Every year, Stream attracts some of the sharpest and most motivated talent in academia to work alongside our high-caliber professionals as interns. We provide hands-on learning opportunities that immerse them in our unique culture and ignite their passion for an invigorating, rewarding career in commercial real estate. They provide us with energy, enthusiasm, and optimism that the future of our industry is bright.
National Intern Day, celebrated on the last Thursday in July, affords us an extra opportunity to honor our hard-working interns while imparting on them some additional advice. We asked some of our team members to provide one piece of advice for our interns and offer names of people or organizations they should connect with after going back to school. We also turned the tables and asked about one thing they have learned from our interns.
Here are the professionals’ responses:
What’s one piece of advice you would give our interns?
Try to figure out what isn’t working with your colleagues and be the solution to their problem.
— Travis Rogers, Senior Vice President of Agency Leasing in Austin
If you get into the CRE industry, know your market better than everyone else.
— Allan Young, Partner in San Antonio
Listen more and speak less. Absorb everything you can.
— Jack Rathe, Associate in Houston
CRE is comprised of hunters and gatherers. Gatherers are a dime a dozen. Be a hunter.
— Tim Terrell, Executive Vice President and Partner in Dallas
Hustle.
— Dan Harris, Managing Director in Dallas
Find the right mentor early—someone who is genuinely interested, available, and invested in your long-term professional and personal growth. They need not be in your organization or even your industry. And in 10 years, be that person for someone else.
— Carlton Johnson, Senior Vice President of Investments in Dallas
Ask questions frequently. That is the best way to learn and build relationships with colleagues. Never be afraid to ask anything. There are no dumb questions.
— Jacob Wright, Associate in Chicago
If you want a career in CRE, spend time early meeting and talking with professionals across many different functions (development, property management, leasing, tenant rep, investment sales, etc.) and many different asset types (office, industrial, multi-family, retail, etc.). There are many different worlds within the industry. The faster you figure out where you want to be and focus on it, the more seriously people will take you.
— Tiffany Winne, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Phoenix
Take advantage of the remaining time you have in the Stream office to network with brokers, absorb information, ask questions, and enjoy the open office environment. It’s one of the best ways to learn! This is your opportunity to leave a legacy on the summer analyst program at Stream. Also, have fun!
— Danielle Rothchild, Associate in Houston
Trust yourself.
— Mike McVean, Co-General Partner and Co-Founder
Listen more than you speak and be patient.
— Patrick Russo, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Chicago
Always be proactive and find ways you can help the team be more efficient. Be the first to volunteer when a senior asks for help.
— Timmy Phillips, Associate in Dallas
Never feel like you are above any task that is asked of you, and give every project thought and consideration. The more impressive and useful you become to the team, the more leaders will come to you with projects and ultimately bring you more opportunities.
— Carolyn Hinchey Shaw, Executive Managing Director and Partner in San Antonio
Engage with as many people as possible in the office. Ask people to go to coffee so you can understand backstories, roles, and perspectives.
— Tyler Reed, Managing Director in Denver
Network, network, network.
— Jenkins Bender, Development Analyst in Dallas
Ask everyone you ever meet for an introduction to someone who can help you with your current goal, professional or personal.
— Anthony Chang, Managing Director in Northern Virginia
Make yourself invaluable. Think about why someone asked you to do something, and what steps might be next. Go ahead and do or offer to do those next steps.
— Simon Arpiarian, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Atlanta
Don’t be shy. We all were interns at one point in our life, and Stream is a family, so no one will ever say no, or I can’t.
— Adam Showalter, Managing Director of National Office Investor Services in Chicago
If you want to pursue a career in CRE, networking is incredibly important, and so is being persistent in scheduling meetings and calls. A large part of the CRE business is persistence and keeping in touch with existing relationships and any pursuits.
— Garret Geaccone, Senior Associate in Houston
What people/pages should our interns connect with via LinkedIn to keep their finger on the CRE pulse after returning to school?
Tyler Maner, James Ray, and Richard Byrd.
