SF Commercial Property Conversations

How does someone go from painting and opera singing to designing a $230 million studio campus in downtown LA? Architect Tima Bell shares his journey from fine arts to founding Bell Design Group and leading complex, global architectural projects. In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, architect Tima Bell takes us through his unique and passionate journey into archi...

What do the Department of Defense and commercial real estate have in common? For Organizational Development expert Jenn Santoso, they both shaped a dynamic and mission-driven consulting career. In this episode, Jenn joins Bruce Bean to reflect on her fascinating journey—from consulting within the strict hierarchies of the DoD, to training across departments at SDG&E, to finding her niche in le...

In this episode, Bruce sits down with Yindy Felkins, a powerhouse in construction and commercial real estate. Yindy shares her journey from Hong Kong to San Francisco, her 20-year career rising from intern to project executive and business owner, and her current mission to empower construction business owners through smart delegation and business coaching. They dive deep into topics like: The impo...

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Lisa Vomero-Inouye, a San Diego-based real estate expert with an engineering background and a strategic mindset. Lisa shares her unique journey from NASA intern and civil engineer to a highly respected residential Realtor, explaining how her data-driven approach has helped her carve a niche serving clients—especially engineers—through logic, structure, an...

What’s really happening inside San Francisco’s commercial real estate market? Will Cassriel, a dynamic tenant rep broker with JLL, joins Bruce Bean to share a ground-level view of office leasing trends, sublease strategies, and why he’s bullish on SF's future. Will walks us through his unique journey—from selling Cutco knives and training to be a yoga instructor, to grinding his way into his dream...

What do engineering, Apple, and co-living startups have to do with real estate success? In this inspiring episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Naeem Farokhnia, founder of Redwood Crest, to explore his unlikely journey from Iran to Silicon Valley—and eventually to commercial real estate. Naeem shares how his technical background, years at Apple, and relentless curiosity led him to co-living entrepren...

Greg’s story is a masterclass in entrepreneurial grit, strategic development, and what it takes to grow a commercial real estate business in today’s market. From humble beginnings selling homes in college to leading complex retail and mixed-use projects, he shares a candid look at lessons learned, risks taken, and how he’s shaping Sacramento’s commercial property landscape. What you'll hear: How a...

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Andrew Goodwin—architect, educator, and founder of Andrew Goodwin Designs (AGD)—to explore a life and career built on purpose-driven design. From growing up in Cincinnati to settling on California's Central Coast, Andrew shares the journey that shaped his approach to architecture, community building, and teaching. Discover how Andrew’s experience with non...

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Evan Brandt, co-founder of VidTech, to explore how marketing, storytelling, and cutting-edge video technology are transforming the way commercial real estate (CRE) is presented and sold. Evan shares how his journey from a marketing and tech background led him into CRE, thanks to a connection through California Lutheran University. Today, he and his team p...

This episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean dives deep into the complex world of modernizing HVAC systems in large-scale commercial buildings with engineering veteran David Ellner. With over 45 years of experience, David shares how he acts as an owner’s representative, project manager, and commissioning agent—often all at once—to ensure outdated building systems get seamle...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce Bean sits down with Parisa Shamlou, a Southern California residential real estate agent with a passion for personal connection and a drive to make her mark in a competitive market. Parisa shares her journey from the Bay Area to Temecula, California—transitioning from a behind-the-scenes role in compliance and transaction coordination t...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with David Stein, a mortgage expert with nearly 25 years in the business. From a chance encounter in a bar that sparked his career to navigating complex real estate cycles and the ups and downs of the market, David shares his powerful story and what it takes to thrive in today's lending environment. You’ll hear ho...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce Bean welcomes veteran commercial real estate lender and affordable housing developer Michael Sapuppo. Michael shares his fascinating career journey, from windsurfing in California to mastering commercial and multifamily lending, and ultimately becoming a major player in the affordable housing space. Michael opens up about his early day...

In this episode, Bruce Bean talks with Brenda deGerald, a biotech professional turned real estate investor, about her unique journey from science to syndication. Brenda shares how her time at Illumina gave her the precision, patience, and process that she now applies to navigating complex real estate deals. Brenda takes us through her first exposure to real estate via podcasts and mentorship, her...

In this eye-opening conversation, Bruce Bean welcomes Ariel Isakov, founder of Abbastar, to discuss the powerful world of life settlements. Ariel reveals how his firm helps seniors turn life insurance policies they no longer need into real cash—and how savvy investors are tapping into this lesser-known market to build diversified, secure portfolios. Ariel explains the basics of life settlements, t...

From the fast-paced world of tech investment banking to publishing socially conscious children's books, Rana DiOrio has done it all—and she’s not done yet. In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Rana to explore her bold moves across industries and the life lessons that came with each pivot. What You'll Hear: How Rana jumped from securities law into tech investment banking at the height of the...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we’re joined by John Friedrich, whose journey spans from gold mining in South America to building tech startups in Venice Beach and now financing large-scale housing projects across the U.S. at LFB Ventures. John shares his incredible path—from working with his father in the junior mining space, to launching a news-reading al...

What happens when a Silicon Valley engineer brings her tech expertise to the world of real estate investing? In this episode, Bruce sits down with Lilit Yenokyan, a former big tech engineer turned real estate entrepreneur, to explore how data-driven tools and AI can reshape the way investors evaluate small multi-unit properties. Lilit shares her journey from Armenia to America, and from engineerin...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Michael Hatfield, a RE/MAX real estate professional with a unique background in aviation. Michael shares how his years as a Delta airline pilot shaped his disciplined, client-first approach to real estate — and how Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles help him build better outcomes for buyers and sellers...

In this episode, Bruce sits down with San Francisco native and commercial broker Daniella Devine, whose story weaves together public service, entrepreneurship, and real estate. From sweeping warehouse floors as a child in her family’s flooring business to becoming a leader in commercial property investment, Daniella shares how her experience in emergency management and her roots in small business...

What does it take to scale from a single 8-unit building to over 200 units in a competitive market like the East Bay? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Cameron Corwin, an Oakland-born real estate investor and the driving force behind OakRidge Partners’ rapid expansion in the region. Cameron shares his journey from a consulting career at Deloitte to becoming a broker and eventually transit...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce Bean sits down with Todd Sulzinger, a seasoned corporate finance executive and real estate investor, to talk about what it takes to build solid financial foundations for growing companies. Todd shares how his journey started with a degree from San Jose State and a lucky break into the tech world. Over the years, he’s worked across vari...

In this episode, Bruce Bean talks with Dusty Lloyd, founder and leader at Promise Home Loans, about how an engineer’s mindset and a passion for service helped him build success in the mortgage world. From overcoming a near-death experience to scaling a 50-person loan team, Dusty shares how he transitioned from tech into mortgage brokerage—and how that shift allowed him to better serve clients and...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Ivan Prochko shares his fascinating journey from fashion photography in Europe to leading retail real estate deals across Southern California. Ivan’s career path took unexpected turns—from shooting celebrities in Milan and Madrid to navigating the New York real estate scene, and finally planting roots with Marcus & Millic...

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Arezou Shadabadi, a seasoned real estate professional with over 27 years of experience spanning residential sales, commercial properties, and green building. Arezou opens up about how she transitioned from buying her first home to launching major modular construction projects with a strong emphasis on sustainability. --------------------------------------...