REAP program out to cultivate untapped talent.Jodi Pulice, founder and president of JRT JRT Jack Russell Terrier JRT Jumbo Roll Tissue (bathroom tissue) JRT Justin Randall Timberlake (member of NSYNC) JRT Joint Readiness Training JRT Jugoslovenska Radio-Televizija Realty Group, Inc., recently served as a guest speaker for the Real Estate Associate Program (REAP) New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Kick-Off hosted by Cushman & Wakefield, a REAP sponsor and the world's preeminent commercial real estate services firm. REAP is an industry-backed program that recruits and trains minorities for professional careers in commercial real estate. Through education, networking and professional training with leading firms, REAP prepares associates for positions in the areas of development, leasing and property management of retail centers, executive office buildings and industrial centers. The nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. launched its first class offerings in New York this past January. Pulice discussed her 24+ years of experience in commercial real estate, the challenges associated with corporate supplier diversity Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of previously underutilized minority owned vendors as suppliers. It is not directly correlated with supply chain diversification, although utilizing more vendors may enhance supply chain diversification. initiatives and how to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated field. "The demographic of commercial real estate is 98 percent Caucasian male," explained Pulice, who addressed the more than 30 REAP enrollees. "To succeed in this industry, I encourage ethnic groups and females to embrace their minority status and empower themselves by seeking a niche or boutique service they can provide." Pulice did just that when she established JRT Realty Group, Inc., 10 years ago to address supplier diversity initiatives being adopted by leading corporations and government entities. At the time, minority- and women-owned firms did not have the same level of credibility they have today. "Certification as a Minority and Woman-Owned Business, or MWBE MWBE Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise MWBE Maximum Welch-Bound-Equality , through the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, or WBENC WBENC Women's Business Enterprise National Council , has significantly advanced the level of acceptance for firms like JRT Realty," she explained. JRT Realty was among WBENC's first applicants when the non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. was established in 1997. The firm has garnered additional certifications from the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO), National Minority Business Council (NMBC NMBC Nightmare Before Christmas NMBC National Missionary Baptist Convention ), New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Department of Small Business and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, self-sustaining public corporation established in 1921 by the states of New York and New Jersey to administer the activities of the New York–New Jersey port area, which has a waterfront of c. . Today, JRT Realty is recognized as the nation's leading woman-owned commercial real estate services firm, providing leasing and asset management services at more than 150 buildings, totaling over 12 million square feet of office and industrial space. Customized client services include strategic planning Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. , corporate real estate portfolio management, tenant representation, leasing and property marketing, financing and investment sales. "The REAP program participants could really relate to Jodi and the fact that she fought her way to the top in a predominantly white-male industry," said Tim Gibson, a senior director at Cushman & Wakefield. "She told them about being the only woman in the room when she started out a quarter of a century ago. Unfortunately, that glass ceiling still seems to be in place. Women like Jodi are very few in number. "We hope that this program will change that situation by granting access to the commercial real estate industry for people who would not necessarily be able to break in otherwise." "REAP is a wonderful program designed to cultivate the untapped talent that is the future of commercial real estate," added Pulice. Focusing on how the real estate professional preserves and enhances value, the REAP model emphasizes increasing net operating income Operating Income The profit realized from a business' own operations. Notes: This would not include income from things such as investments in other firms. Also referred to as operating profit or recurring profit. while decreasing physical and economic risk. To qualify for REAP, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree and three to five years of business experience in the metro Washington, D.C., Atlanta or New York City markets. Experience in commercial real estate is not a prerequisite; however, knowledge of financial statements, budgeting, project management, negotiations and sales is desirable. Upon acceptance into the 25-week course, which meets one evening a week, topics of study include shopping center and office building management, marketing and retailing, leasing and brokerage, development and financial analysis and budgets. Instructors are industry veterans who hold senior positions with sponsoring companies. Top REAP associates also are awarded 12-month full-time, entry-level professional training positions with sponsoring firms. Founded in 1997 by Executive Director Michael J. Bush, a former vice president of real estate for Giant Food, Inc., REAP was established to address the shortfall of talented minority candidates within the commercial real estate profession. For more information about REAP, please call (202) 624-7197 or visit www.projectreap.org. |
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