PATRICK DUFFY

During four decades, Patrick Duffy has thrived in the commercial real estate industry, building a career that has included big deals, loyal clients, quotes in major publications and a top position with one of the biggest CRE firms in the country.

What's behind this success? Duffy isn't afraid to log long hours. He studies the industry. He's built a history of providing top service to his clients. And he doesn't hesitate to serve as a mentor to other commercial real estate brokers.

It helps, too, that Duffy is passionate about commercial real estate. It's easier to work those long hours when you're working in a field that you love.

"In my primary role of sales manager and president, I have had the opportunity to build two great companies," Duffy said. "Watching our people grow, succeed and enjoy their work life has been my greatest joy. I have so many 'alumni' who I hear from regularly who say 'thank you' for my small part in their career success and who are my friends after decades of going in other directions. That is the best part of the career I chose."

Today, Duffy is managing director of brokerage services in Houston for Colliers. Duffy's career, though, took many twists before he arrived at Colliers. An example? Duffy started his career in the early 80’s as director of marketing for a real estate database company. In this position, Duffy spent three years interviewing the country's biggest brokerage houses to find out how he could help them meet their automation needs. This company created the first CRM for the PC platform as part of their broader suite.

Duffy has also spent time as a producing broker, educator, sales manager and managing broker. He even made a major move along the way, relocating to Houston from Florida, where he served as president of the Colliers offices in Tampa Bay, Orlando and Southwest Florida.

As president of Colliers' Houston office, Duffy is responsible for recruiting, training and managing the sales and leasing terms here; overseeing the property management efforts of the office; and drafting and coordinating the business plan for the office.

"I always tried to stay focused on the success of the people I worked with and for before my own," Duffy said. "I told someone once, 'Get paid for what you do. Don't do what you do to get paid.' Money never drove me. It was a natural outcome of putting my clients' and my team's needs before my own. I think that focus was recognized and helped me to build trust and create very long-term relationships."

This doesn't mean that Duffy hasn't faced challenges during his career. He points to the many economic downturns he's worked through during his 40 years in CRE. But he also cites the difficulty of accepting that not everyone can thrive in commercial real estate.

"It took me a long time to learn to balance my need to help everyone I could with the reality that not everyone is cut out for this business or was not a fit for our company culture and needed to find another path," Duffy said. "I don't like to accept defeat and took other people's lack of success personally."

Throughout his career, Duffy has made a positive impact on Colliers. He built and organized the retail service delivery capabilities for Colliers worldwide when he served as chairman of the Colliers Retail Specialty Group. He is also a founding member of Colliers' Oil and Gas practice group. He served as chairman of the Colliers Managers Steering Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Colliers USA prior to the company going public.

Duffy hasn't been shy about sharing his industry knowledge, either. He has served as an instructor for the intermediate finance course offered by CoreNet and earned the Top-Rated Faculty Certificate in 2000. He has also been quoted in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and Globe Street. When not working, Duffy prefers spending time with his family of three sons and his wife of 40 years, all of whom he refers to as his best friends.