SF Commercial Property Conversations

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean chats with Steven Bloom, founder of Rent TV, a web-based media platform for commercial real estate professionals. From his early days working on developments in New York City to launching a video-first CRE media company in Southern California, Steven shares his incredible journey of entrepreneurship, innovation, and grit. You’ll hear how Steven went from brokering deals to hosting events across the western U.S., launching a podcast, and building The Review — a curated, searchable video platform for real estate content. He dives into the challenges and opportunities in today’s real estate markets including retail’s resurgence, office space turmoil, and California’s evolving commercial landscape.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

J. Hickingbotham joins Bruce Bean to share his unique journey from growing up in Menlo Park to selling real estate in Lake Tahoe, and ultimately managing a 400-unit portfolio with properties across Oakland, Reno, and beyond. With deep roots in the industry and hands-on experience in both brokerage and property management, Jay offers real insights into how to build wealth through real estate — especially when commissions stop flowing. He discusses the evolution of the rental market in Oakland, the power of partnerships in multifamily investing, and what it means to “stay hands-on” as a property manager. From choosing the right neighborhoods to navigating regulatory challenges like seismic retrofits, Jay brings both wisdom and work ethic to the table. Whether you're a seasoned investor or thinking about getting into multifamily real estate, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Ryan Sudeck, whose journey spans from Stanford rower to Wall Street dealmaker, to real estate innovator leading one of the most exciting strategies in the market: converting underused hotels into affordable workforce housing. Ryan shares how his passion for real estate started with buying small multifamily properties on weekends while juggling a demanding corporate career. That passion snowballed into the launch of Sage Investment Group, which now spearheads adaptive reuse projects across the U.S., helping meet the urgent need for affordable housing while generating strong investment returns.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this engaging episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Jason Piazza—co-founder of WeCann and longtime commercial real estate agent based in Orange County—to explore the intersection of cannabis and commercial property. Jason shares how his upbringing shaped his views on cannabis, what led him to pivot from generalist real estate work into the cannabis sector, and how the market has evolved dramatically since California went recreational in 2016. Jason offers a candid look into the current state of the cannabis real estate market in California—discussing oversaturation, licensing complexities, and the surge in mergers and acquisitions. He breaks down the different cannabis license types and sheds light on regulatory challenges, banking limitations, and the future of federal cannabis reform.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Anthony Shell, a seasoned commercial real estate broker who has carved a unique path in the Bay Area market. Anthony opens up about how his older brother inspired his career, his early days at Cushman & Wakefield, and his transition to leadership roles at Avison Young and now Colliers.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce sits down with David Berneman, the founder and CEO of Golden Bee Properties, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment and management firm. David shares his journey from urban planning and environmental science to managing over 1,500 multifamily units. You’ll hear how a childhood spent tagging along with his parents on maintenance runs sparked a lifelong interest in real estate. David walks us through his professional evolution—from analyzing sites for Westfield Group to launching his own vertically integrated real estate company.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce Bean talks with Patrick Butler, a civil engineer with Kimley-Horn, about his journey from aviation projects to becoming a key player in the data center development boom. Patrick shares how he helps clients vet sites, navigate zoning hurdles, assess infrastructure, and even plan for unique utilities like water and power usage. He also reveals which Bay Area cities are open to data center expansion and which ones aren’t—and why. From land requirements to the impact of AI and cooling systems, Patrick breaks down the surprisingly complex world of these high-demand facilities.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this candid and compelling episode, Bruce Bean sits down with commercial real estate broker Dante Giacomini, who shares his unique journey from UC Santa Cruz political studies to becoming a high-performing agent in the Bay Area's competitive CRE landscape. Dante’s story begins with hands-on construction jobs and unpaid internships and quickly evolves into seven-figure deals and deep market insight. He opens up about his early mentors, including his godfather Matt Brown of Meridian Commercial, and the foundational lessons that shaped his work ethic and strategy. From cold calls to multimillion-dollar transactions, Dante explains what it takes to thrive in today's market—particularly in Oakland, Marin, and throughout the Bay Area. He doesn’t shy away from offering a grounded take on market trends, the impact of local politics, and why he still believes now is a great time to buy.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we dive deep into the world of retail real estate with Heath Binder of LBX Investments. From a post-9/11 pivot in New York to a strategic career in investor relations, Heath shares how his early experiences in brokerage, research, and crowdfunding shaped his unique skillset in real estate investing. He walks us through LBX’s transparent approach to investor communication, their strong presence in open-air shopping centers, and what sets them apart from other investment groups. Heath also talks about the value of contrarian investing, understanding market dynamics, and how LBX finds overlooked opportunities others miss — like hidden gems in Chicago or misunderstood assets with big upside. If you're curious about syndications, real estate deal sourcing, or how investor reporting should be done, this conversation is packed with practical insight.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

What does the future of commercial workspaces look like? In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we dive into that very question with Jacob Bates, a global real estate veteran turned co-working innovator. From Salt Lake City to San Diego, Jacob’s journey includes major stints with Nike and JLL before launching Rubix, a white-label co-working and flex office operator that’s redefining how owners and occupiers approach space. Jacob shares insights on: Why co-working is outpacing traditional office space How hybrid work is reshaping office needs What makes Rubix different from WeWork and other big brands ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest