SF Commercial Property Conversations

In this episode, Bruce Bean chats with Nick Stromwall, Vice President of Innovation and Efficiency at Rise 48, about his incredible transition from ministry to multifamily real estate. Nick shares how a desire to live generously led him into duplex investing, and how a few well-timed risks and relentless learning eventually brought him to managing deals totaling over $2.4 billion in volume. Nick breaks down the concept of a "triple win" in investing—cash flow, appreciation, and tax savings—and explains how Rise 48 is scaling rapidly by integrating community, technology, and efficient systems into their investment strategy. From charging scooters in Minneapolis to becoming a leader in capital raising and innovation, Nick’s story is both relatable and inspiring. What You’ll Learn: How Nick transitioned from ministry to real estate investing The importance of community in multifamily housing How Rise 48 has scaled to 300+ employees and 60+ acquisitions Practical uses of AI in real estate operations Nick’s “Triple Win” investment philosophy How they’re creating lasting tenant relationships with creative community events   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 it take to go from college football to California vineyards and commercial real estate? In this episode, Bruce sits down with Ethan Bronson of Central Commercial Group to talk about his unique journey from Cal Poly football to becoming a specialist in vineyard and agricultural properties. Ethan shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in today’s wine industry, from shifting consumer trends and climate change to labor shortages and tariffs. He explains how vineyard management is evolving, why buyers and sellers face tough decisions, and what crops are replacing grapevines across California. You’ll also hear Ethan’s passion for wine as a Level 2 Sommelier, his family’s four generations of vineyard management, and even who he’d love to sit down with over tacos.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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

When deals go bad, few people have the perspective and calm that Stephen Sanders brings to the table. With 40 years in the real estate industry, Stephen has weathered multiple economic cycles and today leads a national distressed asset group at Stewart Title. In this episode, Bruce Bean and Stephen dive deep into how lenders, investors, and institutions are navigating the growing wave of distressed properties. From foreclosures and note sales to receiverships and bankruptcy sales, Stephen explains the strategies banks use to avoid taking properties back and how savvy investors can uncover opportunities. You’ll also hear Stephen’s take on: How the savings & loan crisis shaped his early career Why today’s distressed cycle looks different from the past The impact of interest rates and the “wall of maturities” coming due How the pandemic changed office space and construction demand Where opportunities exist for investors with patience and capital ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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

