Nicholas Pirone | Senior Associate | Marcus & Millichap
Years with company/firm: 4
Years in field: 6
Years in real estate industry: 6
Real estate organizations/affiliations: National Office and Industrial Properties Group
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
My biggest professional accomplishment so far has been completing 11 investment sales in one year and, as a result, earning a Sales Recognition Award from Marcus & Millichap. However, what really makes these accomplishments so great is the joy I find in helping my clients achieve their goals. While every client is different, their goals often result in life-changing opportunities for them. Being able to help them in their journeys is very special to me.
How do you contribute to your company and/or the industry?
Early on in my career, three other brokers and I started coordinating a networking happy hour (now referred to as R.E.P., or the Real Estate Professionals). We founded the group with the intention to bring together like-minded individuals under the age of 40 whose experience and expertise could help advance each other's careers. Over the years, our group grew beyond just happy hours. Nowadays, we get together for other outings, such as property tours, charitable events, sporting events, etc. Additionally, I try to be a resource to anyone in our business. I keep an extensive list of relevant industry contacts, including attorneys, accountants, engineers, HVAC contractors, leasing agents and roofers to help new agents with anything they need to best support their clients and transactions.
Who or what has been the strongest influence in your career?
There are three people who have been huge influences in my career. The first two are my parents. Growing up, every New Year’s Day my mom would ask me what my goals for the year were. This really helped me stay focused on my goals from a young age and well into my career. My Dad has been in the commercial real estate industry for over 30 years and, as far back as I can remember, he would take me to view properties while teaching me everything he could. As I got older, summers were spent helping with tenant fit-outs, maintenance, rent collection, leasing and analyzing new investment opportunities. These hands-on experiences provided me with a great foundation of knowledge that has been pivotal in helping me execute not only my goals, but my clients’ goals as well. Most recently, I had the privilege of joining Marcus & Millichap, where I have worked with Robert Filley to help build the Baltimore market. Bob has been a great person to learn from and his experience has helped me close many complicated deals. Since I have known him, he has thoroughly exemplified inspiring integrity and creativeness. Bob has always believed in acknowledging the uncomfortable topics of a deal right off the bat – noting that the “facts are friendly” – and this has been huge for surety of close for our clients. He is one of the most creative people I know and has a great talent for coming up with clever solutions and strategic business plans that help our clients generate more income.
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position and why you chose the field/profession you are in today?
After working with a smaller brokerage in college, I knew I really wanted to join a larger firm that would offer a lot more horsepower. I joined Marcus & Millichap in July of 2017 because I felt it would be the best place for me to hit the ground running and learn from highly experienced brokers. In addition, I was really impressed with how Robert Filley and his team bridged the gap between institutional and private investment sales - not to mention the team was working on some very interesting deals that I only hoped to one day work on myself. With that, I decided to join the team’s efforts to expand into the Baltimore market. Since then, Marcus & Millichap has provided me with invaluable training and has kept me on track to help me reach my goals. Commercial Real Estate is something I have a real passion for. I find myself thinking about it all the time to the extent that I often miss many turns while driving because I am distracted by a new project or a nice building. I can’t see myself in any other business; it's been a part of me from such a very young age.