On today’s Performance Mindset Show, Amy sits down with Allison Weiss. She reveals her recent decision to transition from her brokerage, Beyond Commercial, to a new role at Cushman & Wakefield. Passionate about building careers, confidence, and community, Allison is the founder of CRE Recruiting, a national search firm helping commercial real estate companies by connecting them with top talent across brokerage, development, investment, CRE, tech, and more. During her career, Allison has recruited hundreds of professionals and previously led recruiting at Colliers and Marcus & Millichap. In addition, Allison is the founder of Women Speak CRE, a platform amplifying women’s voices in the industry, and an active leader and connector in the CRE community, both in person and online. She is also a dear friend of Amy’s and a fellow Power Beacon.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Amy’s thoughtful decision to shift the trajectory of her career by closing down her own brokerage and stepping into a corporate commercial real estate career.
2. The friction Amy is feeling as she’s making this career shift, and how she’s handling it.
3. Her new role, the process she used to transition into it, and how she landed at Cushman & Wakefield.
4. Fears and expectations surrounding this big lifestyle shift and the reactions she received.
5. What Cushman offered Amy that allowed her to continue to be herself and not fit into a corporate box.
6. Amy’s advice for other women considering a big career transition and her ability to remain intentional, transparent, and clear about her goals.
7. The importance of vulnerability and authenticity.
8. Timing the transition from owning her brokerage to moving to the new role at Cushman & Wakefield.
9. Who Amy’s clients are and how they can reach her.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/amycalandrino

Email - [email protected]

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

CREi Summit - creisummit.com

“Rich Relationships” by Selena Soo - www.amazon.com/Rich-Relationships-Million-Dollar-Network-Business/dp/B0F35GH7RQ

Connect with Allison Weiss:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss

Email - [email protected]

Women Speak CRE - www.womenspeakcre.com

On today’s Performance Mindset Show, Amy sits down with Leslie Cook, Regional Manager of Business Development at Cuhaci Peterson, a nationally recognized design firm incorporated in Florida that brings together a diverse team of architects, engineers, designers, planners, and support staff, all driven to make clients successful by delivering exceptional end-to-end designs with registered professionals in all 50 states. Leslie brings over 15 years of experience in construction and real estate project management to her role. She began in project management in New York City, leading complex, fast-paced projects in multifamily, retail, cultural restoration, and mixed-use development. Leslie is known for her ability to bridge technical expertise with relationship-driven strategy, helping Cuhaci Peterson grow, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful impact through design.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Leslie Cook’s background in construction, project management, and business development, and her role today at Cuhaci Peterson.
2. The differences between New York and Florida construction and development.
3. Some of the more unique adaptive reuses of properties Leslie has seen.
4. The importance of remaining authentic and honest with clients to help them find the right fit.
5. Mentorship and creating supportive relationships with others in commercial real estate.
6. How firms and developers can help shape more inclusive communities, and what affordable housing might look like in a community.
7. Defining success when a partnership goes right and retaining a people-first mindset.
8. Leslie’s tips for managing ICSC successfully.
9. Overcoming impostor syndrome and stepping up into a role she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
10. What travel experiences have taught her about letting go and going with the flow.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Leslie Cook:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/lesliemichelecook

Lafayette House - www.lafayettehousejc.com

Today’s Performance Mindset Show features Brigitte Owens, a Louisville-based retired elementary school principal turned commercial real estate advisor. Brigitte is also a seasoned real estate investor with experience across multiple asset classes. With her unique background, she brings a blend of empathy, discipline, and business savvy to every deal. Brigitte entered the commercial real estate industry in 2022 and has been helping clients find the right property ever since.

Brigitte Owens treats every property as her own, understanding the needs of both buyers and sellers while building long-term relationships rooted in trust and communication. She is deeply involved in her community, serving as a member of the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors. She was recently appointed to the Property Valuation Committee as a commercial representative. Outside of real estate, Brigitte serves multiple boards, including AMPED Louisville, REBOUND Inc., the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, and the Advisory Board for German American Bank.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Brigitte Owens’s shift from her career as an elementary school principal to commercial real estate.
2. Why she chose commercial real estate over residential, and her biggest surprise about the commercial real estate industry.
3. The importance of opening doors for people of color and women in commercial real estate.
4. Waiting for the right tenant to win the long-term game and empathizing with your clients to help them find what they want.
5. How you can set yourself apart from your competition to gain and retain clients.
6. Brigitte’s techniques for staying confident and grounded despite market changes.
7. Tackling the tasks you don’t prefer but gaining momentum when you do.
8. The importance of flexibility in meeting clients on their schedules.
9. Lessons Brigitte took away from experiencing bad leadership.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Brigitte Owens:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-owens-7b006016b

Email - [email protected]

Amy sits down with Chris Hatch, a partner at Forza Commercial, on today’s Performance Mindset Show. Forza Commercial manages more than 4 million square feet of property. Forza Development handles ground-up retail projects nationwide and multifamily communities throughout the mountain and desert states. Chris is also part of Legend Partners, which is home to at least 20 agents specializing in retail, land, office, industrial, and investment sales. Additionally, he is the founder of Mahalo Pro, a property management company keeping commercial assets running smoothly year-round. Chris is the host of The Dirt Dog Pod, which tells the stories of people who live on the road, building America’s next great retail sites, from gyms to grocery stores to hair salons.

