Amy Sterling is an assistant vice president in the commercial real estate department of Compass Bank and involved in organizing a chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) of Jacksonville.
HOW LONG WITH COMPASS BANK?
Three years and a half years.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“I assist the relationship managers [loan officers] in the underwriting process for commercial real estate loans.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO LENDING?
She worked in retail banking as a branch manager in Jacksonville Beach with Compass Bank. “I knew I wanted to stay in banking and there were two avenues that I wanted to go and they were either finance as an investment officer or corporate lending.” In her experience as a branch manager, she got a taste of investments and lending and found she liked lending a lot more. “So that’s an area that I pursued and when an opening came open in this [commercial] department I posted for it.” She’s been in that department two years.
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of North Florida. She completed her master’s degree in business administration from UNF six months ago.
BEFORE COMPASS?
She worked for a local retailer, Body Shop of America, in its inventory control department and then for Barnett Bank until she was recruited to Compass Bank.
WHY GET INVOLVED IN CREW?
“I think there are a lot of social aspects to it. The women who have attended so far have seemed to be powerful and well-educated in the area of commercial real estate. Our meetings have been very focused on the different areas of commercial real estate.”
WHAT IS CREW NETWORK?
CREW Network is a national network which represents 5,000 professionals in every aspect of the commercial real estate industry, including law, leasing, brokerage, property management, finance, acquisition and engineering. “The group has all the contacts that I would like to be talking to to further my career. It’s really just a way to network more.”
WHAT WAS THE NEED FOR THIS GROUP?
During the 1980’s, several independent organizations were formed in various cities in which women involved in the many aspects of commercial real estate joined together to exchange information, develop business contacts and to help each other succeed professionally. The national CREW Network was formed in 1989.
HOW DID CREW JACKSONVILLE GET STARTED?
“The way it started was I received an e-mail and I’m not sure where it originated, but they probably got my name off of the National Association of Office & Industrial Properties database. They held a gathering at the University Club and invited a bunch of women and men and told us about CREW and what it would take to start a chapter here in Jacksonville. Several of us got together after that event and decided to become the CREW core group. There are about 10 or 12 people in the core group right now. Everyone is on a committee and working towards the same goal — to become a chapter.”
YOU SEEM TO BE THE LEADER OF THE GROUP, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
“At our first meeting, I put together an agenda because I didn’t want to be there for three hours and get nothing accomplished. So I printed out some information and handed stuff out. It wasn’t intentional, I was just trying to get everyone on the same track. At the second or third meeting we decided we really needed to elect a leader and I was chosen. We needed somebody to organize everyone and make sure what needs to get done, gets done.”
IS IT ONLY FOR WOMEN?
“No, it’s not just for women. It’s called commercial real estate woman, but men are welcome to get involved.”
WHY HAVE A GROUP FOR WOMEN?
“Traditionally is has been more men in commercial real estate than women. Women are moving up and breaking through that glass ceiling and they are moving into more corporate positions and more management positions and I think we all will just help each other get to where we need to be.”
BIRTHPLACE
Philadelphia.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1987.
RESIDES
Neptune Beach.
HOBBIES
She belongs to a book club where they read a book and get together to discuss it. Two books she recommends are “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant and “Girl with the Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier. She also enjoys riding horses and is an avid animal lover.
FAMILY
She has been married to Brad for almost 13 years.
FAVORITES
Her favorite movies are “Braveheart” and “The Philadelphia Story.” She enjoys reading the Harry Potter series. When dining out, it’s West End Grill. Colorado tops her list of vacation destinations. At home on the couch she’s watching her favorite television show, “The West Wing.”
—by Michele Newbern Gillis