GlobeSt Perspectives Podcast

Since joining Berkadia in July, chief revenue officer Blake Okland is leveraging his impressive experience to navigate and succeed in the current multifamily market.

Blake Okland sees himself as a connector of people and departments. He joined Berkadia as chief revenue officer in July, bringing with him a storied career in commercial real estate. In his new role, he aims to drive business goals and client outcomes, despite challenging market dynamics like elevated interest rates and weakening demand-side fundamentals.

In this episode of the Thought Leadership podcast series, Okland talks about opportunities in multifamily, why there is no one-size-fits-all model for investment success, as well as his new role with Berkadia and his journey to joining the company.

You'll also hear:

· - How he plans to drive business forward as a connector within the organization.

· -Why the trends reshaping the multifamily market today are impacting his two-year outlook.

· -How investors should be building a successful capital stack for this cycle and the next.

Daniel Daire and John Otero of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE explain how communication and documentation help to keep restoration claims from turning into expensive disputes.

A water mitigation or restoration event can be stressful for policyholders, and for many homeowners, it's their first time going through the claims process. Miscommunication can quickly turn into frustration, disputes, and potential litigation.

Daniel Daire, owner-operator of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE of Prescott and North Scottsdale, AZ, and John Otero, regional business coach at 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, explain how ongoing communication with adjusters and policyholders helps to protect the claims experience and limit carrier exposure.

In this podcast, you'll learn:

• How 3D scanning can provide adjusters with more visibility into property damage.
• Why scope changes during a claim are a pivotal moment, and how communication may help to reduce risks.
• How IICRC compliance and daily efforts lower the risk of later mold disputes.

Industrial investors are increasingly turning to small-bay and multi-tenant industrial as demand for warehouses wanes, but it takes a specific skill set to unlock outsized returns.

As demand for warehouse and big box spaces dries up, multi-tenant industrial properties have stepped in and stolen the investment spotlight. The niche is delivering outsized returns, but it requires operational excellence to unlock those returns.

Anthony Scavo, CEO and managing partner of Basis Industrial, is no stranger to the multi-tenant space. This year, the firm has already closed $200 million in industrial deals, and it is aggressively growing its portfolio in select markets. Here he talks about the growing competition for the product and what it takes to succeed.

You'll also hear:

· -Why competition is increasing for multi-tenant industrial properties

· -How Basis is underwriting deals in the current economic environment

· -What investors need to be successful in multi-tenant

GlobeSt. Aspiring Leader Tim Donovan explains why investors should stop looking past middle-market properties in the Midwest.

The Midwest region and middle-market properties are typically overlooked by investors, but at the intersection of those spaces, Midloch Investment Partners sees tremendous opportunity. The firm has built a pioneering investment strategy focused on buying middle-market properties in cities across the Midwest.

By focusing on these underserved markets, Midloch co-founder and managing director Tim Donovan, who was recently named an Aspiring Leader by GlobeSt., says that he has found something valuable and increasingly rare in the current market: stability and upside. Donovan talks about the strategy in this episode of the Insiders podcast series.

In the interview, he discusses:

• - What makes the Midwest region an attractive investment market
• - Why middle-market properties are a sweet spot for investment
• - How the firm plans to launch a private credit fund to bolster middle-market investment

The most impactful AI programs are able to manage large-scale operational platforms for property managers.

AI is still new, but it is already evolving. Many companies started implementing AI to solve specific problems or isolated tasks. Now, AI is transitioning from a specific toolkit to something much grander. In this format, AI knows the history of the property and business model, and it can communicate with tools inside the platform. This is a gamechanger for property managers, says Cat Allday, VP of product at AppFolio.

In this podcast, you'll hear:

• How AI is reshaping real estate performance
• Why property operators should create a comprehensive, integrated AI strategy
• Why AI native architecture is essential to creating an impactful AI platform

Real estate connected to women's sports, women's brands and certain international investments have the potential to deliver outsized returns to investors.

