Jodie McClelland has been a leasing representative for Liberty Property Trust cumulatively for 4 1/2 years.
HER HISTORY
She was the marketing assistant at Liberty Property Trust in 1997. She left for a while to return to Seattle for a year and came back to Jacksonville to work at Rink Reynolds Diamond and Fisher for three years. She was asked to come back to Liberty Property Trust as a leasing associate.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“We have 3.2 million square feet in Jacksonville. About two million square feet of that space is industrial space. They hired me to lease all the industrial property, so I am the warehouse girl.”
WHY GO INTO LEASING INDUSTRIAL SPACE?
“It’s a great opportunity. There aren’t many women in it and the opportunity just fell in my lap. It’s a stressful position, because our shareholders want occupancy. I picked the position because it’s a great opportunity, especially as a female to broaden my horizons meet a lot of new people.”
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
“I’ve always been told that I should go into sales. There is this stigma attached to sales positions, so I never pursued it. I really enjoy it. Liberty sets you up to succeed. We have great support. It’s a huge team effort so it all goes together. It helps when you have a product you believe in.”
WHERE ARE YOUR PROPERTIES LOCATED?
Primarily in Southpoint, but a few are downtown and on the Northside.
COLLEGE
She has a degree in Japanese regional studies from University of Washington. “I know it makes no sense here, but there you have a huge Asian population. When I went to University of Seattle, it had a 48 percent Asian student population.” After college, she went to a design school and then went to work as an interior designer for an architectural firm that specialized in Japanese clients. “So, I was doing my models in Japan.”
WHY’D SHE STOP DESIGNING?
“I just didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t enjoy the design process. I’d much rather organize and administrate as opposed to actual designing.”
CLIENTS?
She has a wide range of clients ranging from local start-up companies to international companies.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP?
“It’s been fantastic because a lot of my job involves interpreting what the client needs. They are looking at a space and I can help them conceptualize what can be done with the space. I’m very familiar with the whole design, through construction and delivery process.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“It would definitely be the outside brokers who are hysterically funny. I get to come to work and work with my friends. It’s mutually beneficial.”
BEING A WOMEN IN A MAN’S WORLD?
“They always seem surprised when I show up to show them warehouse space. Being a female really does create interest. In general being a female hasn’t hurt me at all. If anything, it has helped.”
LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Showing warehouse space in the middle of August with no air conditioning.”
ADVICE FOR NEW COMMERCIAL REALTOR?
“Think long term. Don’t get caught in the minutia of every deal. Just have fun and don’t take yourself so seriously. Also, don’t take it personally, it’s business.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Warehouse Education Resource Council and Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville.
WHY GET INVOLVED IN CREW?
“I feel an obligation to participate in an organization that is centered around women in commercial real estate. It is a natural fit.”
HOMETOWN
Richland, Wash.
RESIDES
Ponte Vedra Beach.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
1996
CHURCH
Southpoint Community Church.
MARITAL STATUS?
She is single.
DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
Relax, go to the beach, read and eat.
FAVORITES
A movie she saw recently and would recommend is “The Passion of Christ.” “I’m a huge movie buff. My all-time favorite is ‘The Black Stallion’.” Her favorite place to visit is Washington, D.C. A book she read recently and would recommend is “The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis. When dining out, her favorite thing to eat is a Cheese Chicken dish made by her best friend, Stacey Brunell. “I love home cooking!”
- by Michele Newbern Gillis