Michael Hinchman | Senior Associate | Marcus & Millichap
Years with company/firm: 4
Years in field: 4
Years in real estate industry: 6
Real estate organizations/affiliations: National Office and Industrial Properties Group
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
My greatest professional accomplishment isn’t a singular moment or achievement. It’s the relationships that I have with my clients and the trust that they have in me. At the end of the day those things mean the most, though achieving an extraordinary result or getting a large, complicated transaction to the finish line is certainly gratifying.
How do you contribute to your company and/or the industry?
My contributions to both are ultimately a byproduct of what I contribute to my clients. I pride myself in adding real value for clientele through being a keen observer, creative problem solver, hard worker and an effective communicator. I’m lucky to have a background in pure mathematics and physics, which I believe gives me a competitive edge. I also just try to do things the right way, which is getting harder to come by these days. Essentially, my philosophy is doing good work will always come back around to you.
It seems to be working so far.
Who or what has been the strongest influence in your career?
In a way, my academic background has influenced my approach to the analytical component of the business and has propelled me forward pretty quickly.
Additionally, a lot of the intangibles come from my father and his father. My father has been in commercial real estate for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been lucky enough to absorb a tremendous amount of wisdom from him over the years. His father epitomized what a lifetime of honest hard work looks like, and I try hard to mimic his mentality and work ethic. I also have to give a lot of credit to my business partner, Lawrence Gariano, and my initial mentor at Marcus & Millichap, David Beyel, who at the time was partners with Lawrence. I’d have to say that they “raised me right” as well.
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?
I started with Marcus & Millichap in Spring 2018 based on the prospect of the financial and personal freedom that a career in brokerage could provide. I didn’t want to have a ceiling and I wanted to be my only limiting factor. I also saw the opportunity for a trial-by-fire education and jumped right in. I received all the above. After some luck and a lot of hard work, I’m now a senior associate in the firm’s National Office & Industrial Properties Group. I’m also proud to say Lawrence and I run one of the more unique teams in the Philadelphia region: I lead the office and industrial wing of the team, while he leads the mixed-use/multifamily and development wing of the team. We’re currently a team of six. Given our blend of specializations, not only do we tackle projects within these spaces specifically, but we are also extremely well-suited to operate in a city like Philadelphia where there are millions of square feet of existing industrial products that can either retain their current use or adapt to another (most typically multifamily or mixed-use). These projects are essentially a sub-specialty for us given our unique team composition. At the end of the day, though, our mantra is that we are advisors before all else. If we do that well, we will always get a seat at the table.