Women In Commercial Real Estate Are Making Progress!
Even though Women’s History Month has come to an end,
let’s not let the spotlight fade.
Last month, we celebrated Women’s History Month, an annual declaration that spotlights the contributions of women to events in history and our society. We reflected on the amazing accomplishments and resilience of the many women that paved the way for equality, especially in the workforce.
While we still have a great deal of ground to make up, I think it’s important to recognize how far women have progressed. Consider the recent advancement of Louisiana legislation aimed at closing the income gap and gender inequality. News headlines continue to cast a spotlight on gender barriers every day.
A recent comprehensive study commissioned by CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network, 2015 Benchmark Study Report: Women in Commercial Real Estate, found that women in commercial real estate are more satisfied with their career progression than they were a decade ago, a substantial leap for our industry. The improvements included more women filling senior vice president, managing director and partner positions—even women starting their own real estate companies. Women in commercial real estate have achieved equal or close-to-equal standing as men in many aspects. (Read the full report HERE.) This information is a timely and welcomed example of some of the strides women are making.
Also, according to Womenable’s 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, the number of women-owned real estate firms has exceeded overall growth in the industry by an 11-point gap, and women-owned brokerages have also seen a nearly 30% increase in sales.
Women entrepreneurs are reaching historic achievements. On a national scale, the number of women-owned businesses has grown five times faster than the national average. From 2007 to 2016, the number of women-owned firms increased by 45%, and women started roughly 1,072 new businesses daily! There are now 11.3 million women-owned businesses across the nation, generating more than $1.6 trillion in revenue and employing nearly 9 million people.
The South has seen the greatest growth in women-owned businesses, with eight of the 10 fastest growing states in our region. Locally, the number of women-owned businesses in Louisiana has grown by 48.8% since 2007, ranking our state 10th nationally for growth of such industries. (For more statistics on women in the workforce, view the entire report HERE.)
It’s truly an exciting and rewarding time to be a business owner today. We’re breaking traditional gender molds and showing how women can be effective in leadership positions. Since 2010, Stirling Properties has achieved some of its greatest accomplishments, and I am proud to have played a role in that.
Today, Stirling Properties manages 16.4 million square feet of property, an increase of 50% since 2010. In addition, total gross revenue has increased by 140% and management fees are up 67%! Watch our complete Stirling Properties highlight video HERE.
I have had the pleasure of working in the real estate industry for more than 30 years, and am very involved in the community, as well as numerous nonprofit organizations and networking affiliations. I am one of the founding members of the New Orleans CREW organization and served as President and Board member for many years. I am familiar with the struggles women have faced in this industry, but also appreciate the headway that we have made.
More and more women are exceeding in the workplace, at home and in the community. Women across the Gulf South region are leading businesses and setting a standard of professional and personal excellence on a daily basis. The barriers are coming down. Industries—such as commercial real estate—that were once dominated by men are filling with talented ladies.
If you are interested in pursuing a real estate career, don’t shy away from the possibilities. Establish, strengthen and expand your professional networks. Organizations like CREW offer mentorship and networking functions. There are so many strong, smart, trailblazing women out there that we can look to as role models.
And never underestimate the resilience of women. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the New Orleans CREW affiliation lost more than half of its membership. But with the help of local commercial real estate businesses and national supporters, we were able to come back stronger than ever…and even increase our membership!
Support and comradery are crucial in any industry. Personally, I rely on my networking circles and business acquaintances often for support, and my affiliations have significantly contributed to my success. I encourage you to get involved. Grow a strong foundation. Lead the way for many more women to follow.
So even though Women’s History Month has come to an end, let’s not let the spotlight fade. As we turn the calendar page and welcome the spring season, let’s celebrate a time for opportunity and growth that will last throughout the year and beyond.
Louisiana State University Takes 3rd Place In Global ARGUS Software University Challenge
Propels national spotlight on growing educational real estate programs
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce students from Louisiana State University (LSU) E.J. Ourso Business School have placed 3rd in the global 2016 ARGUS Software University Challenge.
For the past several years, ARGUS Software has hosted the competitive challenge for university students from around the world aspiring to be real estate professionals. Through this challenge, students create real-world investment strategies through informed decisions using ARGUS solutions. A panel of judges from the academic community and industry participated in reviewing the case studies and nominating the winners.
More than 40 top real estate programs from national universities participated in the competition. The team from LSU—Jason Wyman, Eddie Saa, Jacob Kerr, Alysha Meadors and Robin Day—was coached by Stirling Properties Asset/Finance Manager, Justin Landry. Landry serves as an adjunct professor teaching Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing). This is the 5th year an LSU team has competed in the ARGUS Software Challenge, and marks the 1st time placing under Landry’s leadership.
