In this episode of the CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven collab series, Nadine, Ryan, and Brad dive into four hot-button issues shaking up U.S. cities—and the real estate world. We continue to unpack NYC’s embattled congestion pricing plan (with a surprise Trump twist), break down Cambridge’s landmark rezoning and its impact on housing affordability, and ask the big question: why are mayors of America’s top cities floundering? Plus, we cut through the noise on the return-to-office wave and what it really means for commercial real estate.

Whether you're in real estate, urban policy, or just want to understand the forces reshaping our cities, this power session is your pulse check.

Show Notes:

0:10: Intro

0:47: Congestion Pricing Part 2 / Trump Weighs In

11:59: Cambridge, MA landmark Upzoning and affordable housing policy

20:18: Tanking approval ratings for major U.S. city mayors and the impact on development

28:33: HILO Highlights: David discusses CBRE/Industrious deal and value creation in CRE

36:04: Uptick in RTO buzz: actual shift or CEO posturing?

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Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com and www.thesisdriven.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

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This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

Nadine and Ryan sit down with Susan Gerock, CIO of Elme Communities and one of the most respected voices in multifamily tech, to cut through the noise and get real about what’s actually moving the needle in real estate technology. From the one tech investment smaller firms can’t afford to skip to how applying a hospitality mindset to multifamily is reshaping the industry, Susan brings sharp insights and hard-earned lessons on aligning innovation with strategy. She also tackles cybersecurity risks, marketing tech madness, and the biggest mistakes in tech adoption (so you don’t have to learn the hard way)—plus, she shares what happens when a tech rollout goes sideways, and how to course-correct like a pro. Plus, we explore her passion for diversity and inclusion in real estate through initiatives like Real Talk and her work with 826DC. Smart insights, candid takes, and a few laughs along the way—don’t miss this one.

Show Notes:

0:10: Intro / February’s all about the birthdays

5:20: The latest on multifamily

7:10: Introducing Susan Gerock

8:03: Susan’s career journey

14;24: What is Susan’s favorite asset class?

15:07: The role of CIO and aligning real estate tech with a company’s goals

18:39: Leveraging tech to enhance tenant experience and retention

21:43: Hospitality driving the multifamily experience

23:53: The state of marketing tech within multifamily

31:07: Common mistakes in tech rollouts

34:36: Tech implementation gone wrong

38:55: Tech recommendations for smaller CRE companies

43:55: Are we doing enough to protect our data?

50:22: Biggest CRE data blind spot

54:17: Susan’s vote for the one to watch real estate tech

59:20: Susan’s involvement in RealTalk and 826DC

1:07:56: How does Susan “unplug”

In the first episode of this special collaboration series, Nadine and Ryan are joined by none other than Brad Hargreaves, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thesis Driven and a sharp voice on all things real estate and urbanism. Together, we dive into the biggest trends shaping commercial real estate—from NYC’s congestion pricing and its ripple effects to the rise of exurbs and new cities designed for the next generation.

We also preview upcoming real estate events that are worth watching in 2024. And to top it off, Brad puts Nadine and Ryan to the test with a hilarious game of “PropTech Company or Prog Metal Band?” (Trust us, some of these names will surprise you.

Tune in for sharp insights, bold predictions, and definitely a few laughs.

Show Notes:

0:10: Kickoff

0:37: Introducing Brad Hargreaves

3:03: Breakdown of 2025 real estate/proptech events

10:40: NYC congestion pricing policy showdown

27:52: The rise of exburbs and new cities

40:24: Introducing David Abrams, CEO of HILO & Host of TEN

45:21: Proptech company or Progmetal band?

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at creunplugged.com and thesisdriven.com for all the latest news and updates.

Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X!

