Chuck Wiercinski

Welcome to what I can only call a very special episode of CRE Elite: Broker to Brokers. The state of Illinois lost Charles Wiercinski, a great CRE broker and man, a few weeks ago after a battle with cancer. What follows is my conversation with a broker Chuck mentored, Jim Conrad. Jim is now the managing broker for McLennan Commercial Properties in Park Ridge, IL, a Chicago suburb.

Jim has been in the business since 2007 and was named the McLennan Companies Rookie of the Year. He’s got experience in all sectors of CRE including property management, property leasing and sales. He was the winner of the ’09 CCIM 101 Scholarship and is currently the sales and leasing broker for 25 properties totaling over 500,000 SF. 

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Here’s What You’ll Discover

• The influence Chuck had on Jim as a broker
• The value of “windshield time” with a mentor
• How working through the recession made Jim a better broker – “keep grinding”
• How Jim paid his way through college through door-to-door sales and “flyer drops”
• What “goals” mean to Jim’s business and life
• How one of Jim’s lease closings almost got ruined by a skunk. Seriously.

Mentions & Resources

• Remembering Charles “Chuck” Wiercinski
• The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey
• Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
• Flip Board – social media and news aggregator app

Advice & Quotes

• “It’s my job to be engaging my client and keep them in the deal”
• “What sets me apart is my willingness to get in my car…
• “How many phones calls do I need to be making?”
• Don’t lose the reality of the deal – “We owe it to our clients to be absolutely honest”
• “Every deal is going to have a situation where you need a broker“
• “Be open to opportunity and create trust”
• “I believe in the goodness of people“
• “Find somebody that you can learn from” – find your MENTOR

 Connect with Jim Conrad

  – Check out Jim’s full bio here

  – Call Jim’s cell at 847-727-0722