Inside Cover B — October 2025 — Women in Business — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
W omen in B usiness Featuring Janet Bortz, Julie Gralla, and Joni Sweetwood Spotlight on The Kislak Company’s leading women in business
Janet Bortz Executive VP Years with company/firm: 25 Years in field: 27
Joni Sweetwood Executive VP Years with company/firm: 29 Years in field: 29 Years in CRE industry: 29 Real estate organizations/ affiliations: NJAA
Julie Gralla Executive VP
Years with company/firm: 15 Years in CRE industry: 15
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in: About 27 years ago I changed careers, moving from product marketing to real estate. After working two years in real estate de- velopment, I joined The Kislak Company, a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment real estate. I began my career at Kislak as a Sales Associate and was promoted to a Vice President in 2006, Senior Vice President in 2019 and Executive Vice President in 2022. I continue to rank as a top producer. Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? After working in the corporate sector for over 10 years, I wanted to move to a more entrepre- neurial environment with more independence and higher income potential. What was your greatest professional accom- plishment in 2025? With higher interest rates and perceived economic risk, deals were challenging to close. It was typical to have multiple buyers on deals. Both buyers and banks had tight parameters and were extremely cautious on every issue. Given this difficult environment, I closed over $28M in multifamily transactions. What was your most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2025? A multifamily property of 100+ units in Dutchess County, New York. It took three buy- ers and nine months before closing. Very challenging. How do you manage the work/life balance? I focus on transactions in my primary markets and work only on exclusive listings. Time management and targeting salable assets results in balance. What impact has social media/networking had on your business? Digital access moves deals, due diligence and closings, much more efficiently and faster. The client reach has dramatically grown for access to real estate information globally, as well as brokers ability to promote and market. What unique qualities and/or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profes- sion? Organized, assertive, persistent, thorough and hard working. Enjoying people and having a sense of humor and a realistic and intuitive feel for what is required to make a deal. Time management is a must. What challenges and/or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? Learning to accept failure as part of growth and success. Need to persevere over adversity. Second is to welcome constructive criticism to facilitate personal and career growth. Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, dis- advantage or no advantage in today’s business world? Why? Why not? No advantage. Success is all about human relations skill development and exceed- ing personal and company performance goals. Getting results for clients is what matters. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field? Working hard and staying humble enough to listen and learn. Be confident, genuine and your own style. Don’t imitate, create! MAREJ Years in CRE industry: 27 Real estate organizations/ affiliations: NJAA, NJ Professional Real Estate Women and EWGA (Executive Women Golf Association)
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in: Having grown up within The Kislak Company, where my mother, Joni Sweet- wood—now Executive Senior Vice President—has served as a distinguished broker for three decades, I was immersed in the real estate profession from an early age. In the fall of 2010, following a successful tenure in advertising at one of the world’s top four global agencies, I chose to transition my career to com- mercial real estate. I began by shadowing my mother and other seasoned professionals at Kislak, which laid the foundation for my continued growth and long-term commitment to the industry. Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? I chose this field because I genuinely thrive on working with people and helping them realize their potential. I’m deeply invested in understanding my clients—their stories, goals, and motivations—and I take great pride in guiding them toward opportuni- ties they might never have envisioned for themselves. What inspires me most about this profession is its limitless potential: every relationship, transaction, and challenge presents a new path for growth, both for my clients and for me. There’s nothing more reward- ing than seeing the tangible success that comes from collaboration, trust, and strategic foresight. How do you manage the work/life balance? I maintain a healthy work–life balance by being in- tentional about how I spend my time and focusing on what creates the most value—both professionally and personally. During the week, I concentrate my energy on the opportunities that matter most, and on weekends, I make it a point to spend meaningful time with my family, creating lasting memories together. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career? Without question, my mother has been the greatest influence on my career. Her perseverance, work ethic, and remarkable success at Kislak have shaped my understanding of excellence in this indus- try. She’s shown me that consistency, character, and dedication are the foundation of lasting achievement. What impact has social media/networking had on your business? Networking is truly the cornerstone of success in this industry, and I make it a priority to build and maintain relationships through every effective avenue. While I’ve always believed that the strongest connections are made in person, social media has proven to be an unexpectedly valuable complement. Through my real estate account, @Juliesellscommercial, I stay on top of market trends and maintain an informed presence in the industry, while my personal account has helped broaden my network and even led to meaningful busi- ness opportunities—including one notable deal that originated there this year. Still, I view social media as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the genuine rela- tionships and trust built through personal interaction. What unique qualities and/or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession? I’m known for my organization, persistence, and unwavering commitment to my clients. I take pride in performing at a level few brokers do, ensuring every client feels supported and prioritized throughout the process. I’m consis- tently told that my accessibility and responsiveness set me apart, allowing me to build trust, anticipate
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in: I fell into commercial real estate brokerage. I had been handling REO (real estate owned) for Mid- lantic Bank (now PNC) when I was approached by the then President of Kislak. At first, I didn’t like the business. However, over time it became an excellent choice for me. What is your current position? Executive Vice President. Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? I didn’t choose real estate, I fell into it. Even though I didn’t choose the profession, I enjoy it so much that it became my hobby, something I love to do. What was your most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2025? The sale of The Parc at Summit. This 59-unit garden complex was widely marketed and my long-term client successfully closed the deal. How do you manage the work/life balance? I am extremely organized and focused. I work hard and play hard. This all comes after my fam- ily. Family is always first. Every day I make sure I do something for me though. I exercise daily and keep in close contact with friends and family. This means traveling over the country to see them and additionally, I like to fit in an exotic annual trip. What impact has social media/networking had on your business? There is no print media. All advertising and com- munication is online. It is also very important to be a presence on LinkedIn, Traded and other similar sites. What unique qualities and/or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession? I am a happy person and it is often hard to maintain that in this profession. There are some difficult, tough people and tough situations. How - ever, I can dissect and deal with problems. After all these years, I do not take things personally. What challenges and/or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? This is a competitive business and there are a million brokers competing for the same business. Some of them have the edge that they are part of a “national or even international company.” However, this is just a line and not really the advantage they would like you to believe. I know my market better than them and the Owners I have done deal after deal with know that I will get better results. After all these years, these Owners have become my friends, not somebody I’m afraid of. MAREJ
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