Sarah McCann, Vocon
Name: Sarah McCann
Title: Real Estate Strategy Associate
Company Name: Vocon
List 2-3 real estate associations or organizations that you are currently a member of:
- Associate member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI),
- Member and volunteer for the Hudson River Park Trust,
- Member of CoreNet Global
What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my involvement in the 555 Greenwich and 345 Hudson development project led by Trinity Church Wall Street, Hines and Norges Investment Bank. Vocon has been a strategic consultant involved in the project since 2020, providing services related to interior design and marketing objectives to aid in designing a highly flexible building that places tenant experience and wellness at the forefront.
Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?
Tom Vecchione is my mentor and has influenced my career by teaching me his approach to real estate repositioning and empowering me to leverage my background in real estate investment to enrich the strategy behind many of our projects.
How do you contribute to your community or your profession?
At a critical moment for the future of commercial office space, I am responsible for analyzing current supply and demand trends across real estate markets to support the firm’s project portfolio. I specialize in real estate development and repositioning strategy across a range of geographies. My understanding of the business case behind deliverables and strategic market analysis makes me an asset to the real estate strategy group at Vocon, a full-service architecture and interior design firm. I collaborate with the firm’s design teams to help align the product with the current demands of the marketplace.
What led you to your current profession?
My underlying passion for real estate tracks back to conversations around the family dinner table. Watching my mom, Deb Donley, run Vocon my entire life was a constant source of inspiration and sparked my interest in commercial real estate at a young age. My father, Mac Donley, also played a pivotal role in teaching me about the construction and delivery side of the business. I also studied real estate investment during my undergraduate years at the University of Virginia and have ultimately found my place in real estate strategy after receiving my MS in Real Estate Investment from NYU Schack in 2020.
Top three things on your bucket list:
Live in a foreign country, preferably London; learn how to speak French; and attend the Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
Favorite quote:
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” –Theodore Roosevelt