Junior Executive Training Program Targets “Next Generation” of Brokers
Katie Kennedy has been hired as part of Cushman & Wakefield’s New Jersey
“Junior Executive in Training” (JET) program. A resident of Mountain Lakes, N.J.,
Kennedy is working in the firm’s East Rutherford office.
Kennedy graduated from Villanova University last May, having majored in communication and
minored in business. She also completed The Stern Advantage Program – Business Essentials
for Non-Business Majors at New York University. She noted that the active nature of the
commercial real estate industry appealed to her.
“I really enjoy the nature of this business – networking, getting out in the
field and talking with people,” Kennedy said. “I’m learning so much already
about the office and industrial real estate markets. This is a great industry with so much
potential for young professionals.”
According to Kimberly Brennan, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield’s New
Jersey operations, Kennedy is a perfect example of the type of person the JET program targets.
“Our JET hires have zero to five years’ experience in the industry,” she
said. “We look for energetic, enthusiastic individuals with some sales background or, in
cases like Katie’s, who are right out of college. In essence, we are working to create
the ‘next generation’ of real estate brokers.”
According to Brennan, who launched the JET program, this includes training brokerage
professionals to serve in a consulting role for clients. “The real estate industry is
changing tremendously,” she noted. “Tomorrow’s most successful brokers will
be all-around real estate strategists. They will know every facet of a transaction and every
facet of their clients’ companies. As the role of real estate services providers
continues to evolve into a true advisory role, these individuals will be well positioned to
maintain our firm’s competitive advantage.”
The JET program includes a 90-minute formal training session each week. Market fundamentals,
canvassing, and financial and operational strategies are among the topics covered. “The
program is highly structured,” Brennan explained. “Three of our senior brokers are
very involved in running it, and we frequently have guest speakers from outside the Cushman
& Wakefield organization.”
To date in 2006, Cushman & Wakefield has hired seven New Jersey brokers into its JET
program. Up to five more will join the team in 2007.
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Cushman & Wakefield is the world’s largest
privately held real estate services firm. Founded in 1917, the firm has 189 offices in 57
countries around the globe, and 11,000+ talented professionals. Cushman & Wakefield
delivers integrated solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of
landlords, tenants, and investors through every stage of the real estate process. These
solutions include helping clients to buy, sell, finance, lease, and manage assets.
C&W also provides valuation advice, strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis,
and site selection and space location assistance, among many other advisory services. To
find out more about Cushman & Wakefield, please call 1-800-376-3133.
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Media Contact: Evelyn Weiss Francisco
evelyn@caryl.com
(201) 796-7788