Real Estate Legends

 

Scott Maesel

 

“Residential is the race, commercial is the marathon.”
- Scott Maesel

Scott Maesel serves as Managing Director for SVN | Chicago Commercial in Chicago’s West Loop/Fulton Market. With over 20 years of industry experience, Scott is a highly regarded Chicago CRE veteran and named one of Crain’s Most Influential Commercial Real Estate Brokers. Some of his most notable deals are: The Morrealle Meats portfolio, a $36 million transaction; 210 N. Green, which served as a catalyst for future development in the area and later developed as WeWork; and numerous leasing transactions such as Blind Barber, Floyd's 99 Barbershop, Au Cheval, Lone Wolf, and The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet.

So how did Scott become one of Crain’s most influential commercial real estate brokers? In his words, “what I’ve done and what I’ve built, I couldn’t do it without partners.” After almost going bankrupt, Scott and his partners have expanded the business to include over 50 advisors, servicing all commercial product types both locally and nationally. Together, they have grown the SVN® brand into a globally recognized establishment. They have opened and/or created: SVN Chicago Commercial, SVN Denver Commercial, SVN Cuba, SVN Chicago Property Management, SVN Industrial Division, SVN Commercial Partners, Konnect (a real estate finance company) and continue to move the commercial real estate industry forward.

Scott Maesel’s Bio

 

Danny Nikitas

 

“Having been a point guard, I can’t get every rebound, I can’t guard everyone, I can’t score every point, and I can’t even get every assist, but what I can do is be part of a team.”
- Danny Nikitas

Danny Nikitas is a Principal and Office Leasing Director for Avison Young. Danny oversees continued growth and development of the agency leasing practice in the Chicago region helping build the Avison Young brand in the Midwest and across the US. As a landlord representative, he completed over 500 lease transactions totaling more than 4.5 million square feet (msf), while representing some of the most prestigious buildings in Chicago including: Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), John Hancock Center, Prudential Plaza, and Accenture Tower (formally Citigroup Center) among others.

So how did Danny become one of the most respected members of the Chicago commercial real estate community? Before transitioning to real estate, Danny played professional basketball in Greece. Danny believes that his athletic history helped shape his management and agency leasing skills. As an ex athlete, he was competitive, disciplined, and hardworking, which turned out to be tremendous assets in a production role in real estate. Above all, he credits his continued success to his team sport mentality.

Danny Nikitas’ Bio

 

 

“That’s what I want to do in real estate and I want to do it with all my friends. I want to help as many possible grow and become financially stable through real estate.”

- Greg Viti

Greg Viti is the Founder of Real Estate Legends Podcast, a Residential and Commercial Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams ONEChicago, an investor, and my mentor. He is a third generation Realtor with over 34 successful years in the real estate industry. His longevity through decades of real estate cycles is a testament to his flexibility and keen understanding of the Chicago market.

So how has Greg remained a top producer after all these years? Greg believes that building strong relationships is the key to success. He does not consider himself to be a transactional broker and takes great pride in being a relationship broker. His approach extends far beyond real estate deals. Greg has been able to touch the lives of many agents, including my own.

Development: 1655 McGovern St

Greg Viti's Bio

 

Kevin Rocio

 

“There are enough tables and enough seats out there for everyone, and I don’t need to be all things to all people.”
- Kevin Rocio

Kevin Rocio is the Founder of ROC Advisory Group, a Senior Commercial Real Estate Broker at @Properties, and an investor. He is a seasoned award winning veteran in the Chicago Real Estate Industry who brings a vast array of experience in all areas of real estate including Commercial, Residential, Financing, and Development.

So how did K-Roc become an award winning Commercial Real Estate Broker? With a background in finance and international economics, Kevin’s career progressed from investment banking to residential lending. Kevin trusts that you give to get, so he took it upon himself to teach residential brokers how to underwrite apartment buildings. Despite his success, he continues to hold classes for new agents.

Kevin Rocio's Bio

 

Karen Biazar

 

“I wanted to be successful, but I didn’t want it at any cost and expense. I wanted freedom, I wanted choice. I wanted to do everything because I choose to do it, not because I have to do it.”
- Karen Biazar

Karen Biazar is a Founding Partner of North Clybourn Group, a Real Estate Consultant at the Biazar Group, and an investor. North Clybourn Group is a 100% local woman owned business with over 30 years of industry experience. NCG represents buyers, sellers, landlords, investors, and developers and has paved the way in what would become some of Chicago’s most sought after neighborhoods.

So how did Karen become a Chicago local powerhouse? Karen accidentally got into real estate, but success is never accidental, and we now know that this bad a** legend was destined to be here! If you’re looking for some real, and I mean real, business and life advice, this may be our most inspirational episode yet.

Legendary Advice

“It's a mindset. It's a pivot. You have to harness the power of your mind and see everything as an opportunity and not see yourself as a victim.”

