As part of our series, CRE Future Leaders, we caught up with Paul Tesdal, senior vice president, brokerage at Podolsky Circle CORFAC International. Tesdal has advised and executed on over $400 million of investment sales nationally across a broad spectrum of property types.
Tesdal specializes in sale-leasebacks, net-leased and multi-tenant industrial assets. He has represented a variety of clients ranging from sophisticated private investors, corporations and private equity funds to institutional investors, life companies and pension funds.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up, where did you go to school?
I was born in Long Beach, California but moved to a suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana when I was in third grade. I graduated from Avon High School in Avon, Indiana and then attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where I majored in both economics and finance.
When you were young, what did you aspire to be?
From my youngest memory, I always aspired to be a professional baseball player. I was gifted in several sports and excelled in baseball, but I never pursued playing professionally beyond the amateur ranks.
How did you get your start in the industry?
I got my start in property management but had a desire to move into brokerage when I saw the success that other brokers were having, this was 2005-2006 after all, so business was quite good. I am happy I decided to go down that path as it has enabled me to pursue a lot of things in life that I otherwise may not have had the opportunity to experience.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
I have always relied on God and my family for support, but I would be remiss if I did not mention my first mentor, Richard Fulton. Richard is still a successful broker, investor and CCIM instructor in Nashville, Tennessee where I worked for just over three years before my move to Chicago. Currently, I have two great partners in Alissa Adler and John Homsher, whom I think highly of as well.
What does a day in the life of Paul Tesdal look like?
Every day is different, but it usually consists of delegating, travel, meetings, phone calls, underwriting, transaction management, prospecting and review. I try to get in a workout at the gym at some point in the day and try to call at least one family member or friend on the commute to stay in touch and break away from work.
What do you like most about your job?
I like the opportunity to work with several people and never have a day that is the same as the day before. My job entails advising, selling, financial analysis, client management and business development, among other things. It is challenging and rewarding. There is a thrill of the chase and although some days are bad, or things are out of my control, making a client money or putting them into a good investment is always a positive feeling.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve/work on that you haven’t already?
I look forward to continuing to grow in the industry, both professionally and personally, and maintain a current trajectory of larger assignments, both in quantity and dollar amount. I envision my team getting more calls for business than we have outbound in prospecting. Ideally, in a short amount of time, we will be the top investment sales team in our middle market sweet spot.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
I spend free time with friends and family. Usually, this occurs over food and drinks, biking, skiing, playing tennis and golf, lounging by a pool or on my boat during the summer.
What is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Where do you hope to go next?
In January I traveled to Niseko, Japan, and the skiing there lived up to the hype. I also visited Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea on that trip. Tokyo was amazing, and I’d love to go back. I have two favorite places that come to mind: Banff, in Alberta, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands. I am going to London, England this fall for work and pleasure and I am hoping to tack on some other places in Europe at the tail end of it. Maybe ski the Alps?
Who would you like to see answer these questions?
David Kimball at MB Real Estate, Dan Huml at Clear Height Properties, Rob Sekula or Eric Turrin at North Park Ventures.
