Hoffer of Centerline: A career in commercial real estate can take may paths

Name: Nicholas Hoffer Title: Senior Vice President / COO Company/firm: Centerline Capital Group LLC Years with company/firm: <1 Years in field: 11 Years in real estate industry: 10 Address: 100 Church St., 14th Floor Telephone: 212-588-2020 Email: [email protected] URL: www.centerline.com Real estate organizations / affiliations: NA Which professional accomplishment, honor or achievement has meant the most to you and why? Several years ago I was first asked to speak at an industry event. While this may not sound like much of an accomplishment, and in reality it really isn't because almost everyone in this industry is at one time or another asked to present something to their peers, the symbolism of this moment truly meant a lot to me. It was like finally getting invited to the adult table at Thanksgiving: my nonsense blabber was no longer just a nuisance but real people actually wanted to listen to what I had to say. Which project, deal or transaction was the "game changer" in the advancement of your career? I know it sounds like a cliché, but rather than having a single success accelerate my career, I attribute my continued success to all the little achievements on every deal I work on. Early on I realized that while I may only be looking at drawings and financial models, the deals I work on have significant importance to the families who need an affordable apartment or to the entrepreneurs who need more space (among other examples). Because of this, I try to never let an opportunity pass or deal fail without 100% effort to make it work. What advice would you give to those just starting out in commercial real estate? I'd tell them that a career in commercial real estate can take many paths. That oftentimes folks end up finding the most success in very different parts of the industry than where they started. What this means is that if you haven't found a lot of success in your career yet, keep working on the fundamentals and let your career take you to where you'll find the most success. When your interests and your strengths align, you'll find it. How do you manage your personal and work life? I think work-life balance is less of a balancing act, than a realization of priorities; the two aren't mutually exclusive. It usually just comes down to what is my list of priorities...right now. If those priorities never change, not throughout the day nor throughout the month/year, then there'll be problems. On most days my list of priorities changes constantly, with personal and work priorities moving up and down depending the day's events. Two tricks to make it easier: never take your BlackBerry to the dinner table, and find a very pragmatic and efficient husband/wife. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? The strongest influence on my career has definitely been the families that live in the affordable and work-force rental communities I've been involved in. While I have worked on transactions spanning many asset classes and funding strategies, I have always felt the most success (satisfaction really) from the affordable and work-force multifamily deals I have worked on. Having a safe, clean, affordable home is THE building block of strong families, safe communities, and successful children. It's something every family needs; unfortunately, for many, it is just so hard to obtain. Being able to help my neighbors makes my career more meaningful. Where would you like to be 10 years from today? 10 years from today? On a beach somewhere with my family! When we got home from our Memorial Day holiday, I would go back to work at Centerline. The only difference between 2014 and 2024 is that Centerline will be a much broader platform with leading businesses across the commercial real estate industry, not unlike our recent past. Centerline has a long history of success and already has some of the industry's most talented business leaders, but in ten years we'll have even more. I look forward to being a part of that.