“Our team is thrilled to have placed among the top three teams in the country, especially among such prestigious schools and highly respected real estate programs,” said Robin Day, 2016 ARGUS Software University participant from LSU. “We were given the invaluable opportunity to learn from real-world scenarios. The challenge was a direct correlation to the types of trials real estate industry professionals encounter on a daily basis. Working as a team from various backgrounds allowed us the chance to share ideas and learn from one another. We created a more robust solution by combining our diverse knowledge bases than any of us could have accomplished individually.”
LSU’s team secured $2,000 for their university through ARGUS Software. In addition, the students were bestowed the 2016 ICSC Maurin Ogden Foundation LSU Scholarship Award, funded by Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden, founders of Stirling Properties. Through the scholarship, students will receive all-expense-paid attendance to the ICSC RECon Convention in Las Vegas. Each year Stirling Properties chaperones five LSU Award Recipients to the convention, offering the students valuable exposure to industry leaders and potential employers.
“This scholarship has been tremendously successful, and we’ve had a handful of students who received jobs as a result of attending the conference. But none of this would be possible without the generosity of Stirling’s founders, Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden. There are no two people more committed to LSU, real estate and education,” said Landry. “We couldn’t be more proud of this team of students. They have worked so hard for all that they have accomplished this semester.”
Coming on the heels of other recent LSU E.J. Ourso Business School advancements, this is another significant win that students and supporters hope will propel a national spotlight on the growing finance and real estate programs at the university.
For more information about Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing) and its objectives contact Justin Landry at jclandry@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at United Plaza, 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 303 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information regarding our services, please visit us at www.stirlingproperties.com.
President’s Message: Disrupt or be disrupted.
Recently, I attended a seminar at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week titled CEO Disrupt Breakfast featuring Steve Case, founder of AOL and one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs, and (New Orleans native) Walter Isaacson, president & CEO of the Aspen Institute and national writer and journalist.
The rudimentary theme was that companies must disrupt themselves from time to time, or they will be disrupted by external forces, and eventually decline or fail. I considered how this applies to Stirling Properties and the commercial real estate industry as a whole.
Business disruption is a reality that companies face on a regular basis. The largest cause of disruption is the rapid progression of technology and globalization, which allows new business models to be introduced at an ever-increasing rate. Companies must disrupt or be disrupted—we must shake up the status quo—and deviate from the normal way of doing things.
But business disruption is nothing new. We see multitudes of instances throughout history. For example, plastic disrupted the production of metal and wood, typewriters were disrupted by word processing software, electric cars disrupted the automobile industry, Wikipedia displaced traditional encyclopedias, iTunes disrupted the music industry, Uber disrupted the transportation industry, Airbnb is disrupting hoteliers, and the list goes on and on. Companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Starbucks are constantly finding new ways of disrupting themselves to stay relevant and remain a crucial part of our daily lives.
So how do we survive in a world of disruption, continually improve our position, and seize opportunities? We must be proactive and adaptive. Disruption is necessary to create opportunity. Many leaders agree, “If you are not growing, you are dying.” Change is inevitable, and businesses must be willing to adapt in order to prosper.
According to Disrupt author, Luke Williams, “In a business world of nonstop change, there’s only one way to win the game: transform it entirely. This requires a revolution in thinking—a steady stream of disruptive strategies and unexpected solutions.”
There are many factors that threaten to disrupt us locally. The economy and state budget shortfalls, the oil & gas industry, and even politics, all have the ability to considerably change our environment.
Additionally, the commercial real estate industry is evolving at lightning speed. E-commerce and Internet shopping have already significantly disrupted the retail industry! Many companies are quickly adapting to new trends, such as embracing technology, incorporating omnichannel marketing strategies, integrating mixed-use developments, and engaging millennials. In order to get ahead, we have to move away from traditional real estate models. We have to transform the market landscape.
I am proud to say that Stirling Properties has done this throughout its history, most notably over the last five years. Our leadership recognized that in order to thrive in this market, we had to identify new and unique opportunities to grow and diversify.
We expanded our business model and strategically focused our attention toward property acquisition and creating opportunities for investors to put capital into real, tangible property across the Gulf South. Earlier this year, we purchased Turtle Creek Crossing shopping center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, marking the largest retail acquisition in our 40-year history! Since 2010, we have acquired over $200 million in property, totaling 2.1 million square feet—including the Pan American Life Center, which has become the hub of our New Orleans commerce.
We are continuing to invest in multi-family housing. We’re increasing our company reach and footprint by expanding into new geographical areas throughout the Gulf South, as well as new industries, such as healthcare. These are all examples of projects and strategies that differ from our normal. Consider the results of this since 2010:
- Total gross revenue has increased by 140%
- Management fees are up 67%
- Square footage under management has grown by 50%
- Development fees have increased by 145%
- Watch our complete Stirling Properties highlight video
We can be certain there’s going to be more change in the next five, ten and twenty years. But the potential for improvement is all around us, and it’s a truly exciting time for Stirling Properties, our community, and our industry.
