What is your current role?
Managing Director
How long have you been with CBRE | Direct Line?
I joined CBRE | Direct Line in September of 2018, having previously spent 8 years with Corning Optical Communications.
What kind of education and training did your career require?
I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree. I also hold all the BICSI installation certifications, including Installer 2 Fiber, Installer 2 Copper, BICSI Technician, and BICSI Certified Trainer.
What do you think is needed to be successful in your role?
Patience and flexibility. There will always be things that go wrong on projects. It’s how you react and respond to them that differentiates you and your teams. Proactive communication and accountability with customers are key as well. I subscribe to the school of thought that if you say you are going to do something, then it needs to happen. I also spend a lot of time traveling to customer sites and am heavily involved in the operations side of the accounts. I think this has led to better relationships internally and externally and has helped the company be successful.
What does a typical day look like for you at CBRE | Direct Line?
Teams Meetings! As I mentioned earlier, I spend a lot of time on sites. Therefore, it could vary week to week. When I am visiting sites, I will walk projects and spend time discussing positives and negatives with the internal teams and customers. When I am not traveling, I spend more time planning and focusing on where the teams can improve.
What would you like to say to someone interested in applying to work at CBRE | Direct Line?
I would encourage them to get involved in this industry, as the growth trajectory is incredible.
Tell us about your career path at CBRE | Direct Line.
I joined CBRE | Direct Line in 2018 following an account management role on the Global Accounts Team at Corning. I was hired at CBRE | Direct Line to build CBRE | Direct Line’s first BICSI ATFs. After successfully building 2 of the training facilities, COVID-19 brought training to a temporary halt. During this time, there was an opening on the sales team managing the same account I had managed at Corning, so I approached our leadership and requested to be considered for that role.
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology?
Honestly, I somewhat lucked into the industry. I started in customer service at Corning out of necessity and quickly worked my way up. Within a year and a half, I had taken a sales engineer role and relocated to Florida. While at Corning, I realized how much I enjoyed the industry and what I was doing.
What do you love most about what you do?
Easy: the relationships. I have built many great relationships both internally and externally, and I know I will maintain many of these for the rest of my life.
What are your interests outside of work?
Guitars and music. I have loved both my entire life. I just wish I had more time to practice. Also, travel. I love seeing the world as much as possible.
Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you.
I have played guitar in a couple of different bands locally.
