Our next board member spotlight is Marnie Noel from Noel Real Estate Advisors.
Name: Marnie Noel
Title: President & CEO
Email: mnoel@noelrea.com
Marnie Noel is the President of Noel Real Estate Advisors a Milwaukee-centric commercial brokerage & advisory firm. In December 2010, Ms. Noël moved to Milwaukee to become a real estate broker for Compass Properties, overseeing the largest property in the portfolio, now known as The City Center at 735, a 300,000-square-foot office building in downtown Milwaukee. The building was 52 percent occupied when Noël arrived and launched a leasing, rebranding and marketing campaign. Successfully repositioned the property and at its peak the occupancy rate was 92 percent. Noël then became vice president at JLL, focusing her efforts on leasing the newly renovated Two-Fifty office tower. She was able to secure several leases, including Associated Bank’s new downtown branch. Ms. Noel’s track record of success while representing landlords in the Milwaukee market nudged her in the direction of entrepreneurship.
See how she answered some of our questions:
Q: What do you enjoy the most about commercial real estate?
A: I enjoy having the foresight and ability to take action to reposition an underperforming asset, big or small. The changes we make as practitioners have a financial benefit to the building owner but what I find rewarding is elevating the surrounding properties and neighborhoods as well.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have received?
A: Integrity is everything.
Q: ”What is your favorite quote?
A: Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others. – Marianne Williamson
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Minocqua, WI
Q: What made you choose commercial real estate?
A: Commercial real estate really chose me. I moved to Milwaukee on a temporary basis with a mission to increase occupancy at the CityCenter at 735. I pretty quickly fell in love with Milwaukee and CRE as a whole. That was 12 years ago but my initial role provided excellent exposure to all aspects of the industry. At this point I can’t imagine doing anything I enjoy more. I absolutely love what I do!
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life?
A: My Mother. She has always been my greatest cheerleader and instilled my core values which I hold in high regard. My Mom grew up in an era where she was limited in athletics and her career purely because she’s a woman. She enjoys living vicariously through me and encourages me to push the limits when I get the chance…because I can.
Q: Fill in the blank. If you knew me very well, you’d know ___________.
A: I rappelled down a 16 story office building and lived to tell the story. I also save a bus full of people from certain death, if that counts.