SF Commercial Property Conversations

What does it take to build a successful real estate brokerage in one of the country's most competitive markets? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Sean Chen shares how a commitment to service, leadership, consistency, and technology has helped him grow one of Silicon Valley's fastest-growing real estate teams. Originally from China, Sean discusses his journey...

What does it take to build a successful real estate business from scratch? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Daisy Borba, a longtime East Bay property management expert, to hear the remarkable story behind her 25-year career. Daisy shares how she transitioned from a successful career in the semiconductor industry after 9/11 changed the bu...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, the husband-and-wife founders of Oakwell Beer Spa. Their journey began in New York City, where they left successful corporate careers, sold nearly everything they owned, and spent 14 months traveling the world in search of a unique business idea. Their search led them to a beer...

What if a vacant building could become a highly valuable asset in just a few months? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with commercial real estate investor and educator Cherif Medawar to discuss the strategies he has used to transform empty properties into profitable investments. These show notes follow podcast best practices for creating engaging episode descriptions and highlighting key take...

What does it take to build a successful real estate career over five decades? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with veteran developer and author John McNellis to discuss how a journalism major unexpectedly became one of Northern California's most respected shopping center developers. Along the way, John shares lessons on raising capital, knowing when to sell, building wealth, and why success...

What if a building material could help protect homes from wildfire while also reducing environmental impact? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce talks with engineer, developer, and entrepreneur Brian Veit about his newest venture, Clim-A-Vault, an innovative insulation product designed to improve fire resistance and sustainability. The show notes follow p...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with architect, planner, and global development advisor Hernan Martinez to discuss a remarkable career spanning five decades and multiple continents. From Argentina and London to Stanford University and major projects across Latin America, the Middle East, Costa Rica, and South Korea, Hernan shares the lessons...

What does it take to go from washing dishes at age 14 to becoming a commercial real estate syndicator? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Boyd Woodard shares how an ownership mindset, resilience, and years of experience across multiple industries shaped his path to commercial real estate. Bruce and Boyd discuss how acting like an owner can transform careers an...

San Francisco’s commercial property market is showing signs of life again—and construction activity is helping tell the story. In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Steve Lombardi, founder of Lombardi Property Development (LPD), to discuss what’s happening on the ground with construction costs, tenant improvements, office repositioning, and the return of demand across San Francisco commercial...

Medical office buildings (MOBs) continue to attract investor attention, but what makes them such a resilient asset class? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with David Lynn, founder of Healthcare One Properties, to discuss why medical real estate has become one of the strongest sectors in commercial property investing. David shares his journey...

Senior housing is one of commercial real estate’s most specialized and misunderstood asset classes. In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Jerry Vinci, founder of CCR Growth and Norden Advisory, to unpack why senior housing behaves differently than multifamily, hospitality, and other investment sectors. Jerry explains why senior housing is rea...

What if commercial property owners could lower insurance costs simply by understanding their buildings better? In this episode, Bruce Bean speaks with Craig Caryl, founder of InsureMEP and Critical Asset, about how mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure data can help commercial property owners reduce risk, improve operations, and potentially lower insurance premiums. Craig share...

What happens when artificial intelligence collides with commercial real estate brokerage? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with commercial real estate coach and industry leader Rod Santomassimo to discuss how AI is rapidly changing the way brokers work, prospect, market deals, and manage their time. Rod shares how AI tools are already replaci...

What happens when a family loses nearly everything in a real estate collapse — and rebuilds through a small campground business that eventually leads to a thriving manufactured housing portfolio? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Nasir Ali shares the remarkable story of how his immigrant family transitioned from owning more than 100 single-family homes to reb...

What does it take to succeed through market cycles, distressed assets, and constant change in commercial real estate? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Charlie Smith to discuss resilience, leadership, and the mindset needed to thrive during uncertain times. Charlie shares insights from his career journey, including lessons learned navigat...

What happens when a former film industry executive decides to use commercial real estate as a tool to help the planet? In this episode, Bruce Bean talks with Carolyn Pistone, founder of Clear Blue Commercial, about sustainable property management, green business practices, and how smart environmental decisions can also improve property value and tenant retention. Carolyn shares her unusual journey...

What’s really happening in today’s M&A and commercial real estate markets—and where are the hidden opportunities? Economist Ryan Drake-Lee joins Bruce Bean to break down the volatility, the trends, and what buyers and sellers need to understand right now. Ryan shares his journey from Morehouse College to UC Berkeley Haas, and his experience working at McKinsey and Google before launching his o...

What happens when a 30-year career at Intel sparks a pivot into commercial real estate investing? In this episode, Cyndi Peach shares how she transitioned from corporate life into building a successful portfolio of retail strip centers—and why she believes this asset class is full of opportunity right now. Cyndi walks through her early wake-up call during the dot-com era, which pushed her to seek...

Igor Shaltonov: From Russian Water Polo Pro to American Multifamily Investor What does it take to go from growing up in post-Soviet Russia to building a multifamily real estate portfolio in the United States? In this episode, Igor Shaltonov shares his journey from professional athlete to disciplined real estate investor—and why “boring” investments may be the smartest path forward. Igor takes us b...

What’s really happening in Sacramento right now? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Katherine McComic and Patrick Stelmach to explore the surprising transformation of Sacramento into a creative, fast-evolving hub for commercial real estate and urban development. From repurposed warehouses to vibrant mixed-use projects, this conversation dives into how a new generation of professionals is r...

In this conversation, Bruce Bean sits down with Tim Vi Tran to explore a remarkable career path built on resilience, discipline, and technical expertise. Tim begins by sharing his early life—leaving Vietnam at age five, spending time in a refugee camp in the Philippines, and eventually settling in Dallas, Texas. From there, his academic success led him to the United States Merchant Marine Academy,...

Bruce Bean sits down with Jonathan Kathrein, a transactional real estate attorney, to explore the evolving landscape of San Francisco commercial real estate. Jonathan shares his unique journey into law—from studying real estate at UC Berkeley to working in nonprofit leadership, teaching public speaking, and eventually attending law school while raising a family. The conversation dives into the cur...

What does it take to build a career that spans hands-on construction, finance, insurance, and entrepreneurship? In this episode, Scott Van Arsdale shares his unconventional journey and the lessons he learned along the way. Scott’s story starts in construction, swinging a hammer and learning the trade from the ground up. Over time, he transitioned into management, launched his own framing company,...

What does it take to go from chemical engineering to owning 30+ multifamily properties in Los Angeles? In this episode, Maxx Feldman shares how he made an unconventional leap into real estate—and what it takes to survive and grow in today’s challenging market. Maxx Feldman didn’t start in real estate. With a background in chemical engineering and early ambitions in professional baseball, his path...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Scott Furniss of 7th Street Development to explore the fast-moving industrial market in Los Angeles and Orange County. From aerospace-driven demand to speculative development strategies, Scott shares what it really takes to build and lease industrial projects in today’s environment. Scott walks through hi...