Columbus REALTORS® held its 11th annual COCIE Awards Reception on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Via Vecchia Winery. Nearly 200 commercial movers and shakers, supporters and leadership were on hand to applaud the outstanding accomplishments of our 2020 honorees. Corey Taber, 2020 Chair of the Commercial Recognition Committee, took to the podium to begin presentation of awards to the following honorees:
Erika Blumenstein Award – Greg J. Hrabcak. The Erika Blumenstein Memorial Award is given to members of our profession based not only on their business experience, but their conduct and involvement in the industry and community.
For his professionalism and outstanding commitment to the commercial real estate industry and to the central Ohio community, we are honored to present Greg J. Hrabcak, CCIM, HER Commercial Real Estate Services with the 2020 Erika Blumenstein Memorial Award.
Greg began his career in commercial real estate as a principal with Group One Realty in 1984 and has been involved in the sale and leasing of commercial, industrial, investment, retail, and office real estate, as well as business brokerage sales throughout central Ohio. Companies he has represented in these capacities include the Kroger Company, Inland Real Estate Growth Fund, Textron Financial Services, United Parcel Services and Five Guys Burgers and Fries to name a few.
In 2008, Greg served as the 100th President of the Columbus Realtors® and as President of the Ohio Realtors® in 2015. He is also a past President of the Columbus, Commercial, Industrial and Investment Realtors® (CCIIR), the Ohio Business Brokers Association, and the Columbus Real Estate Exchangers.
He currently serves on the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Finance, Commercial, and Public Policy committees, as its Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman Troy Balderson, Ohio’s District 12, and served as NAR’s Regional Vice President for Ohio and Michigan in 2020.
He has taught real estate classes for the NAR, Ohio Realtors®, Columbus Realtors® and Columbus State Community College.
Greg is the recipient of numerous awards including Columbus Realtors® Salesperson of the Year in 2012, and its "Largest Multi-family Transaction Award in 2012. This year, he is one of the recipients of Columbus REALTORS® 2020 Largest Retail Lease Award.
He has also received the Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchange Award, NAR’s National Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Commercial Real Estate Industry and is a member of the NAR’s Political Action Committee Hall of Fame, inducted in 2016.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.
Commercial Instructor of the Year Award – James “Jim” Maniace (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister). The Commercial Instructor of the Year Award was initiated to honor an instructor for their excellence in education and service to the real estate industry.
Jim Maniace is being honored as Columbus REALTORS® 2020 Commercial Instructor of the Year for his excellence in education and service to the real estate industry. He also earned this award in 2013, the first year it was offered.
Jim is Senior Council with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister where he provides advice on all aspects of business and corporate law in the real estate, land use, FWO oil and gas areas. He frequently serves as outside general counsel to companies of all sizes, including closely held and family-owned companies.
Jim handles a variety of complex business and real estate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, debt restructuring, refinancing, sales and exchanges of real property and leasing.
His ability to find solutions to land use issues has been enhanced by his twenty-one years of service as the Chairman of the City of Columbus’ Board of Zoning Adjustment. He frequently engages municipalities, townships and counties on behalf of developers.
Jim is a lecturer in Real Estate Law at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and has taught for Columbus REALTORS® several commercial classes, including the Commercial Core Law, Negotiable Lease Terms: Landlords/Tenants, and Civil Rights.
He also has served for many years as a member of Columbus REALTORS® Commercial Standard Forms Committee.
Jim is the recipient of numerous awards including the Medical Mutual AXA Advisors Non-profit Board Executive of the Year Award in 2016, Best Lawyers in the Land honoree (2016 – present) and is a past president of The Columbus Metropolitan Club and Columbus Rotary.
Jim graduated cum laude with a BA degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Duke University School of Law.
Rookie of the Year Award – Michelle Fude (Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region). The Commercial Rookie of the Year award was created to recognize a commercial agent who has worked in the field of Commercial/Investment real estate for less than 36 months – but made a significant impact in that short time.
Michelle Fude is this year’s COCIE Rookie of the Year honoree and a wonderful example of someone who has taken charge of her career, accelerated her own success, and in her short tenure, exceeded every expectation in her transition from marketing specialist to Brokerage Associate.
Michelle began her career at Colliers International in marketing, supporting the Office Services Team, then working as the dedicated support person for Dan Dunsmoor and ultimately stepping into the Brokerage Associate role where she immediately began making significant contributions.
Michelle specializes in office leasing and creating value for both institutional and private investor owners of Class A and B office properties.
As a tireless advocate for the team’s portfolio of landlords, Michelle manages client relationships, communicating effectively and efficiently at every step in the deal process.
Michelle is responsible for a portfolio of over five million square feet of Class A & B office space throughout the city of Columbus, ensuring that each building has a proactive marketing plan, updated competitive information and a new business strategy focused on securing new Tenants for execution. This targeted approach has led to more than a million square feet of space leased in just the past 36 months.
Prior to joining Colliers, Michelle worked in the financial services industry. She held various positions using top notch customer service and problem-solving skills. Her main objective was to find positive solutions for customers that focused on balancing company profit with customer satisfaction. Michelle has brought that same drive and passion to Colliers.
