Following their inclusion in Cascade Business News’ Women in Business edition, women across Compass Commercial shared their perspectives on building trust, taking ownership and working together. Their experiences offer practical lessons for professionals growing their careers in commercial real estate.
How do you build credibility and trust with clients?
Kristie Schmitt, CCIM, Broker: “I live by the motto ‘Character Matters,’ and I try to demonstrate that in every client relationship. I follow through on my commitments, advocate for what I believe is right, and give clients an honest assessment, even when it’s difficult to hear. I’m also comfortable admitting when I don’t know something. To me, credibility comes from being consistent, candid, and accountable over time.”
How do you keep growing in an industry where every transaction is different?
Kristie Schmitt: “One of the biggest learning curves has been realizing that there will always be another learning curve. That’s what makes commercial brokerage the most exciting and challenging career I’ve ever had. Every transaction brings a new question or problem to solve. Even brokers with 40 years of experience sometimes have to pause, ask questions, and find an answer.”
What helps you balance the needs of owners, tenants and vendors?
Melissa Coconas, Assistant Property Manager and Broker: “Balancing owners, tenants, vendors, and properties comes down to communication and empathy, being able to hear what someone actually needs, not just what they’re saying. My skills include organization, ability to listen and follow-through.”
How does collaboration help keep lease information accurate?
Liza Hamada, Lease Administrator: “I work closely with Brokerage and Property Management to verify information in the lease documents and what is currently in the system, including verifying calculations of rentable area and rental rates.”
What everyday habit is essential to your department’s success?
Gina Broglia, Staff Accountant: “Organization is such an important part of our role, and is integral to the success of our department.”
What helps you build confidence and take ownership of your work?
Sage Criddle, Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable Clerk: “I have a lot of ownership over my responsibilities and there is a lot of trust from within my department that I’m doing a good job and completing my own tasks. This is the first job I’ve had where ‘these responsibilities are my own responsibilities’ and I get to fully own my tasks.”
How can company leaders support that growth?
Russell Huntamer, SIOR, CCIM, President: “We try to hand people real responsibility early and then stand behind them while they grow into it. In property management, several women have stepped into bigger roles this year, and they got there by owning their work so completely that the next step became obvious. Confidence comes from being trusted, and the people here have more than earned that trust.”
These perspectives share a common approach: earn trust through honest communication, stay open to learning and take responsibility for the details. At Compass, those individual habits connect across departments, helping colleagues deliver on their commitments to clients and one another.
To read the full CBN “Women in Business” article, follow this link.