Cindy McCosh has been a vice president and commercial portfolio manager with Prosperity Bank since February.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“I manage the existing commercial portfolio of Prosperity Bank. We are expanding our commercial portfolio, so as a result I am handling existing customers with their renewals and maturing commercial loans as well as handling business development.”
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE PROSPERITY?
SouthTrust Bank in Daytona for two years and in SouthTrust’s Jacksonville office for the last three. She was the commercial portfolio manager for the small business department.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“My favorite thing right now is that I am learning a lot. Here I can do everything. That is what is great about this bank, I am not pigeon-holed into a single department. My greatest thing is that I am learning more and more about commercial real estate each day. I’m privileged to work with an individual who was with First Union’s real estate department for over 25 years. I’m working right under him and learning from him. I’m also working with another individual that has over 15 years experience in real estate lending.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO LENDING?
“I kind of fell into it. After college, I thought I was going to go into portfolio and stocks, but I got into a bank in their commercial credit department as a credit analyst. I moved up in the bank and ended up in the commercial lending area.”
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Central Florida.
WHERE DOES SHE DO DEALS?
All over Jacksonville. “We are looking at financing a deal right now on Adams Street. We also have a deal on the Westside and are expanding into Orange Park.”
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENTS
She is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville and National Association of Office and Industrial Properties.
WHY JOIN CREW?
“At SouthTrust, I really was behind the scenes and I didn’t know a whole lot of people in the area. It was just a brand new organization and I felt that we were all on the ground floor and all starting out together. What a great opportunity.”
WHAT IS THE NEED FOR A COMMERCIAL WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION?
“We’ve all felt that we are on a equal level. You can go out and join these other organizations, but I’ve always felt that I had to struggle to get the business because I had to prove that I am capable. There are men that are in our group and I think that is wonderful. I just think it is a good organization for this area to say, ‘Look how many women are in commercial real estate in Jacksonville.’ As we work together more and get leads together, our organization will grow and we will feed off each other.”
HOW IS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN JACKSONVILLE?
“There is a lot going on. The competition is out there, too, but the opportunities are there. It’s just a matter of getting out there prospecting, calling and knocking on doors.”
MOVING SOON?
“The commercial division of Prosperity Bank is moving to Southpoint in September. We have commercial lenders in Mandarin and at the beach. We want to get our commercial division all in one place so we can be more efficient.”
BIRTHPLACE
West Virginia, but she was raised in Melbourne, Fla.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
Three years ago with SouthTrust.
RESIDES
Southside.
HOBBIES
Reading, biking and basically anything outdoors.
FAVORITES
Her favorite movie is “Sleepless in Seattle.” You’ll find all of John Grisham’s books on her shelf. The latest adventure has ended, but when “Survivor” is on, McCosh tunes into every episode. When dining out, her choice is Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Her favorite getaway is Phoenix or anywhere out West.
—by Michele Newbern Gillis