PARSIPPANY — Global commercial real estate services organization Colliers International has announced the addition of Jennifer Flores to its Parsippany retail brokerage division. Flores, who started with the firm as an intern in the retail practice last summer, brings more than six years of construction-side commercial real estate experience to her new position as associate in Colliers’ Parsippany office.
“We are committed to growing our retail division and are very pleased to have Jennifer become our newest member,” said David A. Simon, SIOR, executive managing director and Colliers New Jersey market leader. “Jennifer has been working with us through our internship program and was able to experience our industry first hand before to making a full time commitment.”
Flores recently graduated from Montclair State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance and real estate investment, and holds an NJ Salespersons License. “I met Nancy Erickson, a Colliers executive managing director, when I was a student at Montclair, and she has served as a mentor to me ever since,” she said. “My internship here was a wonderful opportunity, and now I am grateful for the chance to start my retail brokerage career at one of the most prominent international real estate companies in the industry.”
“Jennifer is a natural when it comes to tenant and landlord representation,” noted Erickson. “From the outset, she has taken on more responsibility and shown deeper insight than most interns I have worked with previously, which is a testament to her maturity and prior experience. We are thrilled to make her a permanent member of our team.”
The Colliers New Jersey retail team – led by Nancy Erickson, Kelly Bayer and Flores – focuses on landlord and tenant representation and currently represents many high-profile local and regional assignments and expanding brands including: Bell Works in Holmdel, Montgomery Place and The Grove both in Montgomery, and 520 Broad Street (the IDT Building) in Newark. The group also represents high-profile tenants including Glow Zone, Cinemex, Ruth’s Chris, 99 Ranch, Wayne Tile, Kobeyaki, AT&T, Kiddie Academy, Scrubs & Beyond, BurgerIM, Hibbett Sports, Boxology, Agile Urgent Care, One River School and others both regionally and nationally.
Industry Involvement Fosters Professional Growth and Success
Erickson and Flores initially connected during an event hosted by Commercial Real Estate Women, Inc. New Jersey (CREW NJ) at Montclair State. For Erickson, being part of trade groups that foster education and networking, like CREW, is an important ingredient of being a successful broker.
“This industry is built on relationships,” she said. “Groups like CREW, ICSC, Ladies Pipeline and others enable professionals from every aspect of commercial real estate to come together and share knowledge. That is incredibly valuable when it comes to structuring transactions and serving clients.”
To that end, Erickson encourages her team to get involved. As a long-time member of CREW NJ and NY, Erickson, herself, recently was appointed secretary to the NJ Chapter’s incoming 2018 board. She also is a founding member of Ladies Pipeline.
Flores already is following suit. This fall she was appointed to the International Council of Shopping Center’s (ICSC’s) 2018 PA/NJ/DE Next Generation Committee. This select group of participants develops programs geared toward helping industry newcomers address challenges, interests and trends in retail real estate.