As investors continue to search for yield in a constrained environment, attention is shifting toward undercapitalized segments with significant growth potential. Women-centric platforms, from professional sports to consumer brands, are no longer peripheral plays; they represent scalable, high-performing opportunities capable of delivering the returns that have become harder to capture in traditional asset classes.

That's according to high-net-worth investment advisor and 2026 GlobeSt. Woman of Influence Belinda G. Schwartz, executive chair of Herrick and co-chair of the Real Estate Department. Herrick is a full-service commercial real estate law firm based in NYC. Schwartz sat down with us to talk about the award, the state of the industry and how she is strategically advising clients today.

In the podcast, you'll also hear:

• How the current market challenges have changed the investment conversation for high-net worth clients.
• The real estate opportunities in specialty investments, like women's sports and women's brands.
• How law firm leadership is evolving and why diversity remains an important factor in advising clients.

Press play to hear more from Schwartz.

The net lease market has evolved substantially in the last five years, and investors that can adapt to the new market fundamentals are succeeding.

In a market with high interest rates and high inflation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to generate investable risk-adjusted returns. Long-term leases with built-in step increases often don't produce enough cash flow to offset increasing operational costs. ARCTRUST CEO Gary Baumann, however, is continuing to carve a path forward, and he was named a Net Lease Influencer by GlobeSt.com for this innovative investment strategy.

In this episode of the Influencers podcast series, you'll hear:

· - What's included in the ARCTRUST's multi-pronged strategy;

· -How the firm has navigated 40 years in business by building when it is cheaper to build and buying when it is cheaper to buy; and

· - Which practical changes net lease investors need to make to adapt to the current market.

Sigmund Cos. is challenging the status quo in retail investment with alternative investment strategies that are delivering value.

Institutional investors have been hard focused on core grocery-anchored shopping centers for years, but the retail market has attractive opportunities beyond those properties. Under the leadership of managing partner Wright Sigmund, The Sigmund Companies has focused on convenience- and necessity-based retail in edge markets and lifestyle centers in larger markets to deliver the same risk-adjusted returns. Sigmund was recently named a retail real estate influencer by GlobeSt.com for his pioneering strategies that deliver meaningful value in alternative and often overlooked retail assets. Sigmund sat down with GlobeSt.com to discuss investment opportunities in retail including:

• How to underwrite opportunities in necessity-based retail and lifestyle retail centers
• The importance of using tenant mix, lease-up and capital improvements to drive value at the property
• How the firm is using technology and AI to drive efficiency and remain competitive

The commercial real estate (CRE) industry is fervently adopting AI, but a balanced technology strategy is the key to ensuring its success.

CRE companies are widely implementing AI solutions and other emerging technologies to bolster investment strategy and create valuable efficiencies in processes. But in this rapid adoption, commercial real estate companies must remember to balance governance and best practices with experimentation and innovation.

Finding that balance will ensure a successful technology program, according to Damu Bashyam, EVP and Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Berkadia. Bashyam was recently named a GlobeSt. tech influencer, and he's led the launch of Berkie, Berkadia's proprietary generative AI platform. Bashyam sat down with us for an episode of GlobeSt.com's podcast to talk about technology adoption, including:

- -How to turn IT into a strategic growth enabler

- - What commercial real estate companies should do to advance technology programs this year

- -Why creating a balanced technology strategy with best practices is crucial to a successful tech adoption

The healthcare sector has been navigating significant challenges, but Toby Scrivner of Northmarq is optimistic about 2026.

The healthcare sector is in the middle of a challenging cycle. Meanwhile, a wave of consolidation and rising macroeconomic concerns made 2025 especially difficult for healthcare real estate strategy and investment.

