Mentor Match Success

CELEBRATING MENTOR MATCH

BOMA SF Careers in Real Estate Committee Supports CREATE through Annual Mentor Match Program

“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher,” according to a Japanese proverb. More than a dozen CREATE Fellows had some of the best advisors around—professionals who shared their industry knowledge in the Mentor Match program and enhanced the students’ classroom curriculum.

CREATE’s mission is to EDUCATE, CONNECT & EMPLOY new commercial real estate talent for our local industry. BOMA SF’s Careers in Real Estate Committee supports this effort annually through its Mentor Match program. Mentor Match pairs one student from the SFSU and Merritt CREATE Fellows Programs with two mentors (one seasoned professional and one emerging professional).

During the 8-week session, mentors and mentees complete three mandatory check-ins and may choose to do more. This year’s program included 14 mentees and 28 mentors.

Mentors and mentees celebrated both the end of the program and the school year for these students at an in-person gathering in May. “Several of the graduating seniors have already secured full-time employment as a direct result of their involvement in CREATE and the resources offered by BOMA’s Careers in Real Estate Committee,” says CREATE Director and BOMA Vice President of Operations Tory Brubaker.

Congratulations to Kendra Horsfield with BluSky Restoration, who was honored as Mentor of the Year. “She truly guided me in the right direction towards my success and connected me with a lot of individuals that will be a value to me and my knowledge in the future,” her mentee remarked. “She has inspired me to become a Mentor one day. I truly am grateful for this mentor/mentee program BOMA has offered to us and hope to be a part of this program giving back to the next generation.”

Special thanks to event sponsors Metro Services, Otis Elevator, and Vanbarton Group which donated the venue at 115 Sansome Street. And thanks to those that organized and executed this successful event, including Chair Samantha Hoyle, Columbia Property Trust; Vice Chair Katelynn Klinger, Ventas; Sylwia Preis, BOMA SF; Michael Begale, Otis Elevator; and Erik Carlson, Metro Services.

Interested in mentoring and/or providing informational interviews?

Contact Careers in Real Estate Chair Samantha Hoyle at samantha.hoyle@ columbia.reit.

Take advantage of free job

postings: Employers looking for new recruits may post jobs for free on www.createworkforce.org/careers. CREATE’s career portal enables employers to post entry-level jobs and internships at no cost, and candidates to post their resumes. CREATE underwrites job posting fees, facilitating cost-effective hiring.

Some mentees share their Mentor Match experiences...

“I loved the mock interview with Mark Kelly. He asked some tough questions, for which I did not know the answer. He provided me with advice on how to answer tough questions, and the solutions for the situational questions he asked. Mark did not only support me within CRE, but also gave me advice for my final school project.“ “My favorite experience with Alicia Barr was when she gave me a tour of the property she manages. It was an interesting and fun experience. I got to see a lot of the property she manages and even some of the projects that are still under development.”

“My favorite experience was definitely my first Zoom check-in with Meade Boutwell that was centered on resume and cover-letter help. I really liked his honesty and frankness when talking about what could be improved. He gave me a good impression on how a broker in CRE views potential candidates and business in general.”

The Commercial Real Estate Alliance for Tomorrow’s Employees (CREATE) educates a diverse workforce and connects career-ready candidates to employers in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) industry. Since 2011, CREATE has educated hundreds of students from San Francisco State University and Merritt College, recognized as having among the most diverse student populations in the nation. Approximately 50% of these students have been hired directly into the industry upon graduation. CREATE’s signature program is the 16-week, 32-hour Fellows program led by industry subject matter experts. Student Fellows learn fundamentals of the industry and about career opportunities available in commercial real estate. The experience is enhanced by mentoring, job shadowing, building tours, internships, and networking as well as the free career portal that connects students with employers offering internships and entry-level jobs.

MENTOR MATCH PARTICIPANTS

Mentors – Seasoned Professionals

Kari Aycock, Hines Alicia Barr, Boston Properties Meade Boutwell, CBRE Erik Carlson, Metro Services Christine Cruz, Hudson Pacific Properties Katie Fraher, ABM Angelina Gonzalez, CBRE Caroline Grafft, Hudson Pacific Properties Greg Johnson, CBRE Mark Kelly, ABM Dustin Magill, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Colin Shinners, Vanbarton Group Jason Smith, JLL Denise Yee, Cushman & Wakefield

Mentors – Emerging Professionals

Luz Zepeda Alvarez, Mobilite Michael Begale, Otis Elevator Maryn Craig, Newmark Cecilia De La Torre, Kilroy Realty* Michael Fosse, JLL* Kendra Horsfield, BluSky Restoration Brian Lu, JLL* Marco McCartney, Cushman & Wakefield* Kat Mendoza, Lincoln Property Company Tyler Neumann, Kilroy Realty Cameron Newcomb, CBRE* Parker Ramsey, Peacock Construction Linda Ray, Boston Properties Isabella Risucci, Hudson Pacific Properties

Mentees

Daysi Alvarado, SFSU Vanessa Himelblau, Merritt Brent Jolasoso, SFSU Gordon Kan, SFSU Aria Mazroy, SFSU Patrick Mims, SFSU Candy Mou, SFSU Rojina Pradhan, SFSU Qiana Reynolds, Merritt Simrat Sohota, SFSU Sean Sebers, SFSU Emaan Sharif, SFSU Ryan Shigenaga, SFSU Alia Valencia, SFSU