Each year, Midwest Real Estate News highlights the careers of the top CRE pros in the region in our Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame isssue. This year, we are running these profiles online, too. Here’s a look, then, at the Hall of Fame career of Jaime Fink, senior managing director and co-leader of the office group at the Chicago office of HFF, which is now merging with JLL.
Years in the business: 20
Top numbers: During the course of his career of more than two decades, HFF’s Jaime Fink has made a big impact in his market. Fink has completed more than $23 billion in transactions, deals that have accounted for more than 121 million square feet. These transactions include all property sectors and have taken place across the United States.
Fink has made an impact, too, as co-leader of HFF’s National Office Group. In 2017, HFF closed more than $96 billion of transactions, of which $28.2 billion was in the office arena.
Before his career in commercial real estate, Fink served his country as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
A perfect fit: Fink is fortunate in that he has found a career that he truly enjoys and one at which he excels. Fink points to the people in this business as what make commercial real estate such a rewarding career.
“I enjoy the people the most in the real estate business, especially my clients, partners and teammates at HFF. I really enjoy meeting new people and making new friends. If you really enjoy what you do and have a passion for the business, your clients and colleagues become your friends.”
A consistent winner: Thanks in large part to this success, Fink has been honored with the Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago Commercial Real Estate Investment Broker of the Year award an impressive seven times. He is also a five-time winner of NAIOP’s Chicago Awards for Excellence.
The benefit of serving: Fink says that his time in the Air Force helped pave the way for his success in commercial real estate.
“The military instilled in me a ‘mission before self’ mentality coupled with a never-give-up attitude,” Fink said. “Always do your best. The culture at HFF is very similar. Always put your client’s interest ahead of your own. This is a very simple philosophy that leads to success in the long term.”
Giving back: Fink, despite his busy career, finds time to volunteer for several community organizations. He is active with the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Hillside Food Pantry, Wilmette Food Pantry, Bernie’s Book Bank, Feed my Starving Children and Cradles to Crayons.
Out-of-office hours: When Fink isn’t working with his clients, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He coaches and watches his children’s sports teams and leads them in Scouting. He’s a fan, too, of traveling with his family to new places to experience different cultures.
Fink has no shortage of hobbies, either. He enjoys reading, science, astronomy, music, genealogy, camping, golf, kayaking, climbing, skeet shooting, archery, fishing, horseback riding, hiking and skiing.