In this podcast, Toby Scrivner, SVP and director of the national healthcare group at Northmarq, unpacks it all. Scrivner was recently named a 2025 Top Healthcare Influencer by GlobeSt., and he has a storied reputation in the industry, completing more than 700 transactions. He takes us inside the healthcare sector to discuss:

- -How healthcare consolidation is impacting real estate strategy

- -Why a 40% increase in construction costs has increased occupancy costs for real estate and slowed transaction volumes

- - What he believes will lead to optimism in the coming year

In this podcast interview, Jaime Northam of Ryan Companies discusses the challenges facing healthcare providers and their impact on real estate strategy.

Healthcare providers are facing steep hurdles, and healthcare real estate is at the center of this conversation. Demand for healthcare facilities continues to exceed the available supply, yet new construction has been hindered by market challenges. Jaime Northam, senior vice president of healthcare development at Ryan Companies, however, is taking an innovative approach. She is helping healthcare providers find real estate solutions by re-evaluating real estate portfolios and finding creative capital solutions.

In this podcast interview, Northam explains exactly how she is tackling today's healthcare challenges, including:

• - Finding strategic solutions, like pursuing sale-leasebacks and connecting providers with existing spaces that fit their needs.
• - Where she is seeing the most opportunity for healthcare real estate.
• - How AI is transforming healthcare and driving the development of facilities that can support significant technological advancements.

Berkadia's SVP, co-head of investment sales and a GlobeSt. Best Boss explains how teambuilding and culture have helped support significant gains in the firm's pipeline.

Strong leadership is the cornerstone of a strong business, and Berkadia is proving it. Despite market challenges, the firm has seen total production volume go up 30% year over year. Mike Miner, SVP and co-head of investment sales and production operations at Berkadia, attributes the success to the firm's strong team and company culture.

Miner recently won a Best Boss award from GlobeSt.com, and as a dedicated leader, he has recruited, trained and overseen a strong team. Now, that team is driving significant growth at the firm. In this podcast interview, we talked to Miner about the link between leadership and performance, discussing:

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Why an experienced team can better serve clients

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What's behind the firm's significant investment sales activity this year

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How the firm is investing in and integrating new technologies to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive advantage

The C-PACE market is expanding rapidly. To keep up with demand, this GlobeSt. Best Boss is investing in the best professionals.

The PACE Loan Group is in the midst of seeing a spike in demand for C-PACE financing, the clean-energy financing tool that the firm specializes in. To support the rapid market growth—which will likely go global soon—Rafi Golberstein, founder and CEO of the PACE Loan Group, is focused on recruiting top talent to scale his team and create a collaborative culture that can support demand.

Golberstein was recently recognized by GlobeSt.com as a Best Boss for his commitment to his team of professionals and the positive company culture that he has created. Golberstein sat down for an interview with GlobeSt.com to talk about the award and growth in the C-PACE market. In the interview, Golberstein talks about:

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Why he has been team focused since founding the company

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What the lending pipeline for C-PACE in 2025 looks like

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How he is adapting his team alongside the growth in the market

Commercial real estate investment sentiment is continuing to improve as investors step off of the sidelines and into the market.

With a record $350 billion in dry powder waiting on the sidelines, investors are facing increasing pressure to deploy capital. Yet, about two-thirds of capital recently raised has not yet been deployed. Aaron Jodka, director of research for US Capital Markets at Colliers, said that the trend has started to change this year.

Investors are getting increasingly comfortable with the market conditions — namely higher-for-longer interest rates — and investment activity started to slowly improve in the second quarter. In this podcast interview, Jodka gives a deep analysis of the investment landscape, including:

- Investors that are actively buying, and the ones still waiting

- What needs to happen to help fuel more investment activity

- Why he is optimistic that investment volumes will gain momentum next year

GlobeSt.com Industrial Influencer Anthony Scavo talks about how his firm is finding success focusing on multi-tenant facilities in this exclusive podcast episode.

Not every industrial facility is a big, sprawling Amazon warehouse. The industrial market is as diversified as any other asset class, and although large-format warehouses made the industrial market the darling of commercial real estate, the more niche property types are giving it stability.