From Silicon Valley roots to Facebook and LinkedIn IPOs, then leading SPACs and crypto deals — Dan Nash shares what really happens behind the numbers. What we cover Dan’s path: Pinewood → UPenn → Intel → Riverstone Networks IPO → Berkeley Haas → BofA/Merrill real estate → tech/Internet banking Front-row seat to the 2010s IPO wave (LinkedIn, Facebook) and building Wells Fargo’s Internet investment banking practice (Carvana, marketplaces) Jump to the operator seat as CFO at Machine Zone — and why he returned to banking SPACs: how he caught the early wave, what went wrong in the boom/bust, and a playbook for doing them right Today’s market: the IPO backlog, why de‑SPACs can be more flexible than traditional IPOs, and where boutique banks win Crypto & new verticals: why certain disruptive sectors fit the SPAC product Tokenization in real estate: how fractional ownership and liquidity could open access for retail investors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 seasoned investor and developer Brian Baniqued to dive deep into his inspiring journey from buying his first fourplex in college to scaling up to 60, 80, even 100+ unit properties and development projects. Brian opens up about how he used creative financing to get started, the model he shared with clients to help them build wealth, and how he created multiple vertically integrated companies to support and expand his real estate operations. Listeners will gain insights into: How Brian bought his first fourplex at 18 with just 3% down Why he believes multifamily is a wealth-building cornerstone The power of 1031 exchanges and scaling real estate portfolios His experience raising capital and developing projects Navigating today’s challenges like rising insurance costs and shifting interest rates His take on syndication trends, CRMs, and even his venture into filmmaking with “Trees of Peace” on Netflix   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 into the remarkable journey of Jack Rowell—from working on F-111s and F-16s in the Air Force to navigating the fast-paced world of residential real estate in San Diego. Jack shares how his military training shaped his work ethic and how a spontaneous call from an old friend led him into home flipping—and eventually into a career he loves. Bruce and Jack explore the key differences between residential and commercial real estate, the emotional side of helping first-time buyers, and what it's like doing deals across one of California’s largest counties. Jack also offers insights into lead generation, marketing strategies that work, and the current state of the real estate market. Whether you're a real estate pro, veteran, or simply someone who loves a good underdog story, this episode will inspire and inform.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 powerful episode, Bruce welcomes real estate investor Vessi Kapoulian, whose story spans from growing up behind the Iron Curtain in Bulgaria to managing multimillion-dollar multifamily properties across the U.S. Vessi shares her inspiring journey of learning English to earn a scholarship, attending college in the U.S., and ultimately shifting from corporate lending to building her own portfolio of stable, income-producing apartments. You'll hear how she identifies strong investment opportunities, vets operators, and provides hands-on strategic guidance as a general partner. Her approach emphasizes due diligence, market analysis, and realistic risk assessment—especially in today’s evolving commercial real estate environment. Vessi also discusses current market dynamics, cap rate trends, and why she believes we’re in a "higher for longer" interest rate environment.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 do you get when a teenager starts learning construction in his dad’s office? A future titan in commercial property development. In this episode, Brad Kollar, now with Upright Construction, shares how a quiet place to do homework sparked a journey from teenage estimator to leading massive builds for Amazon and Tesla. Brad recounts the early days of working on blueprints at 14, running payroll for over 80 employees, and landing his first real job after high school with a mentor who taught him the industry ropes. That hands-on education paid off. Brad went on to build a company, lead major Amazon projects during the pandemic boom, and now oversees massive tilt-up and industrial projects with Upright Construction. We dig into what it takes to supply 8,000 amps of power to robotics-filled warehouses, how estimating tech is evolving, and why AI might be on the brink of disrupting the construction world. Plus, Brad gives a peek at Tesla’s unique facility needs and shares what keeps Upright’s business thriving in a cautious market.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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, Bruce Bean sits down with Adam Gower, founder of GowerCrowd, to dive into his globe-trotting career — from raising capital in the '80s to navigating Japan's real estate market in the '90s, to helping banks recover from the GFC and building a platform that’s helped raise nearly a billion dollars for real estate projects. Adam reveals the signals he saw ahead of the 2008 crash and offers insights into how history repeats itself in real estate — and how savvy investors and sponsors can prepare for downturns. He shares key historical lessons and discusses how digital marketing, sparked by the JOBS Act, changed the capital raising landscape forever. Key Takeaways: Why Adam sold all his holdings before the GFC Lessons from working in Tokyo and with East West Bank, Gaw Capital, and Colony Capital How a PhD in banking history informs today’s investing strategies The rise of digital marketing and crowdfunding in real estate The golden thread connecting successful investors in every downturn     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 do bikinis and warehouses have in common? According to Clare Collins—more than you might think. In this episode, Clare shares her unconventional journey from running a game-day bikini line at USC to becoming a leader in industrial real estate with Rexford Industrial, one of Southern California’s top REITs. Clare recounts her early entrepreneurial days crafting hair bows and bow ties before turning her talents to swimwear manufacturing—navigating LA’s garment district on a beach cruiser and learning everything from laser cutting to outsourcing production. But after a fashion show in class and five years of swimsuit sales, Clare took her father’s advice and pivoted to “real work.” That shift led her to Kennedy Wilson and eventually to Rexford Industrial, where she now leads customer solutions for a portfolio of over 51 million square feet and 1,600 tenants. Clare and Bruce discuss supply constraints, the power of infill industrial properties, Salesforce strategies, and what makes Rexford’s approach so unique.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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