As part of our series, CRE Future Leaders, we caught up with Jordan Multack, director at Essex Realty Group, Inc. in Chicago.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up, where did you go to school?
I grew up in Highland Park, IL and went to college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Over the summers I would spend a portion of my time taking care of multi-family properties. Hauling trash, painting apartments and cleaning hallways gave me an appreciation of what is needed to successfully operate properties/business.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was younger, I always wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer. I wanted to do something where I felt like I was able to help people, as well as maintain a level of respect within my community.
How did you get your start in the industry?
I started off in the ultra-competitive logistics industry, where I earned a position in the client-facing sector. It was an invaluable experience to have at a young age, it taught me business acumen, cold calling, problem solving, how to conduct performance meetings and how to be accountable, not only for myself, but for my team. After a few years in the industry, I realized that I wanted to move to a field that I felt would better suit me for the long haul. Real estate is one of those industries where it is a marathon and not a sprint, and the opportunity to learn how to create passive income was one I was very interested in.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
My greatest mentor in this industry, besides the breadth of experience I have available from the partners at Essex, is my father, David Multack. Even when I had no interest in real estate at a young age, my father instilled in me the work ethic, nuances and the accountability that comes with being a property manager. Real estate has helped strengthen the bond I have with my father, as we now talk about real estate, deals and the market daily.
What does a day in the life of Jordan Multack look like?
My schedule is ever-changing, but follows the basic template of waking up, grabbing a coffee at my neighborhood shop and heading straight into the office. I make sure to be at the office, at my desk, by 8:30 am so I can get started on my day. The rest of my day is usually balanced between cold calls to my target neighborhood owners, working on proposals for potential clients, communicating with my current client base on any outstanding deals and finally, networking with peers in the real estate sphere.
What do you like most about your job?
My favorite part of my job is the ability to connect with new people every day. I realize that I am usually not the only person calling most property owners, so I take it as a challenge to make myself stand out from my competition through my professionalism, persistence, humility and market knowledge.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve/work on that you haven’t already?
My biggest goal is to continue to build my reputation through hard work, professionalism, accountability, persistence and trust. I feel extremely fortunate to have worked on some of the “trophy” properties in my respective neighborhoods of West Town and Logan Square, and look forward in continuing to be a resource for all my clients moving forward.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
When I am away from the office, I love to eat, and enjoy spending my time exploring the neighborhoods where I focus to stay up to date. I love to discover new places “off the beaten path” because the food is most representative of the culture that resides there. Besides eating, I love to exercise, most notably lifting weights. Most of the time, I can be found at East Bank. When I am not in the gym, I love to bike around the city. It is another great way to explore all the great neighborhoods that one might not often venture to. One of my favorite activities is meeting up with some of my friends and biking south down the lakefront trail all the way to Hyde Park and back.
What is your most prized possession?
Personally, I am less about prized possessions and more interested in experiences. Some of my favorite memories involve traveling with my friends, girlfriend and family all around the country and world. Some of my favorite destinations have been various parts of Spain, most notably San Sebastian and Barcelona.
Who would you like to see answer these questions?
I would love to see my great friend, co-worker and someone whom I respect greatly, Joe Scheck, answer these questions.
