Very excited to bring back Chris Okada of Okada & Co., this time in person, since he last joined us back during the depths of COVID back in the summer of 2020.  

Chris is the founder & owner of Okada & Co, a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in the ownership, acquisition, & leasing of office, building, land, & storage facilities across NYC & New Jersey.  Chris & his firm are tasked with overseeing a portfolio of more than 110 Manhattan properties spanning 6.5 million square feet, a market share that he has grown significantly since 2021.  He’s also been involved in residential new development at 432 West 52nd Street, along with acquisitions of commercial building 41-15 West 34th Street, retail properties like 894 Avenue of Americas on West 32nd Street, 148 West 24th Street (where the Barcade is located), and the retail at 135 West 52nd Street (across 6.5 Avenue)   

Chris’s story is a unique one, as he hails from a real estate family whose parents moved from Japan in the 60s. His father carved out a niche in the commercial real estate world, working with companies like Toyota Motors, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Sony, and many restaurant and hospitality companies to establish their first North American headquarters back in 1967.  

Chris has been featured numerous times in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Crain's Business, The New York Post, The Real Deal Magazine, & The NY Observer, to name a few.  He also has a powerful presence on his social media platforms, including Instagram & LinkedIn, which I will plug in the show notes.  His insightful posts are educational, thought-provoking, and likely the most interesting among the many commercial thought leaders in his business. 

Please give Chris Okada a follow on: 

Instagram

Linkedin

Okada & Co Website

Pleased to bring on Tanya Delahoz, one of our founding agents of our Breckenridge, Colorado market in Summit County.  Hailing from New Jersey, Tanya grew up as a competitive ski racer throughout childhood.  What should have been a quick stop to Breck during those years ended up being a 25+year tenure as a permanent resident, where she now resides with her husband and two children.  

For those of you who are aware of Breckenridge, the resort town has just been named The Most Charming Small Town Downtowns by HGTV, making it the only Colorado town included in the list of 40 most charming small town downtowns in the US.  The city is right off Highway 70, which also connects to prominent resorts like Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, & loveland ski resorts.  Just about an hour away from Denver, Colorado, the area is a major attraction for locals & the global ski & outdoor enthusiasts.  

Founded in 1859 during the Colorado Gold Rush, Breckenridge was a mining town before becoming a ski destination. The resort’s Peak 9 was named after a prospector, and remnants of mining history, like old equipment, can still be seen around town.

Please follow Tanya at the links below! 

Instagram

Website

Compass

I welcome Lauren Mitrick Wood from Compass Chicago for the second time on the Real Takk Pod. Lauren & I first met at the LA Compass national conference about 7 years ago.  Since then, she's represented a few of my personal friends and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transactions in Chicago.  

Lauren is a powerhouse Chicago real estate broker and the founder of “Olive Well” at Compass. Olive Well, inspired by the phrase “all live well,” features her family members, husband, and team agents who assist in representing their clients in the Chicago metropolitan market.  

As a third-generation Realtor, she’s built a stellar career working with everyone from first-time buyers to Chicago Bears stars and influential investors. 

A Forbes '30 Under 30' honoree, Lauren was one of the folding agents of our Chicago market and has revitalized industry groups like the Women’s Council of Realtors and the Women of Compass group. 

She recently renovated a 100-year-old North Shore home, which we’ll discuss later, but all in all, her passion for helping people find their dream homes shines through. 

Please give her a follow on her socials! 

@lmitrickwood

@Olive.well

www.Olivewell.com "Where All Live Well"

Pleased to bring on Cheryl Foote, our founding agent from our Steamboat, Colorado market, on the Real Takk Pod.  Born & raised in Minnesota, Cheryl attended Regis College in Denver, which brought her to Colorado.   Cheryl moved to Steamboat Springs in 1996, and fast forward almost 30 years, Cheryl & her family call Steamboat their home.  

Cheryl has a wealth of knowledge in the steamboat market with hundreds of transactions completed from townhomes, single-family homes, land, condos, and high-end fractional ownership. 

For those of you who are aware of Steamboat Springs, the town got its name in the early 1800s from French trappers who heard a chugging sound, like a steamboat’s engine, coming from a natural mineral spring. This “Steamboat Spring” stopped chugging after railroad construction in 1908, but the name stuck, and the town still boasts over 150 natural hot springs.

The term “Champagne Powder” was coined in Steamboat to describe its light, fluffy snow, which has just 6% water content due to cold temperatures and low humidity. This trademarked snow type, popularized in the 1950s, makes Steamboat a top destination for skiers seeking smooth, powdery runs.

Please follow Cheryl @Cheryl_foote on IG & I will plug her website below: 

Compass

Instagram

Personal Website

Pleased to have Kenny Burgos, the Chief Executive Officer of the New York Apartment Association (NYAA), on this episode.  NYAA owns & manages nearly 1M affordable housing units in the NYC metropolitan area, making Kenny the leader of the largest trade organization representing private multifamily building owners in the country.  

Kenny was born and raised in the Bronx. He graduated from Bronx High School of Science and was an eco major at SUNY Albany.  

Before heading up NYAA, Kenny was elected to represent the 85th Assembly District in the southeastern Bronx as a Democrat, the second youngest elected official in the state of NY.  

Kenny is also a podcast host himself. His “Housing New York with Kenny Burgos podcast” is a weekly NYAA production that recaps housing policy news, provides insider analysis, and discusses issues like rent stabilization, zoning, and real estate trends. The podcast covers topics such as the City of Yes plan, composting fines, scaffolding regulations, and the housing court backlog. I shall plug the podcast link in our show notes.  

Please follow Kenny at @kennyburgosny & NYAA @housingNY ON IG, and his presence on X may be followed at @kennyBurgosNY.