Chris Hatch lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and five children.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. What Chris Hatch’s business does and why he decided to create his podcast.
2. The biggest lessons he’s learned for scaling a management business successfully.
3. Some of the challenges Chris has had to navigate since starting the management business in 2020.
4. How he continues to grow the business using simple tactics.
5. Building resilience in kids through physical work.
6. The most memorable guests on Chris’s podcast.
7. Where he sees retail development going in the future, and some of the challenges the industry is facing.
8. What Chris is excited about for Q4 in 2025.
9. Some personal facts about Chris Hatch.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Chris Hatch:

Forza Commercial - www.forzacommercial.com

X - x.com/chriswhatch

Linktree - linktr.ee/chriswhatchcre

On today’s Performance Mindset show, Amy sits down with Jeffrey Thompson, VP of Asset Management at Agellan. With over 15 years of experience in commercial real estate, Jeffrey manages a portfolio of nearly 50 industrial assets, totaling approximately 6.5 million square feet across the United States. Throughout his career, he has touched retail, industrial, multifamily, and office sectors. Jeffrey is passionate about two things: commercial real estate and family. Married for 13 years, he is a proud dad of two. On X, he shares insights from the asset side of the business, building relationships in an industry that is often very closed off.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How Jeffrey Thompson’s varied experience in real estate prepared him for his current role as an asset manager.
2. The draw to asset management and why it sets you up to be a well-rounded real estate professional.
3. Creating a public persona on social media and how it’s been beneficial to his professional life.
4. Overcoming impostor syndrome and the importance of authenticity.
5. Setting parameters for social media posts and choosing topics that add value.
6. The biggest misconception about asset management.
7. Treating real estate as a people business instead of a finance business.
8. Trends Jeffrey is keeping an eye on and what concerns him in the market right now.
9. Three people you should follow in the #ReTwit space on X.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Jeffrey Thompson:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/thompsonjeff

Twitter/X - x.com/jeffdthompson

On today’s Performance Mindset show, Amy sits down with James Nelson, Principal and Head of U.S. Investment Sales at Avison Young, leading the most significant investment sales team in the country over his 25+ year career. James has been involved in over 500 transactions valued at more than $5 billion, representing clients ranging from J.P. Morgan to the Carlyle Group. He is a top global performer, commercial observer, Power 100 honoree, and a recipient of the REBNY Deal of the Year Award.

In addition to his real estate career, James is also a bestselling author of the book, “The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing.” He is also the host of The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing podcast. James is also deeply involved in philanthropic causes, mentorship, and education, serving on boards including REBNY and SparkYouth NYC. He is also a guest lecturer. When James isn’t working, he’s spending time with his wife, Allison, and their three sons.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. James Nelson’s background and what he and Amy did at their last CREi Summit.
2. The importance of reputation and placing yourself in your client’s shoes.
3. The chapter James wishes he’d added to his book.
4. What creates an insider edge, and why it can apply to more than just real estate.
5. Why having a team behind you can help you scale faster.
6. Remaining grounded despite the constant shifting of the real estate market.
7. His decision to move into a national role and how his clients influenced that decision.
8. Who James believes you should know about in the #ReTwit communities that fly under the radar.
9. Building meaningful relationships and a deeper understanding through long-form content outside of social media.
10. The deal James is most proud of and his favorite failure.
11. Where he’d put $1 million if he couldn’t put it into real estate.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with James Nelson:

Website - jamesnelson.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jamesnelsonnyc

“The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing” - www.amazon.com/dp/1264865996

The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing podcast - jamesnelson.com/podcast

SparkYouth NYC - www.sparkyouthnyc.org

On today’s Performance Mindset Shop, Amy sits down with Tyler Carlson, the co-founder of Resquared, a marketing automation platform designed to streamline the prospecting process of commercial real estate professionals with a background steeped in tech startups. Once on the path to becoming an orthodontist, Tyler’s entrepreneurial career began when he sold his first business in college, and he later led a prop tech startup to surpass seven figures in SaaS revenue at Resquared. He is focused on optimizing the entire customer journey, from initial contact to closing deals and ensuring customer success. In addition to his role at Resquared, Tyler is also a husband and father of two.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Tyler Carlson’s sale of his first business, which he started in college, and how that experience shaped his business approach today.
2. The pros and cons of college in today’s economic climate.
3. His attraction to the tech industry and what influenced his decision to enter that industry.
4. The founding of Resquared and how it addresses needs in the marketplace.
5. Using data to remain focused and market to local businesses.
6. The challenge of shifting from founder-led sales to scaling a sales team.
7. Working with weekly goals to track progress.
8. How Resquared builds a seamless experience for its clients, from prospecting to deal closure.
9. Tyler’s tools for maintaining a performance-driven mindset.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Tyler Carlson

