It was a night of back-slapping, networking and trading the inside scoop on the latest big deals.
Conversations ranged from the planned Sunset Millennium retail project in West Hollywood could it suck the life out of Rodeo Drive? to L.A.’s worsening traffic problems to how telecommunications firms are gobbling up space in downtown office buildings.
More than 200 real estate professionals, including many of the most prominent in Los Angeles, packed into the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills last week to honor top performers at the Business Journal’s annual Real Estate Awards reception.
“These awards are very important to us,” said Andy Ratner, executive vice president of Cushman Realty Corp. “To receive an award shows that we are important service providers in the industry. There aren’t any other similar awards for brokers, except on a nationwide level.”
Steven Soboroff, principal of Soboroff Partners, delivered the keynote address and handed out most of the awards. Calling Los Angeles a mecca for successful business people, Soboroff went on to list 12 personality traits he has come to find in successful people, especially those in real estate.
Among the qualities he ticked off: intensity to the point of not blinking when a ceiling tile falls on your desk, the ability to juggle a lot of balls simultaneously and having a desire to win.
Next came the awards.
“It is the greatest thing to be recognized for something I love doing,” said Brad Feld of Cushman & Wakefield Inc., who won the award for being the most productive office landlord broker.
David Hasbrouck, also of Cushman & Wakefield, won the industrial broker category for the second year in a row. Hasbrouck’s reputation as one of the area’s most successful brokers serves as a magnet for an increasing number of new clients, as well as repeat customers, which perpetuates his massive deal flow.
Charles McPhee accepted the award for Catellus Development Corp., which was named the most active industrial developer. “Catellus is very committed to Southern California, and it is a good thing to be acknowledged for our commitment,” McPhee said.
Of course, an event like this offers plenty of time for schmoozing.
“It is a great networking opportunity,” said David Hall of American West Sign Co. “I’ve been trying to get many of the people here on the phone for weeks, and tonight I’ve had a chance to meet with most of them.”
Edvard Pettersson
