Joseph Ayers has been a commercial real estate agent with Commercial Jacksonville, a member of the Cushman and Wakefield alliance.
A Jacksonville native, he moved back two years ago from San Diego, where he was a senior analyst for a real estate research company.
“I realized that I could do a better job than the brokers I was working for so, I had to decide if I wanted to stay in San Diego or come back to Jacksonville. I knew I wanted to come back to Jacksonville because I grew up here and love it.”
Getting a job
He met Rich Toomey, a principal at Commercial Jacksonville, through a friend of his. “I interviewed at a couple of different places, but I liked this one because it is a small firm and it has the Cushman and Wakefield name associated with it.”
His specialty
Office sales and leasing. “I grew up with a finance background and in California I was researching office properties. So, I had a background, not only in finance and office users, but also office products, so it just made a natural transition for me.”
Where he works
Commercial Jacksonville used to be in downtown Jacksonville but last August it moved to Southside. “Most of our clients are in Southside and we found ourselves driving out of downtown a lot. Plus, many of us live at the beach, so it made more sense to be in the Southside area.”
His background
Ayers’ father owned Superior Construction, a road construction company. Ayers was born in Indiana. “We moved to Jacksonville when my father’s company took on some larger projects in this area. I worked for him during the summers while I was in college.”
He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida.
What he likes
“I like the fact that any energy I put into it, I get out directly. I can channel everything I’ve got into this and I’m the one directly benefiting from it. I’m my own motivator. I have a boss, but I am really my own boss.”
And doesn’t like
“My least favorite thing is also my favorite thing and that is the uncertainty. It is kind of scary not knowing what’s next or you see your pipeline emptying out. It’s kind of scary, but also kind of exciting and it’s one of the things I like about it because I have to ramp up and get my pipeline filled up again.”
Biggest challenge
Time management. “I work long hours, but I now recognize that a lot of the business world does not work those hours. There are certain things that I can get
done before 6 p.m. that I can’t after that.”
What he’s learned
“Polite persistence will pay off. No one likes a salesman breathing down their neck, but polite persistence can be appreciated. Following up and keeping good records are also important.”
Personal
He lives in Atlantic Beach, but he is buying a house in Jacksonville Beach to share with his eight-month-old, 90-pound Great Dane. He attends St. Paul’s Catholic Church. His outside activities include running, surfing, swimming and skiing.
–by Michele Newbern Gillis