Stirling Properties will continue to explore new ways to disrupt ourselves, and we look forward to reaping the opportunities that are produced!
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Celebrate Grand Opening Of Ambassador Town Center In Lafayette, Louisiana
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. celebrated the Grand Opening of Ambassador Town Center today. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held with City-Parish President Joel Robideaux, Former City-Parish President Joey Durel, LEDA President & CEO Gregg Gothreaux, and Lafayette area community leaders.
Joey Durel, Gregg Gothreaux, Jason El Koubi, Joel Robideaux, Ryan Pecot, Marty Mayer
Ambassador Town Center is a roughly 60-acre retail project anchored by Costco Wholesale and Dick’s Sporting Goods/Field & Stream, consisting of more than 430,000 square feet. Located at the southeast corner of Lafayette’s ‘main-at-main’ intersection, Ambassador Caffery Parkway & Kaliste Saloom Road, the development will also include Avalon Salon & Spa, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blaze Pizza, Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, Costco Gasoline, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Five Below, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Panda Express, Panera Bread, PetSmart, Phone Zone, Professor Bob Beans, Red Robin, Subway, Tao Japanese Cuisine, World of Beer, Verizon, and more supporting shops and restaurants to come. The retail center is currently 97% leased. Most of the retailers committed to Ambassador Town Center are either first-time locations within Lafayette or Louisiana, or both.
“We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Ambassador Town Center and bring a unique customer experience to the Lafayette market,” said Michael Lebovitz, Executive Vice President, Development and Administration, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. “This development brings a number of exciting retail and restaurant options, most of which are new to the market.”
“We are confident in the future and prosperity of this area. Ambassador Town Center is positioned in an excellent location that is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting new retailers,” said Townsend Underhill, Stirling Properties Senior Vice President of Development. “We are happy to continue our long and successful development history in the City of Lafayette.”
Ambassador Town Center has already created approximately 2,200 construction jobs, and is expected to generate roughly 1,700 permanent jobs and nearly $9 million annually in estimated sales tax collection, providing a huge boost for the local market.
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. formed a joint venture to develop the center, and with less than two years of planning, construction began in January of 2015. Though not initially contracted to develop the highly anticipated retail center, Stirling Properties and CBL were able to adapt and deliver the project in an exceptionally timely manner when previous developers could not. The first tenant, Nordstrom Rack, opened earlier this month to significant crowds despite fierce weather conditions. Costco Wholesale and Marshalls/HomeGoods opened last Thursday, and more tenants are expected to open their doors within the week.
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate investment and development in Lafayette and surrounding areas of South Louisiana. At a time when the local economy is fragile, Stirling Properties is bringing quality development and retailers to the area. At completion, Ambassador Town Center is expected to be the premier regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as a vital economic contributor to the area.
Stirling Properties has developed more than 3.7 million square feet totaling $465 million since 2010, almost exclusively in Louisiana. Other Stirling Properties developments in Lafayette include Ambassador Row, Ambassador Row Courtyards, Stirling Lafayette and Village at Southpark, just to name a few.
For more information, please visit stirlingprop.com or cblproperties.com.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pecot at 337.572.0246 or rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Tim Gilmore at 423.490.8358 or Tim.Gilmore@cblproperties.com. For information on Ambassador Town Center, please visit ambassadortowncenter.com.
Stirling Properties Celebrates Team Members At Annual Stirling Honors Event
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company recently celebrated its 17th Annual Stirling Honors to recognize the successes and accomplishments of the Stirling Team over the past year. The Stirling Honors luncheon was held at the beautiful Civic Theatre in New Orleans. A Commercial Celebration Dinner was also held to honor Commercial Agents and to grant Commercial Production Awards at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. 
Although fierce weather conditions engulfed the area, Stirling employees were treated to a day of fellowship, food and festivities. A flash-mob dance troupe from Dancing Grounds kicked off the morning with high-energy and excitement. Sonny Lee, Founder and President of Son of a Saint nonprofit organization, delivered the keynote speech and renowned New Orleans musicians, Tanya & Dorise, closed out the event. Marty Mayer, Stirling Properties President & CEO, served as the event host and emcee, and discussed the importance of seizing opportunities within the industry. OPPORTUNITY remained the overarching theme of the day, inspired by the famous quote from basketball coaching legend, John Wooden: “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” 
Commercial Award recipients received recognition for Bronze, Silver, Platinum, Diamond and Ruby production levels based on individual Adjusted Gross Commission figures for 2015. Special recognition was given to Rhonda Sharkawy, Senior Retail Leasing and Development Executive in New Orleans, for being the Top Commercial Agent in 2015!
