Inside Cover D — June 17 - July 21, 2022 — 30 Under 30 — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
30 U nder 30
ow do you contrib- ute to your company and/or the industry? Troy Schaafsma, The Blau & Berg Company “Find an industry you have a passion for and network as much as you can to get yourself in the door” H
reputable commercial brokers in the area, looking to get my foot in the door. The company I am with now has a strong mentorship program, which was appealing. I was a quick study and immersed myself in networking and canvassing. The commercial real estate field comes naturally to me because I’m genuinely invested in it. Ev - ery day I learn something new. What unique qualities and or personality trait do you feel makes you most success- ful in your profession? I think personality is half the battle in brokering. I have no - ticed that networking is key. By
having an outgoing personality and learning to connect with all types of people, I can establish trust and likability with others, a crucial component for deal- making. You also need to have the ability to pick yourself up and brush off the negatives, as there will be times where you lose a deal nearing completion, you have a difficult client or broker, or encounter other situ - ations that test your resolve. What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time? I truly love to be active and outdoors. In my free time I like to golf, surf and adding to my list of travel. I had the op - portunity to live in Australia for a few months which sparked my passion for travel and exploring new places and cultures. I also enjoy trying new restaurants; you are likely to find me din- ing out at the newest Omakase restaurants in NYC. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive graduating from college? The best piece of advice is to find an industry you have a passion for and network as much as you can to get your - self in the door. Even if your initial opportunity is not the one of your dreams, you will develop skills and learn from others while making a name for your - self. Eventually you will narrow down your interests, and it may not be what you initially anticipated. Nothing will be earned by waiting and you are unlikely to be handed anything, so you just need to put yourself out there and jump right in. If that means networking on LinkedIn, through friends, or friends of friends, attending in - dustry events or alumni events, I suggest trying all avenues and something will click. It all starts with you and your drive. Who do you feel was most influential in your life when choosing this profession? The most influential person when choosing my profession was my father. He is a developer, and I grew up on job sites. My whole life I was around development projects and real estate trans - actions which really nurtured my passion for a career in this industry. I knew I wanted to get into real estate development and ownership. The best way to learn is by doing, so I took a leap into commercial real estate broker - ing focusing on industrial assets in the North Jersey market. His influence definitely planted the real estate seed. MAREJ
Troy Schaafsma Sales Associate Years with company/firm: 2 ½ years Years in field: 6 Years Years in real estate industry: 10 years
Coming from a construction background, I am able to advise clients on fit-outs and build-to- suit projects by understand - ing the costs and processes of construction and develop - ment. With my background in ground-up construction, I have been focusing on sourcing development sites for Class A warehousing. As the demand for industrial real estate grows in NJ, I have been branching out from traditional markets and sourcing deals elsewhere. Tell us how and when you
NYC market. I quickly realized I loved the real estate industry and wanted to learn more about the commercial sector. After col - lege, I was leasing a warehouse for a startup import company. That’s where I fell in love with commercial real estate, logis - tics, and the industrial mar - ket. I began reaching out to
began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position and why you choose the field/ profession you are in today? I began my real estate career in high school when I started working for a luxury home de - veloper building multi-million- dollar homes in the greater
30 UNDER 30 30 The Blau & Berg Company proudly congratulates Troy Schaafsma for being named to Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal’s 30 Under 30!
The Blau & Berg Company 830 Morris Turnpike, Suite 201 Short Hills, New Jersey 07078 973-379-6644 www.blauberg.com . 30
THE BLAU & BERG COMPANY B B
.
.
.
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator