NAIOP Colorado 2022 Fight Night – Real Estate Ringers Feature: Ryan "Marsh Madness" Marsh

September 28, 2022
Submitted by Courtney Schneider, Hines

The energy at NAIOP Colorado’s Fight Night is nothing short of palpable, and this year will be no exception – there will be four Real Estate Ringer bouts this year that will not disappoint.  While I am biased in my predictions for at least one of the fights, Hines is thrilled to have our very own Ryan “Marsh Madness” Marsh as a Real Estate Ringer this year!  

Courtney Schneider: Have you always been an athlete?
Ryan Marsh: I had never done anything athletic until age 25 when I met my wife, Caitlin.  Caitlin got me into working out and it became something I enjoyed.  Learning to box for Fight Night is a sporting competition I never had in high school.  
Actually, I guess I was briefly a high school athlete if you consider my short stint on the golf team – that is, until I got kicked off for smoking cigs on the golf course.  I am still friends with my coach to this day, though, so there aren’t any hard feelings.  


Courtney Schneider: Tell me about the training you are going through to prepare for the big fight.
Ryan Marsh: The biggest thing for me is being part of the boxing culture.  This is something you would never get exposure to otherwise.  It is a culture and community of hardworking, dedicated athletes.  Some of the training techniques aren’t necessarily enjoyable, but you have to trust the process.  Huge shout out to Prodigy Boxing Gym!


Courtney Schneider: What will be your motivation in the ring?
Ryan Marsh: [Laughs] The ego of not getting the sh*% kicked out of me in front of friends, family and the real estate community!  I have been mentally preparing myself for the past year since you’re peer pressured me into “volunteering” for this.  But I also have too big of an ego to say no – something I am working on.  


Courtney Schneider: You mention the mental prep, what has been the toughest part mentally or personally in preparing?
Ryan Marsh: The time away from my family – my wife and two young boys.  Huge shout out to my wife, Caitlin, for all the sacrifices she has made to accommodate the training schedule.  And for putting up with my constant jabbering and hype for the actual bout.  October 6th can’t come fast enough for her. 


Courtney Schneider: Anything else you want out there?  
Ryan Marsh: Shout out to Chris Crawford for making my employment at Hines contingent on winning[!] 


 

NAIOP Real Estate Ringer Perspectives: James McGill Reflects on 2021 Win

August 4, 2022
Submitted by Vincent Malara, Heritage Title Company

We sat down with James McGill, Vice President of Industrial Services with JLL, who was one of the “Real Estate Ringer” winners at NAIOP Fight Night 2021 – NAIOP Colorado’s annual black-tie boxing event featuring boxers from metro Denver’s local real estate industry – to learn what his experience was like as our 2022 Real Estate Ringers prepare to jump in the ring on October 6th!

Vincent Malara: Did you have any previous boxing experience?
James McGill: This was my first time in a boxing ring, I grew up super competitive and played hockey, golf, lacrosse, and baseball. I was excited to add boxing to the list!

Vincent Malara: Why did you decide to fight?
James McGill: After attending my first Fight Night as spectator and helping sell raffle tickets I was blown away by the event and super inspired to take on such a tough physical and mental challenge with the added pressure of NAIOP and CRE Industry in attendance. At the time a national brokerage hadn’t put a fighter in the ring and I was excited to be the first to represent JLL.

As a newer broker I also saw it as opportunity to get my name out in front of the industry, all while raising money for at risk youth in Colorado. But my main reason was to take on the challenge headfirst and prove to myself and everyone else of my hard work and dedication in everything I set my mind too.

Vincent Malara: What did your training look like leading into the fight!
James McGill: It was crazy!!!! It was the most humbling experience! I worked out with the Rivera Family at their training facility, which was out of their garage. It felt like a movie. We trained Monday-Friday and sparred every Tuesday and Thursday night. Training included an insane amount of cardio and core work. To put things in perspective , I broke my nose during the training if that can help illustrate the intensity.

Vincent Malara: What was the highlight of the fight?
James McGill: When the fight was called and I jumped up on the ring and saw my whole family, the JLL crew, and all my mentors in the crowd rally around me. It was truly an unbelievable feeling and one of the best nights of my life. It was exactly how I had envisioned it and this experience made me a big believer in the power of manifestation.

Vincent Malara: Has your participation as a Real Estate Ringer helped advance your career in commercial real estate? If so, how?
James McGill: I can't think of a specific deal that has come of it but it has certainly gotten my name out there and given me some exposure to people in the industry. I have met a lot of people through NAIOP and it typically comes up in conversation etc.

Vincent Malara: If you had the opportunity to do it all over again, would you? If yes, why?
James McGill: Yes. It was an awesome night and a great challenge. I also enjoy training for something or putting my mind to something and getting it done. In addition, whenever I have the opportunity to raise money for a good cause I am in! I am happy I don’t have to get hit in the face again, that wasn’t too fun.

 

For more information regarding Fight Night 2022, please CLICK HERE.