Anthony Scavo, the managing partner of Basis Industrial and a 2025 Globest.com Industrial Influencer Award winner, talks about the firm's commitment to multi-tenant industrial facilities on this episode of GlobeSt.'s Influencers podcast. Scavo talks about:

● Multi-tenant industrial facilities offering diversification;

● The benefits of buying in secondary markets and below replacement costs;

● How tariffs could help increase demand in multi-tenant properties; and

● Navigating through emerging challenges, like economic uncertainty, and offering flexible lease terms to tenants.

Despite shifting fundamentals and increasing economic uncertainty, Gordon Whiting of TPG Angelo Gordon says that net lease assets are providing downside protection.

Tariffs, interest rates, and a volatile stock market are weakening commercial real estate investment sentiment and pushing capital back to the sidelines—but net lease assets are the silver lining. Gordon Whiting, founder and co-portfolio manager of TPG Angelo Gordon's net lease strategy and a recent recipient of GlobeSt.com's Influencers of Net Lease award, has an optimistic outlook on net lease investment opportunity this year.

Whiting sat down to talk about the net lease investment market. In the interview, he explains:

● How the macroeconomic environment could affect net lease asset performance and investment

● Opportunity for sale-lease back deals as companies look to monetize real estate assets

● Why he is optimistic about net lease activity (and interest rates) in the second half of the year

At the start of 2025, the multifamily sector encountered significant market volatility due to the transition to a new presidential administration. While the broad tariffs implemented in early April have intensified economic uncertainty, Berkadia sees several promising signs on the horizon. In this episode of GlobeSt.com's Thought Leadership podcast series, we delve into the evolving multifamily financing landscape with Josh Bodin, Senior Vice President of Securities Trading at Berkadia.

Bodin sits down with contributor Ilana Polyak to talk about Berkadia's bullish multi-year outlook and details of what's behind his optimism. The conversation explores:

● How tariffs are shifting inflation forecasts and the Fed's rate-cutting strategy

● Why declining construction starts, improving fundamentals, and the single-family housing affordability crisis are creating a compelling multi-year bull case for multifamily

● The strong debt financing environment with GSEs, private debt funds, banks, and life insurance companies all participating

● How market stability—rather than specific interest rate levels—drives transaction volume in commercial real estate

*The podcast was recorded on April 4, 2025.

"Standards of care" isn't just for healthcare; these guidelines are also important in restoration services. And, when insurers and restoration professionals are working from the same standards-of-care playbook, making the customer whole again is an infinitely smoother process.

In this podcast, Jim Novotny and Rick Wahlstrom, both in estimate review and compliance for 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, dive deeper into standards of care in the restoration industry. You'll learn:

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The different facets of standards of care in restoration, including building materials and codes, safety protocols, and EPA and OSHA guidelines;

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How adhering to standards of care makes the claims process smoother and ensures a better outcome;

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The penalties that can be incurred if standards of care aren't upheld; and

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Why it's important for restoration professionals and insurers alike to understand standards of care in the same way.

For more insights from the 1-800 Water Damage team of experts, click here.

Tremont Realty Capital says the middle market represents one of the largest segments of the commercial real estate sector, yet it can often be overlooked.

It is this segment of the market that The RMR Group's Tremont Realty Capital, however, sees significant opportunities.

Tom Lorenzini, SVP of Tremont Realty Capital, says the firm would rather have a deep portfolio of smaller loans than a smaller portfolio of larger loans for better diversification and risk management.

In this episode of GlobeSt.com's podcast, Lorenzini spoke about the current lending market and the firm's lending strategy. He discusses:

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Tremont Realty Capital's unique structure and how it leverages The RMR Group's scale.

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Why the middle market, which Tremont defines as assets having values in the $25 million to $100 million range, may be the sweet spot for lending activity.

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Why no commercial asset class—even office—is off the table this year.