Resquared - www.re2.ai

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/tylerwcarlson

This episode of the Performance Mindset show features Tori Nook, founder and principal of Anchor Retail, an Ohio-based commercial real estate firm. Tori has closed nearly $1 billion in transactions throughout her career, representing brands such as Dollar General, Bath & Body Works, PetSmart, AutoZone, and Panera Bread. Since launching Anchor Retail, she’s expanded into multiple markets, added property management, and built a firm known for responsiveness, respect, and long-term relationships, all while raising three children.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How Tori Nook balanced her real estate career with raising three young children by outsourcing help.
2. Creating a flow to your week and maintaining some consistency in your daily routine.
3. Tori’s methods for organizing her days alongside a personal and professional support system.
4. The importance of maintaining relationships and making time for your friends.
5. Expanding her business and reaping the benefits of not needing to work as much.
6. Her approach to cultivating long-term, high-value relationships.
7. Learning how to be resilient in the face of adversity.
8. Building and protecting business culture as a leader.
9. What Tori sees on the horizon for her business.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Tori Nook:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/torirendanonook

Anchor Retail - anchorretail.com

Amy welcomes Allen C. Buchanan, author of the new book, “The SEQUENCE: A Personal Journey and Proven Framework for Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Success,” to today’s Performance Mindset Show. Allen is a partner at Lee & Associates, a commercial real estate brokerage in Orange County, California, and a trusted advisor to family-run businesses. His book serves as a playbook for building a sustainable career, as well as a personal legacy product, written with his grandchildren in mind. With more than four decades of experience and 2,000 transactions during his career, Allen proves that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your personal values. He built his family based on faith, family, process, and purpose in a world where we’re often trying to chase quick wins.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why Allen C. Buchanan wrote his new book for his grandchildren and what he wants them to take away from it.
2. The catalyst that pushed Allen to finally write his book.
3. How faith has been his North Star throughout his life.
4. The step most brokers undervalue and why it’s important.
5. Intention and allowing time and the market to be the bad guy.
6. The stages of Allen’s SEQUENCE framework.
7. What shifted for him when he hired a coach, even as a top producer.
8. Being present for your family and learning to balance all of the elements of your life.
9. Allen’s blog and what prompted him to start it way back in 2009.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Allen C. Buchanan:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/allenbuchanan

“The SEQUENCE: A Personal Journey and Proven Framework for Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Success” by Allen C. Buchanan - www.amazon.com/SEQUENCE-Personal-Framework-Commercial-Brokerage/dp/B0FJHT38VM

Lee & Associates - www.lee-associates.com/orange/allen-buchanan

“Selling Buildings: Maximizing Prices and Profits in Commercial Real Estate” by Bob Knakal and Rod Santomassimo - www.amazon.com/Selling-Buildings-Maximizing-Profits-Commercial/dp/0983834997

“Industrialize: The Insider’s Guide to Industrial Real Estate” by Chad Griffiths - www.amazon.com/Industrialize-Insiders-Guide-Industrial-Estate/dp/1068947411

“The Sweaty Startup: How to Get Rich Doing Boring Things” by Nick Huber - www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

“From Perfect to Real: Ditch Perfection, Shift Your Mindset, and Thrive on Your Terms” by Amy Calandrino - www.amazon.com/Perfect-Real-Perfection-Mindset-Thrive/dp/B0DZV4PH31

Ken Ashley - www.kenashleycre.com

“You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero - www.amazon.com/You-Are-Badass%C2%AE-Doubting-Greatness/dp/0762447699

The Massimo Group - massimo-group.com

On today’s Performance Mindset, Amy welcomes Dena Jalbert, founder and CEO of Align Business Advisory Services. Align is one of the top women-led M&A consulting firms in the Southeast and is based in Winter Park, Florida. Dena works with companies of all shapes and sizes, from Fortune 500 giants to small, overlooked businesses that just need the right strategy to shine. Over the course of her career, she’s done over $3 billion in deals and is passionate about growing businesses, creating opportunities, and helping entrepreneurs see the potential of what they’ve built.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, and amortization) and its impact on a business’s valuation.
2. Taking a partnership approach in M&A transactions with service providers of all types.
3. The catalyst behind Dena Jalbert’s decision to start her own business and leave Corporate America.
4. Why investors are buying smaller businesses now instead of large businesses worth millions or billions of dollars.
5. Some of Dena’s more memorable “pinch me” moments that drive her “why.”
6. The role of empathy in transactions involving small and family-owned businesses.
7. Tools she employs to help someone sell a business whose identity may be wrapped up in their business.
8. Dena’s process for walking a client through whether or not it’s time to sell their business.
9. Turning down the highest offer to find the best fit for the business.
10. The one mindset shift that can help someone move from just running a business to building value.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Dena Jalbert:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/denajalbert

Website - alignba.com

Email - [email protected]