knowledge and innovation, affording our clients decades of real estate experience when and where they need it. Q: Tell us about your clients and the different teams you have assembled to manage their needs. A: THE CABOT GROUP's clients are just as diverse as the services we provide. We represent privately held and publicly traded corporations, healthcare organizations, municipalities, professional practices, real estate investment trusts, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, colleges and universities and private investors. We currently manage approximately eight million s/f of multifamily, office, retail, industrial, medical, and commercial space in the region and have over $50 million in assets listed for sale. Our primary focus continues to be on advising and educating our clients to make the most beneficial real estate decisions possible for their organizations. As for our team, we have assembled the finest technological resources, market intelligence and highly specialized human talent to assist our clients in addressing their real estate issues so they are able to maximize the values that may be derived from their strategic decision making. I don't know of a company that has assembled a more talented and diverse team. My thoughts have been affirmed by the results of some large transactions we have recently been involved with. Q: How does your leadership style influence the corporate culture at THE CABOT GROUP? A: I would describe my leadership style as demanding yet respectful. I liken the relationship to that of a navigator of a ship and its crew. I tell my team where we need to go, and rely on their skills and decades of experience to do what they must to get us there. This has created a culture of trust, independence, and leadership within THE CABOT GROUP and continues to refine talent within the company. Q: What areas of the country does THE CABOT GROUP serve? Do you foresee future expansion? A: THE CABOT GROUP is based in Upstate, NY so naturally, most of the clients we serve are based here as well. However, we are able to accommodate our clients efficiently and effectively wherever there is a need. We have taken on sizable projects as far as Southern Florida and look forward to continue expanding the area that we serve in the coming months and years. Q: What is one piece of real estate advice that you can offer readers? A: Many organizations are driven to seek real estate advisors once they have identified a problem. We have found that we best serve our clients when they seek our advice before they decide what action they should take. We are able to drive them towards the most beneficial real estate decisions and deliver the most value to their organizations this way. Q: What does the future hold for THE CABOT GROUP? How will the company react to a changing market? A: As the market evolves, our clients evolve with it, creating new and exciting opportunities. That is what drives the future of THE CABOT GROUP. Many of our business partners have branched out to pursue new opportunities and have our group to assist in the transition. Similarly, we have been approached by groups who are stepping into the real estate arena for the first time because of opportunities in the market. In both cases, the market drives the demand for our services. I am confident that as long as we continue to maximize the value of our clients' real estate interests, strong demand will continue to grow and evolve our company in the years to come.