Posts Tagged ‘student profile’

UST Student Profile- Marty McCarthy, Project Manager and Green Building Consultant

Friday, February 15th, 2013

The UST Opus College of Business Master’s in Real Estate program welcomes the new class to the 2012-2013 academic year!  Take a look at a brief snapshot of the students in this year’s class.

Student_Marty McCarthy

Marty McCarthy is a part of the new class of students entering the MSRE program in Spring 2013. Marty brings over 10 years of public and private sector experience to the program, including five years as a project manager for the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. He also spent several years in the private sector green building industry where he focused on energy efficiency improvements. By obtaining an advanced degree in Real Estate at UST, Marty hopes to broaden his understanding of the Real Estate industry and to expand his professional network.

 

 

What is your educational background and experience?

My major was sociology, however because I went to a small school I was able to shape my studies to focus on Urban Issues that affect communities. I studied the concepts of Ernest Burgess of the University of Chicago who created the Concentric Zone Theory. One of my professors was getting his Doctorate from the University of Chicago and I studied his theories on gentrification in Chicago and how Hipsters/artists were the indicator of where gentrification would happen next.

Why did you choose the MSRE program at UST?

To broaden and make deeper my knowledge of the Real Estate industry. I also was attracted to the program because of the networking possibilities that the program offers.

What are your future career goals?

I would like to be a consultant for small businesses or work for a commercial/industrial developer.

As you enter the MSRE program, what aspect of the program are you most excited about?

I am most excited about growing my knowledge in financial aspects of real estate. I want to know more about financing real estate deals and also the financing a real estate business.

What do you enjoy most about the real estate industry?

I’m really interested in Commercial/Industrial development. I am particularly interested in distressed properties and helping small businesses with understanding how to manage their real estate assets.

What is your favorite non-real estate pastime ?

Well there are two. No. 1 is golf because I love to challenge myself. I played soccer all my life including a year in college and have found that Golf fills that competitive spirit in my life. No. 2 I love baseball, Chicago White Sox to be specific. I do have respect for the Twins, but no love for the Chicago Cubs. I have noticed a sizable population of fans of the Lovable Losers (cubs) in twin cities, so I feel I need to represent the Southside.

What is your favorite local development and why?

A few months ago I attended a presentation by Ryan Companies at UST on the development of 222 Hennepin. I really like all projects that incorporate mixed use development in dense urban settings. I think I favor this type of development because I grew up in a dense neighborhood in Chicago. I favor being able to walk places over having to getting in a car to go everywhere.

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Student Profile: Roger Zopfi, Title Insurance Expert and Real Estate Paralegal

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

RogerZopfiAfter spending more than 25 years in title insurance and real estate law, Roger Zopfi decided he was ready to broaden his horizons in the real estate industry so he chose to pursue the Master of Science in Real Estate degree at St. Thomas.  The new connections and exposure to other areas of the industry have so far been invaluable.

What is your professional education and experience?

My whole journey in real estate began as an accident.  I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in business in 1982. At the time, the economy was down, and full-time positions for recent college graduates were scarce.  My first assignment at a temporary agency was a two day stint at Minnesota Title (now Old Republic National Title Insurance Company).  This two day temporary job turned into a seven year hands-on learning experience.  At the time, I didn’t know an abstract of title from an abstract painting.  I started from the bottom and worked my way up through the ranks.  In these formative years I was exposed to the disciplines of abstracting, final policy writing, title examination and underwriting.  Eventually, one of my former colleagues recruited me to work as a paralegal at the law firm of Doherty, Rumble & Butler in St. Paul. It was here that I began to learn the transactional side of real estate, and had the opportunity to work on major projects like Town Square and the Children’s Museum.

Several years later I became the General Manager of a title insurance agency in Western Wisconsin.  Eventually, my wife and I started our own title agency as an agent for Old Republic National Title. After selling our company nine years later, I spent two years as a Senior Title Examiner in the National Commercial Services Division of First American Title.  For the past five years, I have been working as a Real Estate Paralegal at the firm of Lindquist & Vennum PLLP.  Initially, a great deal of my time was spent working with clients developing, selling, purchasing or financing ethanol plants and wind farms.  Thanks to the mortgage meltdown brought to us by Wall Street, I’m currently being kept very busy assisting clients with mortgage foreclosures.

The foreclosure process is very complex and highly technical in nature.  Managing the timelines and navigating all of the statutory requirements, really keeps me on my toes.

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Student Profile: Aileen Halligan

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

aileenhalliganAcademic researchers who study social, behavioral, and organizational psychology have spent the previous decade studying how people make judgement about people they meet. Some of these researchers believe that your brain, specifically the emotional centers, work incredibly fast to make snap judgements about people, a trait that was crucial in our species history, when ascertaining friend from foe was often a life threatening decision. The common phrases for these experiences are “gut feeling” and “a hunch”, and contradictory to the general belief that these emotions are irrational, scientists are increasingly discovering that they are actually the product of an incredibly complex system of sensory analysis, memory, and a syntax that follows a precise logical argument. This insight becomes all the more powerful when one begins to realize just how accurate that gut feeling is when the situation is appropriate.

Considering the opening paragraph of this interview, it is without surprise that Ms. Halligan makes a significant first impression, worthy of the pretense. Very confident, driven, intelligent, well spoken, and conscientious  are the gut feeling(s) I experienced when Ms. Halligan began answering my questions. Aileen’s career, education, and goals are all reflective of these traits, and it would appear a solid bet that her future holds plenty of successes.

