Karla Baig of Propark America discusses her motives, challenges and goals for the future in commercial real estate

Karla Baig is the director of business development and special assignments at Propark America. Founded in 1984, Propark America is one of the nation's leading parking companies, providing parking management and parking real estate services across the country. Propark has successfully managed consistent growth while preserving the company's entrepreneurial spirit and unique culture of creative innovation. Baig's responsibilities include: Manage administrative staff; Generate marketing initiatives and implementation for clients; structure and streamline reporting processes and procedures for region; network, develop and solidify relationships with new and existing clients to generate new business; focus on parking management services for residential, retail, mixed-use and hotel projects; advise new clients on best practices of parking facilities and draft proposals, pro formas, and prepare presentations. What makes you an innovator? My consistent drive to achieve success is the key innovator. Innovation, coupled with creativity, is a positive formula for success. What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today? Establishing myself as a woman in a senior management position and earning the respect and confidence of both men and women in the corporation world. What motivates you to succeed? My desire to see a project through to completion. I have just revised our entire reporting system for Propark America. How do you stay ahead of the curve? My organizational and time management skills, along with my ability to multi-task, keep me on point and ahead of the curve. Who/what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? A seventh grader named Jennifer. Jennifer had Cerebral Palsy and taught me that if you desire to succeed, you can. Be all that you can be. What impact has social networking had on your success? My ability to forge relationships and relate to people in different disciplines has assisted me in creating both social and professional relationships through social networking. How has the need to create a more sustainable environment influenced the way you do business? The need to think "out of the box" has become more the norm than the one-off situation. Creativity plays a major role in closing deals and shows the client what can be accomplished through thought and teamwork. What excites you most about this industry? Excitement comes in many areas from the broker to the property manager to all the individuals that need to be involved in completing a project. The excitement of seeing a deal come to fruition is what gives me that natural high. My goals for the future are.... My future goals include upward mobility in the Propark America organization and establishing myself as a major presence in the parking and commercial real estate worlds. The biggest challenge facing the real estate industry in 2010 is.... The biggest challenge that faces the industry is economic recovery and adjusting to the current economic situation currently existing in the United States. As recovery increases, the upturn in the industry will still require the need for creativity and flexibility in all roles. The "silver lining" in the cloud of the current economy is.... The "silver lining" in this cloud is that over time, the economy will recover. We will see projects that are currently stagnated become active. The unemployment rate will decrease, and as there are more jobs available, projects will reach completion.