This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

What does it take to lead a cutting-edge research and analytics team in one of the biggest names in industrial real estate? Everything—and then some. On this episode, Nadine and Ryan welcome Matt Rand, Managing Director of Research and Analytics at Link Logistics, for a no-holds-barred conversation about leadership, legacy, and data. Matt spills the secrets on mastering the "build vs. buy" tech dilemma, and tackling change management head-on. He breaks down the communication barriers between real estate pros and data scientists and shares his strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome in an ever-evolving industry.

Discover what Matt’s goals are for 2025, and don’t miss his take on how to measure success and the legacy he’s working to leave behind in the real estate world. This episode is packed with insights, laughs, and inspiration you won’t want to miss. Tune in now and get ready to level up your mindset!

Episode Notes:

0:24: Happy New Year!/Intro

4:16: 2025 predictions

8:28: Data analytics 101

10:27: Welcome, Matt Rand! / Matt’s 2025 goals

12:41: Matt’s career journey; from journalism to data analytics

20:49: Build vs buy technology; how Link Logistics decides

23:50: The role of data analytics at Link; where AI will come in

29:44: Running analog vs digital when implementing new tech

32:42: Matt’s approach to change management

41:18: The communication gap between practitioners and data scientists

45:50: How does Matt deal with imposter syndrome and cognitive dissonance?

52:50: Measuring success

55:06: What legacy does Matt want to leave behind?

58:58: Nadine & Ryan’s takeaways

What do biophysics, customer experience, and co-working have in common? Anna Squires Levine, Chief Customer Officer at Industrious, connects the dots in this insightful episode of CRE Unplugged! Join Nadine and Ryan as they explore the evolution of co-working spaces, the traits that truly define great leadership, and how to measure the "desirability" of a space.

Anna dives into the groundbreaking Industrious/Delta partnership, her vision for the future of the office, and how technology is shaping customer-centric real estate. Anna’s candid advice and key career lessons are not to be missed. Plus, hear about Anna’s personal interests (Survivor, anyone?) and hear Nadine and Ryan’s witty takeaways from this dynamic conversation.

Tune in for an episode packed with fresh insights on co-working, leadership, and designing spaces that truly work for people. Perfect for real estate enthusiasts, workplace strategists, and anyone curious about the intersection of hospitality and real estate.

Show notes: 0:10: Intro / Holiday season do’s and don’ts!

5:20: The evolution and future of co-working

7:25: Introducing Anna Squires Levine!

8:45: From biophysics to real estate: Anna’s incredible career journey

15:06: The traits of a good leader (spoiler: it’s not what you think)

19:03: Measuring the desirability of a place

22:54: Tips for real estate companies on how to focus on customer experience

25:07: The birth of the Industrious / Delta partnership

28:06: Anna’s take on the future role of office

36:09: How Industrious uses technology to further its goals

42:30: Anna's guidance on breaking into the built environment industry

47:00: The power of experience

50:23: Anna reflects on the key lessons from her career

56:00: How does Anna spend her downtime?

1:01:12: Nadine and Ryan’s takeaways If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X!

What happens when a political strategist trades campaigns for coding? You get Michael Broder, CEO of RCKRBX™, and his mission to revolutionize multifamily real estate with tenant-driven data. In this episode of CRE Unplugged, Ryan and Nadine uncover how RCKRBX is turning tenant preferences into the ultimate cheat sheet for owners and operators. Think predictive analytics, actionable insights, and a crystal ball for asset performance—minus the mysticism.

Michael spills the tea on his journey from the halls of GWU (cue the nostalgia) to launching a groundbreaking SaaS platform during a global pandemic. Along the way, he dishes on his pitch-perfect strategy, what AI means for PropTech, and why multifamily trends are more than just buzzwords.

As always, Ryan and Nadine bring their trademark humor and insights, including a nostalgic dive into Michael’s college days at GWU and a candid discussion on his hobbies like Formula 1 and his love for the Red Sox.

Show Notes:

00:21: Introduction

10:58: The necessity of understanding multifamily trends

12:18: Michael and Ryan reminisce about D.C. college days

17:02: From political strategist to PropTech founder

25:31: RCKRBX’s data product tools for multifamily

34:00: Is RCKRBX disrupting CRE?

