Episode 010: Gene Spiegelman

Introduction:


Gene Spiegelman is the legendary two-time REBNY retail deal of
the year winner, five-time top retail producer for his former
company Cushman & Wakefield, and now Principal and Vice
Chairman at RIPCO Real Estate. Clients of Gene’s over the years
have included Gucci, Crate & Barrel, Trader Joe’s, Century 21
Department Stores, Eastgate Realty, Millennium Partners and
Zeckendorf Development. With props out to one of his favorite
bands back in the day, namely Public Enemy, given Gene’s
knowledge of site selection, development, leasing, and acumen in
negotiating complex retail transactions for both retailers and
landlords, simply put, “He Got Game.” When Gene isn’t out being
an agent of change for his client’s or rooting for his
undergraduate alma mater the University of Maryland Terrapins,
Gene enjoys spending time with his family, skiing and being on
the water.


 


Episode Notes:


At 3:25, Gene Spiegelman notes that focus is the most important
aspect of developing a career. He also touches upon picking a
discipline and then becoming a master of that discipline. At
5:00, Gene discusses planning with patience in mind, and
beginning each week (and year) with a plan setting out objectives
to accomplish your goals. At 6:23, he shares how his real estate
career started with spending a day driving around shadowing a
broker friend of his out canvassing industrial real estate
properties on Long Island. Gene started out on a $200 per week
draw at his first brokerage job upon graduation from the
University of Maryland. At 8:10, he talks about pursuing his
masters in real estate at New York University in the early
1990’s. At 9:14, Gene advises that “The best way to acquire
knowledge is to listen.” At 10:24, he points out his love for
libraries back in the day, and how research, listening and taking
time to process is how one can gain knowledge. At 11:42, Gene
notes that the risk in his move from Cushman & Wakefield to
RIPCO was calculated. He felt that staying in place in a very
large organization was more of a risk. What appealed to him about
the move was that he could touch and feel the business at RIPCO
and make a difference. At 14:12, Gene describes why he enjoys
mentoring at both a professional and personal level, as well as
building awareness and helping others who have celiac disease or
other digestive disorders. At 16:05, he touches upon the
opportunity to work and mold something with a great set of people
in the entrepreneurial environment at RIPCO. At 17:55, Gene
discusses how occupiers are controlling the conversation today,
and RIPCO’s relationships with the “tenant community” (working
with Target, Best Buy, etc.). At 20:08, he suggests not to make
the mistake of pursuing the deal and not pursuing the client -
one has to look down the road and pursue the larger objective. At
21:27, Gene dives into why he likes Public Enemy. At 25:36, Larry
Haber talks about the “JIMI” experience, and Gene notes the power
of people feeling good about what they are doing (and thereafter
the purchasing process that follows). At 26:43, Gene encourages
patience, the will to make mistakes, and to learn from one’s
failures. The worst thing is to sit back and do nothing. At
29:21, he believes that the majority of people are successful
working in a team and giving environment. At 31:56, Gene said,
“The best partners are partners that go in different directions.
Those that each have individual skill sets and disciplines, and
who pursue different areas of their own expertise that they bring
back to center.” At 35:36, he talks about his interview style of
getting to know the interviewee at a personal level from the
get-go. At 37:15, Gene looks back to December of 1992, the
transition point of his career interviewing at the Edward S.
Gordon Company. At 38:39, he shares his career advice for
students, and why pursuing a professional license and/or
certification is attractive. At 43:56, Larry asks Gene a “what
would you do” type of question. At 48:58, Gene notes that he
enjoys spending time on his boat anchored overnight, and skiing
with his family. At 50:25, Gene Spiegelman closes out the
interview and advises why you shouldn’t stop believing.