
Leaning In
Leaning In is a podcast exploring the future of mixed-use real estate. Trademark Property Company CEO Terry Montesi, and other executives, speak with experts from various backgrounds and areas to discuss mixed-use, multifamily, and brick-and-mortar retail, and what it looks like to lean into it while others are leaning out.
For more information about Trademark, visit www.trademarkproperty.com
Latest episodes

Oct 26, 2022 • 25min
DFW CRE with Venture Commercial's Mike Geisler (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Terry’s discussion with Venture Commercial’s Mike Geisler, hear how mixed-use and real estate is evolving, trends in the DFW market and advice for professionals just starting out. Plus, Mike talks about Venturetainment - Venture Commercial’s answer to consumer’s pent-up demand for F&B and entertainment after pandemic shutdowns.
Missed part 1 of the discussion? Click Here
Links:
Venture Commercial
Mike on LinkedIn
Mike's 2021 Stemmons Service Award Finalist Interview
Topics:
(0:39) - What trends are you seeing in Retail?
(2:15) - Why are digital brands so desperate to get into Brick and Mortar?
(2:55) - What are your thoughts on the future of DFW for F&B and entertainment?
(3:57) - What trends are you seeing in entertainment?
(5:54) - What are your thoughts on things that work and don’t work in Mixed-use?
(8:51) - Mike’s dedication to community service
(12:22) - What advice do you have for the next generation of Real Estate investors?
Mike asks Terry:
(15:00) - What drives you today?
(18:46) - Is there anything that is your biggest worry from your standpoint of business?
(22:42) - What is one of the most significant business challenges you’ve had to face?

Oct 12, 2022 • 13min
DFW CRE with Venture Commercial's Mike Geisler (Part 1)
Mike Geisler started Venture Commercial Real Estate “to be totally service oriented towards our clients.” With a pay it forward mentality and non-competitive office environment he’s built a trusted brokerage firm that has worked on prominent projects including Dallas’ Plaza at Preston Center and Deep Ellum.
In this episode of the podcast, get the scoop on Mike’s start in the CRE industry, who helped shape his career, and how he’s helped reinvent the DFW retail sector.
Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast app to hear part 2 of the discussion with Mike.
Visit us online at www.TrademarkProperty.com
Links:
Venture Commercial
Mike on LinkedIn
Topics:
(0:46) - Mike’s background and journey to founding Venture
(1:58) - Did you have any role models or mentors along the journey of your career?
(2:52) - Can you share more about the vision for Venture in creating a customer-centric, values-driven firm?
(3:45) - What are you most proud of with Venture?
(4:49) - What have you learned from projects like the Plaza at Preston Center, Park Place, and Berkshire Court?
(7:10) - What have you learned about the benefits of Mixed-Use developments?
(8:35) - What are you hoping to achieve with your work in the Deep Elum area of Dallas?

Sep 28, 2022 • 24min
State of The Industry with Dr. Peter Linneman (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our discussion, dive further into the current economic cycle with Dr. Peter Linneman, real estate economist and principal of Linneman Associates. Peter and Terry explore the future of shopping centers, how midterm election results could impact inflation and legislation, and what types of businesses are sure to weather challenges head-on.
Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast app to the next episode with Venture Commercial's Mike Geisler.
Links:
Linneman Associates, LLC
Real Estate Finance & Investments: Risk & Opportunities
The Great Age Reboot by Dr. Peter Linneman
Topics:
(0:34) - Peter’s thoughts on the Retail RE market
(5:27) - Do you have anything to add on the future of shopping malls?
(10:43) - How would you advise companies entering into the Multifamily asset class?
(16:11) - Do you have any thoughts on how the outcomes of the November midterms would affect the economy?
(18:38) - Do you have any comments on the Inflation Reduction Act?
(20:46) - Final thoughts

Sep 14, 2022 • 35min
State of The Industry with Dr. Peter Linneman (Part 1)
Dr. Peter Linneman, real estate economist and principal of Linneman Associates, returns for his bi-annual discussion with Terry on the current economic cycle and what makes it unique from others. Hear his prediction on if we’re approaching a recession, and key risks and opportunities in commercial and multifamily real estate regarding supply chain issues, inflation and interest rates.Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast app to hear part 2 of the discussion with Peter.
Links:
Linneman Associates, LLC
Real Estate Finance & Investments: Risk & Opportunities
Topics:
(0:44) - What do you think is different about this economic cycle compared to previous ones?
(5:16) - How likely is it that we enter a recession and how do you think the major Texas markets will be impacted?
(8:55) - Would you predict a mild or steep recession?
(10:38) - What do you see happening in Commercial Real Estate over the next 18 months?
(16:48) - Where do you see key risks & opportunities in Commercial Real Estate right now?
(21:59) - What are your thoughts on inflation and the supply chain issues we face?
(28:00) - When oil prices go down, how long does that take to impact items in the system?
(29:05) - What is your forecast for Multifamily over the next 1-3 years?

Aug 24, 2022 • 20min
The Genesis of M2G Ventures with Co-Founder Susan Gruppi (Part 2)
In the second part of our conversation, M2G Ventures Co-President Susan Gruppi discusses how her commercial real estate company leans into public art. She also talks about her mental health advocacy with UT Southwestern and advice to future women entrepreneurs. Stay tuned until the end when Susan turns the tables on Terry to ask about his career highlights and influencers.
Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast app to hear the next episode on the State of the Economy with Dr. Peter Linneman.
Links:
Susan on LinkedIn
M2G Ventures
Topics:
(0:48) - Where did you develop your vision for growing your business?
(1:50) - What was the origin of using public art to draw attention to your projects?
(4:24) - How do you think about failure?
(5:49) - What can you tell us about M2G’s work in mental health?
(9:43) - What message would you share with women interested in advocacy work or in real estate?
(11:00) - Where do you see the company in the next decade?
Questions for Terry
(12:23) - Do you have any mentors?
(14:31) - What is the proudest accomplishment thus far in your career?
(16:22) - What’s been the biggest challenge in your career?
(17:10) - Were you an intention advocate for women and young people or does that come naturally?

