Get to know your local Chapter DL Members here by viewing this month's DL Member Spotlight and 2011 NAIOP Young Professionals of the Year:
Brian McDonald
Deidra Gonzales
Brian McDonald
Business Development Officer, Stewart Title
Brian McDonald is a Business Development officer with the Commercial Division of Stewart Title. He has been a real estate investor, broker, pre-licensing instructor and asset manager. For himself and clients, Brian handled the analysis, acquisition, due diligence, management and disposition of more than 40 pieces of investment real estate. In addition, he has consulted on a wide variety of real estate projects including commercial property tax appeals, lease analysis and negotiations and construction management.
Brian holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and won the 2010 “Deal of the Year Award” for the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter. He also earned his Master’s of Science in Real Estate and Construction Management in the Executive Masters Program at the University of Denver. Brian graduated top of his class with a 3.97 GPA and received awards for “Outstanding Graduate Performance” and “Outstanding Student Leadership.” Brian was also the lead presenter and part of the team that won the prestigious NAIOP 2008 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge.
Brian gained an early start in real estate when he bought his first investment property at the age of 16. While obtaining his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Finance from Weber State University in Northern Utah, Brian continued to invest in real estate. Brian has owned several dozen assets in multiple states and oversees the asset and property management for all of the properties.
Since 2009 Brian has been on the Board of Directors for the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of CCIM and is the 2011 President Elect. Brian has also been President of the Real Estate and Construction Management (RECM) Club at the University of Denver, President of a local chapter of Toastmasters and Vice President of Entrepreneurship for Students n Free Enterprise (SIFE). He was also founder and President of the Weber Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) and was instrumental in helping this group obtain a $1 million endowment.
As a youth, Brian earned his Eagle Scout Award with three palms and still enjoys being involved with the Boy Scout program. He also enjoys playing the guitar and drums and anything in the outdoors including hiking mountains, watching wildlife, mountain biking and sleeping in snow caves. Brian and his wife and three children live in Denver, Colorado.
Recently, Brian was named as NAIOP's Outstanding Young Professional of the Year! Congratulations Brian on this prestigious honor! Click here to read the full article regarding this award.
To learn more about Brian, check out his profile on LinkedIn® or contact him directly at bmcdonald@stewart.com.
Deidra Gonzales
Director of Business Development, Redland
Deidra says that she came into the industry by chance, but is convinced she always belonged in this industry. Deidra studied Chemical Engineering in school, so is obviously practicing outside her studies. She feels many people are in that same situation and thriving as she is. Deidra states that you must find a career path you are passionate about and love what you do. Studying engineering taught Deidra about problem solving, and never stopping until you find a solution. She feels that she can apply that as a real estate professional today – at Redland, Deidra works with clients to provide civil engineering design solutions for their development, and connect people within my network to help fill a need.
In order to achieve success in one's career, Deidra feels strongly about surrounding yourself with a great team that you can trust, respect and rely on. She believes that she has found the right team with her colleagues at Redland. Currently as Director of Business Development, Deidra cultivates new relationships and leads strategic business growth. Her ultimate career goal is to continue to do something rewarding and meaningful, while maintaining a successful work/life balance.
The biggest lesson Deidra has learned thus far in her career is to take a genuine interest in the people she works with and make their needs her own. Building relationships should be your priority, everything else follows that.
Deidra's proudest career achievement is that in past roles, she have been the ‘first’ to do something and that is motivating to her. Out of college she was the first person her firm placed in a senior-level commercial manager role with no prior experience. Within the real estate industry, Deidra has been the first person to create business development programs where none existed before. Within NAIOP, she helped design and craft the DL program for the Colorado Chapter in its inaugural year. Even if things look unattainable, Deidra believes it is important to go after it, make it happen and be the FIRST!
Deidra's greatest accomplishment outside of commercial real estate is having a well-balanced career that lets her fully enjoy life with her family! Deidra's greatest accomplishment is being a loving wife, daughter, sister and friend.
Among her many accomplishments, Deidra was recently named NAIOP's Outstanding Young Professional of the year! Congratulations Deidra on this prestigious honor! Click here to read the full article regarding this award.
Additionally, Deidra's NAIOP Involvement and Awards Won include:
National Level:
• Selected to attend the NAIOP National Leadership Discovery Program, 2008
• NAIOP National Executive Leadership Retreat, Washington DC, 2008
• Appointed to NAIOP National Diversity Task Force, 2010
Local Level, Colorado Chapter:
• Membership Committee and Real Estate Challenge Committee
• Chairperson of Developing Leader Program in its inaugural year, 2007-2008
• Developing Leader Mentoring Program, 2007-2008
• Speaker at Board Meetings and Past President Meetings, 2008
• Community Relations Committee, 2006-2008
To learn more about Deidra, check out her profile on LinkedIn® or contact her directly at dgonzales@redland.com.