— Jack Rathe, Associate in Houston
Preston Young, Mike McVean, Twitter, Crain’s Real Estate.
— Patrick Russo, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Chicago
One SRP VP or below level. One SRP above VP level. North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR).
— Tim Terrell, Executive Vice President and Partner in Dallas
A Seasoned Professional (Randy Cooper), a senior leader (Seth Koschak), and a young rock star (Wills Bauer)
— Dan Harris, Managing Director in Dallas
Patrick Russo: who will have the best information on everything going on; Luke Letellier and me: to maintain that mentorship relationship; and one intern from another office: a good way to compare yourself to peers at the same level and see what things they are doing to stay in the know and prepare for a full-time role following graduation.
— Jacob Wright, Associate in Chicago
— Tiffany Winne, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Phoenix
Connect with anyone you’ve interacted with throughout your time at Stream. This is a great opportunity to keep in touch with people you’ve met this summer and stay up to date on the market.
— Danielle Rothchild, Associate in Houston
Everyone on the team you worked with at Stream, someone from a different department at Stream who you got to know, the recruiting team.
— Timmy Phillips, Associate in Dallas
Stream Realty Partners: You need to keep in touch with how we are growing and expanding. Local City Chamber or Economic Development: You need to know how and why your city is growing or not growing. The market’s top leasing teams and companies (if not all competitors): You need to know what the competition is working on and who is working there.
— Carolyn Hinchey Shaw, Executive Managing Director and Partner in San Antonio
Local CRE pages that publish news because information is power. Denver Business Journal, Colorado Real Estate Journal, and Mile Hi CRE.
— Tyler Reed, Managing Director in Denver
Steve Brown from The Dallas Morning News: Gives the real-time pulse of the DFW real estate market. Preston Young: Posts about macroeconomic trends affecting the industry.
— Jenkins Bender, Development Analyst in Dallas
I’m a little old school and only connect with people on LinkedIn who I have met with IRL. So, I would offer three must-listen-to podcasts that are terrific for folks passionate about real estate: Leading Voices with Matt Slepin, DC Icons of Real Estate, and 99% Invisible.
— Anthony Chang, Managing Director in Northern Virginia
Subscribe to Bisnow newsletters, ULI newsletters, and NAIOP newsletters via email and follow all accounts on LinkedIn.
— Adam Showalter, Managing Director of National Office Investor Services in Chicago
In our Houston office, Matteson Hamilton and Justin Robinson do a great job of posting on LinkedIn and keep our clients up to date with Stream’s outlook in the market. David Buescher at JLL is very active in the same sense.
— Garret Geaccone, Senior Associate in Houston
What’s one thing you’ve learned from our interns?
Young people have powerful minds and add a lot of value to Stream. Don’t be afraid to step up and use it.
— Allan Young, Partner in San Antonio
To always continue asking questions in life.
— Jack Rathe, Associate in Houston
To smile more often and not take our great team of people for granted.
— Patrick Russo, Executive Managing Director and Partner in Chicago
They dress well.
— Tim Terrell, Executive Vice President and Partner in Dallas
Their grasp of technology is amazing.
— Dan Harris, Managing Director in Dallas
The importance of relationships with everyone in the office, regardless of experience level. Everyone can learn something from anyone.
— Jacob Wright, Associate in Chicago
That I wish I was more on the ball and had internships lined up for the next summer already when I was in college.
— Timmy Phillips, Associate in Dallas
Some additional Excel skills.
— Carolyn Hinchey Shaw, Executive Managing Director and Partner in San Antonio
Their optimism and enthusiasm remind me that we are lucky to be in this business.
— Tyler Reed, Managing Director in Denver
Using macros to import live data.
— Jenkins Bender, Development Analyst in Dallas
Courage, great questions, and great ideas at every level of the firm will help Stream continue to grow in exciting directions!
— Anthony Chang, Managing Director in Northern Virginia
Energy is a powerful trait. Young people have more energy than most other professionals. That energy is contagious in the office and should always be present.
— Adam Showalter, Managing Director of National Office Investor Services in Chicago