Aug 10, 2022 • 21min
The Genesis of M2G Ventures with Co-Founder Susan Gruppi
How a real estate enthusiast went from founding a college real estate club to co-founding one of DFW's hottest real estate companies, M2G Ventures. Susan Gruppi sits down with Terry Montesi and Trademark's Senior VP of Property Management, Maranda Auzenne to talk lessons learned as a founder, her growth at Trademark, and leading as a woman in the real estate industry. The three also discuss their fondness of adaptive re-use/mixed-use and industrial projects.
Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast app to hear part 2 of Susan's discussion.
Links:
Susan on LinkedIn
M2G Ventures
Topics:
(0:53) - Susan’s background and career
(4:50) - What is M2G today?
(6:43) - What are some of the valuable things you learned at Trademark?
(8:08) - How do you pick which sectors to focus on?
(11:33) - What are some key challenges you’ve faced in building your business?
(17:54) - How is it being a woman in Real Estate?
(19:39) - Did you intentionally build M2G to be an advocate for women?

Jul 27, 2022 • 22min
Personalizing CRE: A Conversation with Mike Ablon of PegasusAblon (Part 2)
Listen to the second part of our conversation with Mike Ablon, Founding Partner of PegasusAblon, as he and Terry discuss the future of mixed-use and multifamily. Mike shares how the challenges of inflation and e-commerce can be met on the national level and how well Dallas will fare. The two also share their separate perspectives on how a prime mixed-use development is built… to stack or not to stack uses.
Missed part 1 of the discussion? Listen HERE
Links:
Pegasus Ablon
Dallas Design District
Walkable City by Jeff Speck
Walkable City Rules by Jeff Speck
Topics:
(0:34) - How do you think the Real Estate industry needs to respond to the economic challenges we are seeing today?
(6:04) - What lessons from the past should we keep in mind at this moment in time from a RE ownership, operation, and investment perspective?
(9:32) - How do you think Dallas will behave in a recession and why?
(12:15) - What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the city of Dallas?
(16:21) - For Terry: Where do you disagree with any of the answers given in this episode?

Jul 13, 2022 • 24min
Personalizing CRE: A Conversation with Mike Ablon of PegasusAblon (Part 1)
Mike Ablon, founding partner of PegasusAblon, joins Terry to share his insights into developing notable projects like the Dallas Design District using personalization and profiling. Plus, they discuss trends in mixed-use and multifamily real estate and if rental demand will slow down.
Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Subscribe on your preferred podcast app to hear part 2 of Mike and Terry's discussion.
Topics:
(0:41) - Mike’s background and career
(2:33) - What have been some memorable projects you’ve worked on? We’re there any lessons learned or things you’d do differently?
(6:51) - Whare are some trends you see influencing the future of retail, mixed-use, and commercial Real Estate?
(12:43) - What trends do you see affecting the future of multifamily?
(17:12) - Do you see the amenities and services offered changing in multifamily over the next decade?
Links:
PegasusAblon
Dallas Design District

Jun 22, 2022 • 13min
From Clicks to Bricks with Catch Co.'s Teeg Stouffer (Part 2)
Laura and David are back with Teeg, Catch Co.’s Director of Retail Experience, to continue their talk about experiential retail. Teeg drops insights into how they’re innovating traditional retail with untraditional shopper experiences, like truly hands-on shopping and appearances from their funny mascot Karl VonDibble.
Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. You can find the first half of the discussion on your favorite podcast app.
Subscribe to hear future episodes as the Trademark team speaks with experts in the real estate industry.
Links
Karl’s Bait and Tackle
On The Road With the BassMobile
Karl VonDibble
Timestamps
(0:39) - What do you see for the future of in-store customer experience?
(3:36) - Are there any retail experiences you’re seeing other retailers do that you want to replicate?
(6:16) - What are some of your favorite sketches with your mascot, Karl? How do you see that evolving with the brand over time?
(8:07) - What is the plan for the future growth of your brick and mortar stores?
(9:46) - The Bass-mobile
(11:57) - Wrap up

Jun 8, 2022 • 19min
From Clicks to Bricks with Catch Co.'s Teeg Stouffer
Anglers have been hooked on fishing and outdoor brand Catch Co. since starting their Mystery Tackle Box subscription program, and rescuing people from the indoors. The latest way Catch Co. is reeling in stronger customer relationships? Brick and mortar stores.
Trademark’s Laura Hale, Director of Marketing and David Pratt, VP of Leasing, talk with Catch Co’s Teeg Stouffer, Director of Retail Experience, about the journey from online to in-store and how to evolve the customer experience along the way. Warning: this episode includes a few fishing jokes.
Leaning In is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to hear future episodes as the Trademark team speaks with experts in the real estate industry.
Links:
Karl’s Bait and Tackle
Catch Co.
Karl's on YouTube
Topics:
(0:43) - Teeg’s background and role with Karl’s
(2:12) - How did the Karl’s brand originate?
(3:26) How did you decide to move to physical retail? Why Fort Worth?
(7:25) - What kinds of activations are you implementing to make the retail launch impactful?
(9:06) - Why do you think experience is important in today’s retail environment?
(11:46) - What kinds of touch points will people see translated from the online store to the in-person experience?
(14:53) - Karl’s focus on content
(16:01) - Are there any particular retailers your brand would be best to pair with?