Even with her responsibilities as a broker and working mother with young children, Michelle still finds time to give back to the community and has participated in numerous events through Collier’s Building Up Communities program, including activities at the Flying Horse Farm, Lifecare Alliance and the YWCA.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Studies from Ohio University and is a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and Lambda Pi Eta honors fraternity.
Michelle also holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and the Commercial Property Marketing Certification (CPMC) designation
Colliers believes Michelle is one of the brightest rising stars in the brokerage community and will become one of the most respected in central Ohio. Her drive, work ethnic and commitment to her client’s success made her the ideal choice for this year’s “Rookie of the Year’ award.
2020 Most Co-op Transactions – Andrew Jameson, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region, was presented with this award for closing 61 co-op deals with 21 different companies last year.
2020 Largest Transaction Industrial (lease) – Joel Yakovac, Shane Woloshan, Jonathan Schuen, Michael Linder and Glenn Garland, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region, picked up this award for representing the tenant that leased 566,981 square foot of industrial space located at 4400 S. Hamilton Road in Groveport Ohio.
2020 Largest Transaction Office (sale) – Daniel Dunsmoor, SIOR, and Andrew Jameson, CCIM, SIOR, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region, earned this award for the sale located at 65 E. State Street. This sale closed on Oct. 23, 2020.
2020 Largest transaction Office (lease) – Daniel Dunsmoor, SIOR, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region, Wayne B. Harer, Newmark Knight Frank, and Andrew Jameson, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region, were presented this award for negotiating a 15-year deal to lease 22,632 square foot of office space at 65 E. State Street in downtown Columbus. This transaction closed on Sept. 30, 2020
2020 Largest Transaction Retail (lease) – Greg Hrabcak, CCIM, and Cole Griesinger, HER, Realtors® Commercial Real Estate Services, were presented this award for brokering a deal to lease retail space at 3968 Merchants Row in the Easton Town Center.
Most Unique Transaction – Tony Yacob (CCIM, Ohio Commercial Real Estate LTD.) Unlike the previous awards, our Most Unique transaction comes with more of an explanation because it was – well – unique!
This transaction involved the sale of a building located at 175 E. Main Street in New Albany, Ohio that housed Noah’s Event Venue. It was owned by a group of 13 investors who purchased the property in 2016 for five million dollars under a Tenant in Common (TIC) type ownership, which required that any decision about the property would have to be agreed to by all.
After a 2-hour conference call, the property was listed for 3.25 million dollars on Feb. 1, 2020.
Interest in this building was high and there were multiple showings. Two LOIs came in at or about the total asking price, but one would tie up the property and the other shied away because of comments made by the seller’s attorney.
When Noah’s Event Venue filed for bankruptcy, Tony learned the rent had not been paid in months and the building’s expense was mounting.
Then the Pandemic hit, and the property sat vacant while expenses and taxes continued to mount.
A price reduction to $2.9 million re-ignited interest, but local brokers were still hesitant, unsure how long the Pandemic would last.
A local church asked to lease the building, but the owners said no.
Tony then explained the Bargain sale process in which the Sellers would qualify for a tax-deductible Bargain sale to the church which was an 501© (3) charitable organization.
After multiple counteroffers and communication with each of the sellers, the property went into contract pending inspections and financing.
A malfunction of the irrigation backflow system almost drowned the deal until the insurance adjusters issued a credit for the damage.
Additionally, a very generous contribution allowed the church to pay cash for the building.
After 48 showings, multiple LOIs and contracts that never got to closing, Mark Condon, Pastor of Infinite Church, and the building owners successfully closed the sale for 2.1 million dollars in November 2020.
2020 Top Producers - Shane Woloshan, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region; Joel Yakavoc, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region; George Skaff, III, Newmark Knight Frank; Andrew Jameson, CCIM, SIOR, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region; and Michael Lindner, Colliers International | Greater Columbus Region.
Top Producer – Generalist - Randy Best, Best Corporate Real Estate, Scott Hrabcak, HER, Realtors® Commercial Real Estate Services, James Mangas, Best Corporate Real Estate
Top Producer – Industrial - Jonathan Schuen, Colliers International
Top Producer – Office - Daniel Dunsmoor, Colliers International, Brett Cisler, Colliers International, Wayne B. Harer, Newmark Knight Frank
This event was organized by the Columbus REALTORS® Commercial Recognition Committee and was made possible by the generous support of our silver, bronze and commercial-affiliate level sponsors:
Silver Sponsors | CCIIR, Colliers International, HER Commercial, NAI Ohio Equities
Bronze Sponsors | Best Corporate Real Estate, CJE Restoration, Duro-Last Roofing, IPX 1031, Park National Bank
Affiliate Sponsors | CleanTurn, Plumbing & Drain Pro, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister
A special note of thanks goes to Columbus Business First and to Brent Ardit and Rea & Associates for providing its services in determining the 2020 Top Producers.
