Mark Scott has been a commercial realtor with Cushman and Wakefield of Florida, Inc. for just over two years.
WHERE WAS HE BEFORE?
He started with CB Richard Ellis in 1989 before joining Cushman and Wakefield in 1999.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
He worked as a general manager in a family business, American Fitness Centers, for four years. “I was in charge of operating our five health clubs in Jacksonville and Savannah.”
WHY GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“Through our business with the health clubs, I got to know a couple people in the business. So when I left the American Fitness Center, I was encouraged by some of them to look into commercial real estate. Through one of the individuals, I met with CB Richard Ellis and actually got hired there.”
SPECIALITY
Industrial real estate. “That in this city can encompass more than just industrial. You wind up doing flexible type deals, which is where there is a heavy percentage of office space to warehouse space. And in some cases you wind up doing office space deals in an industrial space. There are a lot of properties on the Southside that have converted over from their intended use to office space.”
DOWNTOWN HOUSING?
“I like the development of downtown housing a lot. In fact, it’s a place I could live personally. The potential for an entertainment and restaurant district is intriguing to me. Most major cities have an active vibrant downtown and I think we need to do that here. There is a little bit of stigma toward it by people that I think will eventually be overcome. The resurgence of San Marco falls into that as well. A lot of the things going on over there should influence drawing people towards the downtown area and influence continued development downtown.”
BIRTHPLACE
Long Beach, Calif., but he was raised in Atlanta.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1994 to work for American Fitness Center.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgia State University.
MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Keeping the pipeline full so you have a steady flow of income throughout the year.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE
“The freedom. It gives you the freedom to develop your business, to do things you want to do outside of the business and to pick and choose who you want to do business with.”
ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO A NEW AGENT
“Take the time to learn the fundamentals. Don’t be in too big a hurry for the big payday. Find someone that they can learn from who will genuinely teach them and be prepared not to make much money for a few years.”
RESIDES
Fruit Cove.
HOBBIES
“I am a self-avowed baseball nut.” He also enjoys traveling, reading and any “outdoors activities.”
FAVORITES
The last book he read was “Six Easy Pieces” by Richard Feynman. When dining out it’s Bistro Aix and when traveling he likes to visit Seattle. His favorite movie is “The Godfather.” “You can answer a lot of questions about life with the Godfather.” When relaxing at home he likes to tune into “NYPD Blue.”
FAMILY
He has been married to Lynn for 26 years. They have three children, Shanna, 22, Nicole, 18, and Michael, 16, and one grandchild, Blake, 1.
—by Michele Newbern Gillis