Kelly of CPEX Real Estate: Read every trade publication

Name: Sean Kelly, Esq. Title: Managing Director - Investment Sale - Development and Conversion Team Company/firm: CPEX Real Estate Years with company/firm: 5 Years in field: 5 Years in real estate industry: 5 Address: 81 Willoughby St., 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Telephone: (718) 935-1800 Email: [email protected] URL: www.cpexre.com Real estate organizations / affiliations: ULI Young Leaders, Building Industry Association, ICSC, New York State Bar Association - Real Estate Section and Association of the Bar of the City of New York Which professional accomplishment, honor or achievement has meant the most to you and why? 2014 Co-Star Power Broker. This award is a recognition of not just my individual efforts, but my team's efforts and how we match up against our competition. Which project, deal or transaction was the "game changer" in the advancement of your career? The 99-year ground lease of 535 4th Ave. in Park Slope. Ground leases are not as prevalent in Brooklyn as they are in Manhattan. This was a complicated transaction that took close to a year to finalize. It was a long negotiation between sophisticated parties and lawyers on both sides of the transaction. What advice would you give to those just starting out in commercial real estate? Read every trade publication, research the data and network. Our business is about data and relationships. Use your market knowledge to build on your relationships. How do you manage your personal and work life? You have to find a balance between your family and work, otherwise one will suffer. I have been married for five years and have a one year old daughter. My wife and I work as a team to balance things out. I try to put my daughter to bed a couple of nights a week and spend time with my wife afterwards. Every weekend I block out time for work and the rest is spent with my family. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? * My parents. They were great people who worked hard to give myself and my siblings a better life than they had. * My wife. I started in the brokerage business trying to sell land in 2009, five months before our wedding day. We struggled for in the beginning, but she supported me every step of the way. Where would you like to be 10 years from today? On the "Young and Established" list.