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Student Profile- Lane Thor

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

DSC_5428“The (best part of the UST MSRE program is the…) whole package; having industry experts as guest speakers, hearing their stories, and learning, first hand, their opinion’s on the major issues facing the real estate industry.  Furthermore, the overall connection to the real estate community as a whole is superb.  These connections will set me up for success in any endeavor I choose. I have had an excellent experience in the program and would recommend it to others in the real estate industry.  The UST and MSRE program’s reputation in the industry is top of the line.”

Real Estate Matters has had the opportunity to sit down with several MSRE students in the graduating class of 2011 and get their impressions of the program, their plans for the future, and their advice to perspective students as their time in the MSRE program draws to a close. The first 2011 graduate, Lane Thor, has been working at the Ramsey County Assessors Office as an Appraiser. Lane was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

What is your background and experience?

I grew up in St. Paul, and have lived in Lino Lakes since 2006. I earned my undergraduate degree at Hamline University in St. Paul, where I majored in Political Science. I was fortunate enough to play football for Hamline while I was a student there, which provided a great opportunity to learn valuable lessons about life, responsibility, and leadership.

So who do you route for in the MIAC?

I have to route for Hamline.  But I promise, I alway route for St. Thomas to win.  If they play Hamline I just hope for a tie…

Where have you worked since earning your undergraduate degree?

I am fortunate, in that my first job out of school is one I have really enjoyed. I began working at the Ramsey County Assessors Office in 2006.  My day-to-day duties involve the appraisal of real estate for tax purposes. I specialize in residential property and am currently one of 52 appraisers working for Ramsey County. The thing I like most about the job is the unique nature of each property.  Each property presents new challenges and opportunities for me every day. As an undergrad I was interested in getting into business law, but after a few law classes I changed my mind.  My passion for public sector work, especially the parts of the government that support the real estate industry, has remained which makes my current position a great fit for me. Also, my job affords me the opportunity to keep a healthy work-life balance, which is something that is very important to me.

Why did you decide to get an MSRE, and how did you choose UST?

I wanted to strengthen my skill set and knowledge of real estate issues to compliment my current background, with the goal of having more opportunities  in the field of real estate. Looking back on my time in the program I can definitely say that I have broadened my skill set and given myself many new and exciting options. Furthermore, my sophistication in real estate has increased two fold, (1) I have learned more about the theoretical aspects of the real estate industry than I ever imagined, and (2) I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of practical knowledge I gained, with regard to the different aspects of real estate. I am certain that this experience will benefit me in any area of real estate that I get into.

I chose St. Thomas, because the program and the school is regarded in the Twin Cities, as the gold standard in real estate education. UST has an extensive professional network, including the real estate advisory board, which is basically all the heavy hitters in the Twin Cities real estate industry. I looked at a few other programs but ultimately chose UST because I wanted to have classroom experience - that personal level, face-to-face contact with my professors and peers is important for me. Because of this I have built life long friendships.  The small class sizes have allowed me to meet everyone and make valuable connections. The classroom experience and the relationships that stem from this structure is what brought me to UST.

What is the best part of the program?

The whole package – having industry experts as guest speakers, hearing their stories, and getting first hand opinion’s on the major issues facing the real estate industry.  Furthermore, the overall connection to the real estate community as a whole is superb and will set me up for success in any endeavor I choose. I have had an excellent experience in the program and would recommend it to others in the real estate industry.  The UST and MSRE program’s reputation in the industry is top of the line.

Do you have some advice for perspective students?

If you have a passion for real estate, this will be a great opportunity.  As with any graduate degree program, the workload gets heavy at times.  But, if you have taken the time to prepare for the program, taken the GMAT, etc. you will find a way to manage the out of classroom work. This program is great for people who love real estate.

What are your career goals?

Right now, I am working on a couple of ideas that I have been formulating for a long time. I wanted to wait until I graduate before I really focused on one plan, as I needed to really see what was involved in each part of the industry, and where my passions really were. I think for the long-term, I would like to go into business for myself. . For the time being, I will continue to pursue high level positions in the public sector dealing with real estate or real estate related issues. After I get settled in, I would like to begin my own business, doing both at the same time, public sector and private. My private business will consist of a full service real estate company focusing solely on  niche markets that  have not been tapped. With good marketing and perseverance there is a lot of upside to  some areas that  remain untouched.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

At Hamline, my football coach told me to be successful you need to surround yourself with the right people. That means making the right connections, having the right network, as well as putting good people near you. At UST you get that, professors who are helping you and working so you succeed. My new network is due in large part to UST.  This alone has made my decision to enter the MSRE program a great one and makes me very excited as I look forward to my future career.

Real Estate Matters would like to thank Lane Thor for taking the time to share his insight and experience in the MSRE program. We would also like to congratulate him on his graduation and look forward to keeping track of his promising career. To find out more information about the UST MSRE program, please visit our website.

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MSRE Student Profile: Andrew Webb

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

bioandrew “After looking around and checking into other MSRE programs in the Midwest, I realized that the UST program stood out as the premier option. It was my #1 choice, and quite frankly, the only school I applied too.”

Andrew Webb is one of those rare southerners who moved to the subarctic climate commonly known as Minneapolis, spent a winter here, and actually stayed… However, the St. Thomas community is thrilled that he did, and that he currently shares his expertise and experience with his peers in the MSRE program. Having a student like Andrew, who has already made partner at his firm, Goldridge Capital Partners, gives a wonderful endorsement to the importance and quality of an MSRE degree from UST. Speaking with Andrew was a great opportunity and I found it very encouraging that a professional of his caliber saw the same value that I did when I enrolled at the Opus College of Business.

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