Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame each year. Here is a look at one of our newest inductees, Michael Glass, senior vice president and division manager for the Midwest in the Independence, Ohio, office of Marcus & Millichap.
When Michael Glass took his first job at Marcus & Millichap in 2001, he had no idea of the heights he would reach at the commercial real estate firm. After all, back then Glass worked as an intern.
Today? He’s one of Marcus & Millichap’s most productive leaders, serving as senior vice president and division manager for the company’s Midwest division. In this position, Glass oversees 12 brokerage offices. He is also the national director of Marcus & Millichap’s manufactured housing division.
During his time with Marcus & Millichap, Glass has been involved with and overseen thousands of transactions totaling several billion dollars. He also led Marcus & Millichap’s first acquisition after its initial public offering.
What led Glass from an internship position to such a key vice presidency role at Marcus & Millichap? He points to a willingness to put in the work and study his markets.
“Like anything, becoming a true expert in your field is critical,” Glass said. “Market knowledge and hard work are two key ingredients. I would also stress the importance of genuine relationships with clients and peers. We are in a long-term marathon, not a short-term sprint. One of my first mentors once told me, ‘We are all walking in wet cement,’ meaning we are all leaving our footprints in life and business. Be mindful of the prints you leave.”
Glass’ hard work has paid off. He first joined the management team at Marcus & Millichap in 2006, when he was named sales manager of the company’s Chicago office. He was then promoted to regional manager of the Cleveland office in 2007 and took on the additional responsibility of managing the Columbus office in 2009 and the Cincinnati office in 2013.
During this time, Glass led the Cleveland and Columbus offices to a surge in deal-making activity. The offices were so successful that each ranked as one of the top offices throughout the Marcus & Millichap network.
And, Glass says, he has enjoyed it all. Glass is one of those lucky few who have found a career that they are not only successful in but is also one that they love.
“It all comes back to the love and art of doing a deal,” Glass said. “I think most brokers enjoy that aspect of the business. Once I moved into management, it changed to coaching, mentoring, and developing my team and relationships. I still get the thrill of the deal, but through the success of others.”
Because his career has lasted for more than two decades, Glass has had to work through several challenges in this business, everything from recessions to COVID.
But Glass hasn’t let these hurdles either dampen his love for commercial real estate or slow the success of the offices he oversees.
“I view any challenge as an opportunity,” Glass said. “As I look back, the Great Recession comes to mind. I had just arrived in Cleveland in 2007 as a brand-new regional manager. The office and agents were starting to get traction until the recession hit. As a newer manager, I was convinced this was our time to double down and attack the market to help serve our clients. While many brokers took time off, our team stayed focused. I am most proud of how we weathered that storm and came out, bigger, faster and stronger.”
While building a successful CRE career undoubtedly takes time, Glass has also managed to carve out a personal life. As he says, it’s important to have a healthy work-life balance. When he’s not working, he prefers to spend time with his three daughters (Madison 15, Chloe 13, Harper 9) and wife, Samantha. He says that the family loves traveling and anything that keeps them active.