“Doing the little things really well, seeing the opportunity in everything, and not thinking you’re bigger. Don’t think that’s beneath you, consider it, do it.”

“Changing your definition of success: I used to work 80 hrs a week plus and I would wear it like a badge of honor and that's not successful. It's necessary, there's certain times where things are necessary. Work ethic is important, but I wasn't working smart.”

“Creating deep relationships: Having meaningful interactions that speak to what’s important to your clients, being available as a resource when they need it, consistently showing them that you’re their advocate.”

“As you grow you release. You have to let things go in order to grow. You have to let go of control in order to grow.”

“You have to be willing to delay immediate gratification.”

Karen Biazar's Bio

 

Alfred Klairmont

 

“You can do anything, you just have to do it, and to be successful you have to want to do it.”
- Alfred Klairmont

Alfred Klairmont is the CEO and President of Imperial Realty Company which was founded by his father Larry Klairmont and has grown to be one of Chicago’s largest real estate firms under Al’s leadership. The company was named as one of the Top 25 Commercial Property Management firms in the Chicagoland area and ranked 10th largest property manager in Chicago and the 3rd largest office property manager by Crain’s.

So how did Al become an unstoppable commercial acquisition, redevelopment, and management real estate force? Al credits his success to being fortunate enough to have an incredible mentor, a father in the real estate business who took him under his wing and taught him how to do everything. Al understands the importance and low probability of students having someone to show them the ropes and to carry on Harold Eisenberg’s legacy, Al volunteers as a real estate mentor for the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation.

Properties

800 E. Northwest Hwy, Palatine

1699 Wall St, Mount Prospect

3500 W. Peterson Ave

3501 Algonquin Rd, Rolling Meadows

3525 W. Peterson Ave

4001 W. Devon Ave

4709 Golf Rd, Skokie

4801 Southwick Dr, Matteson

515–555 Roger Williams Ave, Highland Park

540 W. Frontage Rd, Northfield

600 Holiday Plaza Dr, Matteson

6200 N. Hiawatha Ave

Alfred Klairmont's Bio

 

David W. "Buzz" Ruttenberg

 

“The relationships that you make are what allows you to be successful. Money can come and go, but the kind of friendships and trust that you build through work, and from being honest and hardworking, and being willing to stand behind your product and not hide behind a limit and a warranty or some other technicality really makes a big difference… When you do that for people and you go out of your way, you build a reputation that’s fabulous.”
- David W. “Buzz” Ruttenberg

Mr. Ruttenberg is the President of Lakewest, Inc., Founder of Belgravia Group, Ltd., and a Principal in the law firm of Ruttenberg Gilmartin Reis LLC. To say that he is an industry leader in Chicago real estate would be an understatement. Belgravia Group has delivered over 2,500 homes, leaving their mark in more than 15 Chicago neighborhoods including River North, Bucktown, Streeterville, and the West Loop. Some of their notable developments are Triangle Square Condos, Renelle on the River, Three Sixty West, CA6, CA Washington, 600 Lake Shore Drive, Schiller Place, Belgravia Terrace, and Kensington Park, to name a few.

So how did Buzzy become one of the most influential developers in Chicago? Starting his career as a successful lawyer, his entrepreneurial spirit and independent thinking did not allow him to “be a soldier in someone else’s army”. After two years of practicing law, he remodeled his first single family home with his father in 1967. He soon realized that the notion of taking something old, tired, and unappreciated and making it more interesting and exciting was the driving force in his life; and the rest is history.

Developments

CA6

Triangle Square Condos

Renelle on the River

Three Sixty West

CA Washington

328 Wisconsin

600 Lake Shore Drive

Montana Row

CA3

Kensington Park

Schiller Place

Belgravia Terrace

David W. "Buzz" Ruttenberg's Bio

 

Real Estate Legends Trailer

 

“That’s what I want to do in real estate and I want to do it with all my friends. I want to help as many possible grow and become financially stable through real estate.”- Greg Viti

Hannah, Michelle and the Water Polo team.

Greg Viti is the Founder of Real Estate Legends Podcast, a Residential and Commercial Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams ONEChicago, an investor, and my mentor. He is a third generation Realtor with over 34 successful years in the real estate industry. His longevity through decades of real estate cycles is a testament to his flexibility and keen understanding of the Chicago market.

So how has Greg remained a top producer after all these years? Greg believes that building strong relationships is the key to success. He does not consider himself to be a transactional broker and takes great pride in being a relationship broker. His approach extends far beyond real estate deals. Greg has been able to touch the lives of many agents, including my own

“A role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration; his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying, 'Yes, someone like me can do this.”
- Sonia Sotomayor

Greg and Karen Biazar.

Real Estate Legends Podcast brings listeners up-close with some of real estate’s true pioneers. Join us as we dive deeper into some of the great minds of the real estate industry and learn directly from these trailblazers how they got their start, grew their business, and continue to attack the marketplace.

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