AIRE reveals three 2016 Frank Mahoney Award of Excellence finalists

A field of finalists have been announced for the Association of Industrial Real Estate Broker’s (AIRE) 2016 Frank Mahoney Award. The award presentation on Nov. 8 celebrates the 26th anniversary of the presentation of the first award, and helps AIRE continue its 60th Anniversary Celebration.

The finalists, in alphabetical order, along with excerpts from the letters from peers who nominated them, include:

  • David Conroy, Cawley Chicago: David is a senior associate at Cawley Commercial, a firm he joined immediately out of school in 2013. He focuses on tenant and building representation in the Northern Cook and Lake County markets. Conroy is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Rachel Wanroy of Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella said, “I trust David with my most important clients … to provide the best representation. I think he is an excellent candidate for this award.”
  • Michael DeSerto, Entre Commercial Realty: Michael is a senior associate at Entre Commercial Realty and represents tenants and building owners in the Northwest suburbs. He joined Entre in 2013 and is a graduate of Carthage College. In a reference letter, Scott Cordes of Colony Capital said, “Mike is a pleasure to work with and the most knowledgeable young broker I’ve seen in any market across our portfolio. Mike is dedicated, driven and well-informed.”
  • Calum “Cal” Payne, CBRE: Cal is a senior associate in the Industrial Division at CBRE, a firm he joined in 2012, following his graduation from Miami University with a degree in Finance and after several internships in the business. According to Dan Leahy, of NAI Hiffman, a past winner of the Frank Mahoney Award and president of AIRE, “I know Cal will be part of our industrial real estate community for years to come, and will grow to be a leader among the other new and young members of AIRE.”

The Frank Mahoney Award recognizes outstanding leadership, community service and real estate brokerage success among young industrial real estate professionals—those with less than five years of experience. The annual award was established as an annual award to recognize a young industrial real estate professional who embodies the character traits displayed by Frank Mahoney.

“It is exciting to see the continued quality and caliber of young new members and candidates for the prestigious Frank Mahoney Award,” said Adam Marshall of NGKF and AIRE’s 2017 president. “As exemplified by the words of those who endorse their award submissions, each of these candidates can be proud of their accomplishments. As members of AIRE, we can look forward to their great success in the industry and leadership within the association.”

The award recognizes the positive impact made in the industry and the community with five years or less experience. The winner is a respected and productive member of the real estate community, and truly embodies the pillars AIRE stands for, including collaboration, community and conducting business with the highest ethical standards. While the award considers transaction volume, the true spirit of the award and the credentials for winning the award, also include an overall emphasis on commitment to the clients, the industry and the community.

In 1990, the first recipient of the Frank Mahoney Award was Britt Casey, then a broker with Grubb & Ellis and now with Cushman & Wakefield. Of the previous Frank Mahoney Award winners, three currently serve on AIRE’s Board of Directors, two are past presidents and many are regularly named as finalists or winners in various annual industrial broker of the year and related awards sponsored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks and the Greater Chicago Food Depository CRE Awards.

Frank Mahoney began his industrial real estate career in the early 1970’s after serving as a clergyman in South America. He started his career with Van Vlissingen & Company before ultimately beginning his own firm, Frank Mahoney & Associates, in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, until his death in the late 1980s, Mahoney was an active member of the Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers serving as a member, committee chairman, director and an officer of the organization.