Managing Director, Colliers International Greatest Accomplishments: After becoming the company’s youngest managing director at age 30 and building up the Southern California business, Pinsel was asked to turn around the Dallas office. Following massive staff restructuring, he ultimately expanded the broker headcount and increased revenue by about 50 percent. Best Advice Received: His father, retired banker William Pinsel, had a strong work ethic. He advised: “You need to outwork your competition. Work harder than the guy next to you, and good things will happen.” Mentor Jack Cohen, founder of Cohen Financial, “told me in some of my more stressful times,…

President, Colliers International, Tampa Bay Florida/Central Florida/Southwest Florida Greatest Accomplishments: Kratz oversees a team of more than 65 brokers, 50 property management and client accounting personnel and others, along with corporate strategy for the office. Before joining Colliers, he was an assistant vice president at NorthMarq Real Estate Services, where he expanded the investment sales team into four new markets and built it into the capital markets division at NorthMarq Capital. Best Advice Received: “Be principled. Do what’s right.” Though it may be hard in the short term, doing what you strongly believe is right usually leads to the best…

Managing Director & Co-Head of Multifamily Affordable Investments, Centerline Capital Group Memorable Achievements: Among Flynn’s recent accomplishments was the restructuring of a portfolio of 38 distressed multi-family assets totaling $430 million in debt and $200 million in equity. Centerline Capital was the special servicer for the bonds and had the top loss position on the debt. The transactions took three years to complete. In resolving the assets, Flynn had to work with multiple parties—debt guarantors, private lenders, equity investors and lawyers for government entities. One of the challenges in such tasks is making sure all the “I’s are dotted and the…

Managing Director, Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank Greatest Accomplishments: Merging the Cornish & Carey, Newmark and Grubb & Ellis businesses to create the current 34-agent office, with an emphasis on a familial tie with no rifts and everybody playing fair. “Striving for that fairness in an office is something I pride myself on,” Courson said. As a broker, he is currently working with Major League Baseball, which he termed “a unique opportunity,” and Ares Management, for which he and senior vice president Michael Brown recently completed a rehab of De Haro Place, which he described as a previously…

Executive Vice President, Vision Real Estate Partners L.L.C. Greatest Accomplishments: Acquisition and redevelopment of the 194-acre former Alcatel-Lucent campus in Whippany, N.J., followed by development of Bayer Healthcare’s new North American headquarters on half an acre. Ross’ leadership was key in successfully crafting a solution that met Bayer’s immediate needs while providing forward-thinking expansion possibilities. Through Vision’s seven years, he has been instrumental in building the firm’s track record of consistently outperforming market conditions for risk-adjusted returns for all asset types and classes. Secrets to Success: A strong work ethic combined with a true passion for the business. Greatest Challenges:…

Executive Managing Director, Cassidy Turley Greatest Accomplishments: He lauded “the great team we’ve put together and the body of work we’ve accomplished,” along with the “high character” culture of the office, its open-door policy and a focus on encouraging the growth of less experienced team members. Best Advice Received: “If you have strings, don’t pull them; yank them.” And his father used to tell him that people like to do business with people they like and that he should always take care of the young guys—you want to hire up and you want them to be better than you. Secrets…

Founder & CEO, Carroll Organization Memorable Achievements: Seeking to establish the Carroll Organization’s operational capabilities, Carroll purchased the Alpharetta, Ga.-based Affordable Realty Management in 2009. In 2010, he purchased Hediger Enterprise of Greenville, S.C., and Miles Properties of Atlanta. “I was a one-man developer trying to build an operational platform that would allow us to become vertically integrated,” he said. Last year, the Carroll Organization closed on a banner $1 billion in acquisitions, purchasing properties in Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Among its purchases were The Resort at Pembroke Pines in Miami for $225 million (the largest acquisition in the…

Executive Vice President, Forest City Ratner Cos. Greatest Accomplishments: Development of Atlantic Yards, most recently including the groundbreaking development of an innovative new modular design concept for the residential buildings. But “it’s hard to top the excitement of developing your first project,” Burch observed. “My first building, 80 DeKalb Ave., was the first residential building that our company developed in Brooklyn.” The 365-unit housing project is ”a first for myself and for Forest City Ratner Cos. It launched the residential business for the company.” Secrets to Success: “I am a curious person. I don’t accept the easy or the first…

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Admiral Capital Group Greatest Accomplishments: In 2007, Bassichis teamed up with Basketball Hall of Famer and philanthropist David Robinson to launch Admiral Capital Group, which has more than $250 million worth of assets under management. The company uses an innovative model that allocates 10 percent of its profits to non-profit programs in markets where the company invests. A turning point came in 2010, when Bassichis and Robinson partnered with USAA Real Estate Co. to form the Admiral Real Estate Fund. Bassichis has also been instrumental in forming joint ventures with institutional players like the Teacher Retirement…