COMMERCIAL DIVISION AWARDS
Ruby Award 2015:
Emerald Award 2015:
Diamond Award 2015:
Platinum Award 2015:
Gold Award 2015:
Silver Award 2015:
Bronze Award 2015:
Also recognized were employees and agents who achieved special anniversaries with the company. Service Awards were given to 5, 10, 15 and 20-year milestones.
SERVICE AWARDS
5 Years of Service Ed Moore – Covington, LA Office Ryan Murphy – Covington, LA Office John Reynolds – Covington, LA Office Mike Washburn – Covington, LA Office Jimmy Gomez – New Orleans, LA Office Gregory Gautreaux – New Orleans, LA Office Nancy Rome – New Orleans, LA Office Joseph Kimble – New Orleans, LA Office Solomon Lewis – New Orleans, LA Office 10 Years of Service Marcia McGarrity – Covington, LA Office Laura Wallace – Covington, LA Office Dick Cyr – Covington, LA Office 15 Years of Service Lynn Blanchard – Baton Rouge, LA Office Tina Crouchet – Covington, LA Office Chris Abadie – Covington, LA Office Elizabeth Schmelling – Covington, LA Office Beezie Landry – Covington, LA Office Nancy Stallings Dischler – Covington, LA Office 20 Years of Service Lee de la Houssaye – Covington, LA Office
Stirling Properties And CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Announce Grand Opening Of Ambassador Town Center In Lafayette, Louisiana
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. announce the Grand Opening of Ambassador Town Center and welcome new tenants. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony will be held next week, with newly elected Parish President Joel Robideaux and other local dignitaries.
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. formed a joint venture to develop the center, and with less than two years of planning, construction began in January of 2015. Though not initially contracted to develop the highly anticipated retail center, Stirling Properties and CBL were able to adapt and deliver the project in an exceptionally timely manner when previous developers could not. The first tenant, Nordstrom Rack, opened last weekend to significant crowds despite the fierce weather conditions. Costco Wholesale and Marshalls/HomeGoods opened Thursday, March 17th.
Ambassador Town Center has already created approximately 2,200 construction jobs, and is expected to generate roughly 1,700 permanent jobs and nearly $9 million annually in sales taxes for the City of Lafayette, providing a huge boost for the local market.
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate investment and development in Lafayette and surrounding areas of South Louisiana. At a time when the local economy is fragile, Stirling Properties is bringing quality development and retailers to the area. At completion, Ambassador Town Center is expected to be the premier regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as a vital economic contributor to the area.
Research shows shoppers are spending more in home supply, clothing, and sporting goods stores, among others. And people are still eating out. Sales at restaurants and bars has jumped from last year. Consumer spending is healthy at many similar retail centers across the region.
“We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Ambassador Town Center and bring a unique customer experience to the Lafayette market,” said Michael Lebovitz, Executive Vice President, Development and Administration, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. “This development brings a number of exciting retail and restaurant options, most of which are new to the market.”
“We are confident in the future and prosperity of this area. Ambassador Town Center is positioned in an excellent location that is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting new retailers,” said Townsend Underhill, Stirling Properties Senior Vice President of Development. “We are happy to continue our long and successful development history in the City of Lafayette.”
Stirling Properties has developed more than 3.7 million square feet totaling $465 million since 2010, almost exclusively in Louisiana. Other Stirling Properties developments in Lafayette include Ambassador Row, Ambassador Row Courtyards, Stirling Lafayette and Village at Southpark, just to name a few.
Ambassador Town Center is a roughly 60-acre retail project anchored by Costco Wholesale and Dick’s Sporting Goods/Field & Stream, consisting of more than 430,000 square feet. Located at Lafayette’s ‘main-at-main’ intersection, Ambassador Caffery Parkway & Kaliste Saloom Road, the development will also include Avalon Salon & Spa, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blaze Pizza, Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, Costco Gasoline, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Five Below, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Panda Express, Panera Bread, PetSmart, Phone Zone, Professor Bob Beans, Red Robin, Subway, Tao Japanese Cuisine, World of Beer, Verizon, and more supporting shops and restaurants to come. The retail center is currently 97% leased. Most of the retailers committed to Ambassador Town Center are either first-time locations within Lafayette or Louisiana, or both.
For more information, please visit stirlingprop.com or cblproperties.com.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pecot at 337.572.0246 or rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Tim Gilmore at 423.490.8358 or Tim.Gilmore@cblproperties.com. For information on Ambassador Town Center, please visit ambassadortowncenter.com.
