Madison, WI - Thomas G. Bernacchi, CPMŪ, is a charter member and
the 2005 President of the Commercial Association of
REALTORSŪ Wisconsin (CARW). He is also vice president
and deputy director of Towne Investments (a division
of Towne Realty Inc.), a multi-faceted commercial real
estate company dealing with real estate management,
consulting, leasing, sales, development, construction
and acquisitions. A certified property manager,
Bernacchi has held leadership positions with a number
of industry associations at the local, state and
national level including the Institute of Real Estate
Management (IREM) and received the Milwaukee Chapter's
"Manager of the Year" award in 1990 and 1997. He is
also active with the Building Owners and Managers
Association (BOMA), International Council of Shopping
Centers (ICSC), Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is the
Director of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National
Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).
How did you get into the
commercial real estate business?
While attending college in Madison, I worked part time
for a local property management firm, and after I
graduated, the firm I was working for had an opening
in their accounting department. I took the job and
have been in the commercial real estate business ever
since.
What are some trends in the
commercial real estate industry?
Technology has and will continue to play a big role in
transforming our industry from a local to a global
market. Also, the economy plays a big role in
commercial real estate trends. There are more
investors in commercial real estate today than there
has ever been, primarily due to the poor performance
of the stock market over the past several years and
low interest rates. The one thing I have learned over
the years is that commercial real estate trends change
constantly, and to be successful in this industry, you
need to be able to react quickly to those changes.
What issues are you facing as
an association?
Our association is facing many issues that affect our
industry, such as the economy, taxes, and the
political atmosphere at the national, state and local
levels. Fortunately, our association staff and members
are in tune with what is happening around them, which
helps us efficiently work with these issues.
What are the benefits you
offer members?
Being a member of CARW elevates our members'
professionalism and respect among fellow REALTORSŪ and
clients. We provide our members with effective and
continuous information through communication,
education and services specifically designed for the
commercial real estate professional including:
-
Elite Network of commercial real
estate professionals
-
Networking - events, topic
luncheons and golf outings
-
Education - seminars, work-shops
and publications
-
Support - on-staff legislative
advocate
-
Access - Xceligent, Wisconsin
Commercial Data Exchange
What advice would you give to
a new REALTORŪ who is selling commercial real estate?
First, work hard, give good service to your clients,
and be honest and ethical in all your dealings and
transactions. Second, know the product you are
selling, the market and the prospects you are trying
to sell that product to. Third, have fun at what you
do. Life is too short to be in a profession you do not
enjoy.
How does a real estate agent
become a member of CARW?
Call CARW at (414) 271-2021 or e-mail John Periard,
CARW's executive vice president, at
john@carw.com. You can also visit
www.carw.com.
Published: 1/5/2005
