Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts new members in its Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. This year, we are running these profiles online. Our hope? That you get a glimpse of what it takes to thrive in the commercial real estate industry.
This week, we look at the successful career of Bill Poffenberger, managing director with the Cincinnati office of JLL.
Highly qualified: For nearly three decades, Bill Poffenberger has been a leader in the Cincinnati commercial real estate market. He ranks as the only SIOR in this market who is qualified for both office and industrial transactions. And for the last seven years, Poffenberger has served as the managing director of JLL’s Cincinnati office, where he is responsible for developing and overseeing the sales strategies for its office and industrial teams.
A business builder: Poffenberger is a fourht-generation Cincinnatian who loves his city. After graduating from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, he returned to Cincinnati, where he joined Duke Associates in 1989 as a Leasing Representative. He enjoyed a 10-year run with Duke Associates, later named Duke Realty Corporation, where he learned the office and industrial markets.
Poffenberger then joined David Ottenjohn and Rusty Myers, members of Midwest Real Estate News’ Hall of Fame Class of 2015, as a Partner in Cincinnati Capital Properties. Cincinnati Capital Properties grew into the leading Class-A Agency firm in Cincinnati. This success at Cincinnati Capital Properties attracted the attention of multiple global firms who came knocking.
After 12 years at Cincinnati Capital Properties, the boutique firm was acquired by JLL. Poffenberger has now been with JLL for seven years. Since he joined the office, revenue has quadrupled and business has soared.
The thrill of competition: Poffenberger thrives on the competition and competitiveness of the business. He knows that 20 percent of CRE brokers appear to make 80 percent of the revenue, and works hard to stay in that 20 percent group. Poffenberger also enjoys the fact that no two days are the same in the commercial industry.
Poffenberger attributes his success to hard work and “connecting the dots.” If you can figure out how you “connect” to the client (through mutual friends, hobbies or charities), you’ll have a much better chance breaking the ice and earning their trust, he says.
Giving back: Bill has served on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Red’s Hall of Fame & Museum from 2004-2012. He served as President of the Board from 2010-2012. He also served eight years on the Board of Governors for the Cincinnati Country Club.
He is supported by his wife of 18 years, Shelley, and their two children, Sydney and RJ.