39:05: Launching a product during COVID

46:56: The power of the right pitch strategy

55:37: PropTech outlook in the age of AI

1:05:33: Michael Broder “Unplugged”

1:09:21: Life lessons from Michael

1:13:56: Commercial break

1:15:24: Nadine and Ryan’s recap

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates.

Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X!

In this episode of CRE Unplugged, we sit down with Brent Williams, Chief Insider at Multifamily Insiders, fresh from his panels at Blueprint Vegas. Brent dives into his career journey, the inspiration behind Multifamily Insiders, and what’s on the horizon for the platform. We tackle tech adoption, including barriers, opportunities, and how data can personalize the resident experience. Brent also shares his vision for tech innovation over the next five years and tips for future-proofing operations. His passion for residential goes well beyond the apartment sector. Brent tells us how he loves to unplug by touring our country’s greatest displays of residential architecture with his family. Be sure to tune in to hear from one of multifamily’s greatest “community” builders!

SHOW NOTES:

1:05: Blueprint Vegas recap/Ryan stayed behind!

9:20: Why today’s guest

10:03: Intro to Brent Williams

10:29: Brent’s Blueprint recap

13:05: Need for MF tech “communication hub”

14:43: Brent’s career journey and starting Multifamily Insiders

18:00: Next 12 months for Multifamily Insiders

20:47: Multifamily Insider’s connection role after Demo Days

22:59: Brent’s take on barriers to MF tech adoption

25:25: Tech’s role in enhancing community engagement

30:50: Data’s role in boosting tenant retention

34:39: Brent’s take on why data is not being widely used in tenant retention

38:20: Future of tech in the MF space

42:45: How MF operators can remain “future proof”

46:56: How does Brent “unplug?"

49:14: Brent shares his community building tips with the audience

54:52: Nadine and Ryan's Recap

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

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On this episode of CRE Unplugged, we sit down with Mead Rusert, VP and GM of Building Technologies at Carrier. With over 30 years of experience under his (tool)belt, Mead’s the man behind the controls at Carrier’s Automated Logic, where he’s basically the maestro of everything that isn’t HVAC.

Why should you listen? Because smarter buildings equal smarter people—or at least more productive ones. From hiking treks in New Mexico with a bunch of teenage boys (seriously, the guy’s brave) to leading cutting-edge innovations at Carrier, Mead walks us through his career and why building technology isn’t just about wires and sensors—it’s about making life better for the people inside those buildings.

We also ask the million-dollar questions: Have property owners finally wised up since COVID about better building environments? Is indoor air quality the secret sauce for worker productivity? And how is AI shaking things up in the building world?

Mead shares some killer advice for those wanting to break into the industry, reveals what he wishes his younger self knew, and tells us how he manages to “unplug”—because even the king of smart buildings needs downtime. Oh, and he gives us a sneak peek at what he’ll be discussing at Blueprint (spoiler alert: it’s going to be good).

Show Notes: 1:01: Intro banter / Ryan’s love of Gipsy Kings and Nadine crowd surfs

5:30: Why listening to Mead matters today

7:03: Intro to Mead and his New Mexico hiking trek with teenage boys

8:58: Mead walks us through his career journey

12:34: “Making Buildings Better Through Building Technology”

16:52: Have property owners' mindsets shifted since COVID on better building environments?

18:58: Deep dive into the different building technology Carrier offers

26:30: Mead highlights a key benefit of using the right building technology

29:37: Does indoor air quality impact worker productivity?

32:57: AI’s impact on building technology

35:18: Mead offers advice for entering the building technology industry.

38:07: What advice would Mead give his younger self?

39:04: How does Mead “unplug”?

40:24: What will Mead be discussing at Blueprint?

44:06: Nadine and Ryan wrap it all up!

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X!