How many years have you been in this business?

I have been in the business for close to 15 years.

Why did you join BOMA?

It is a core part of networking with other commercial real estate folks in our city and region.

What's one thing - either industry-related or not - you learned in the last month?

How many athletes (and people in general) are negatively affected by anxiety and panic attacks created by the pressures placed on them by ownership groups, parents, social media, employers, and themselves. There’s been a lot of focus on this recently and I didn’t realize how many people anxiety negatively affected. Go watch Breaking Point about the tennis player Mardy Fish, the documentary about the tennis player Naomi Osaka, or read about the hockey player Jonathan Drouin, to name a few. It’s a good lesson for me as a person, parent, and mentor, to not put people under too much pressure as it will do the opposite of your intention.

What educational or business experiences best prepared you for your career?

I graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree majoring in history and philosophy which gave me a good base for critical thinking.

After university, I moved to Calgary, AB where I began working in the commercial appraisal industry (my two brothers and mother are in real estate and so it was a natural step). Since then, I have worked for four international appraisal firms (Cushman and Wakefield in Calgary, Colliers International in Halifax, Altus Group in Moncton, and now CBRE in Moncton).

I completed a Diploma in Urban Land Economics (DULE) through UBC in 2012 and studied through the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) for 7 years to obtain my AACI, P. App. (commercial appraisal) designation in 2014.

What advice would you give to professionals coming in to the commercial industry?

Be yourself and be genuine. Get out and network with as many people in our industry as possible. Being yourself and forming relationships are key in our industry.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be and why?

A career is a marathon and not a race. Enjoy the ride because it goes by quickly.

What's your favourite movie and why?

That’s a tough one as there are so many good movies and for so many different reasons. One of my favourite movies from the first time I watched it was Forest Gump because it takes you on a trip through the character’s life on an emotional roller-coaster, including overcoming hardship, adventure, love, heartbreak, sadness, and happiness.

If you could have dinner with someone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Also, a tough question to answer as there are many people I’d like to meet for many different reasons. One person I think would be interesting to have dinner with would be Nelson Mandela…to listen to his story, how he was steadfast in his belief for an equal society for all, and how he was able to overcome racism and imprisonment and forgive those who did injustice to him and his people to make a better future for all.

How do you define success?

I define success by being happy and able to excel at whatever it is that you do.