What led you to a career in the real estate industry? Did you have a specific career plan?

Like many of us, I came into the industry by chance. It was a fortunate coincidence, for I love my job. I'm from Trois Rivières and when I arrived in Montreal to study and to choose a career, I initially thought of a career in finance and accounting, and indeed I have a degree in finance from HEC in Montreal. My brother was already working in commercial real estate, and it was thanks to him that I discovered the sector and fell in love with it. I didn't have a specific career plan at first. As is often the case, it took shape over time, according to opportunities that arose and projects that I managed.

What was your first job in real estate?

I started in accounting at SITQ in 1990. That subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is now Ivanhoe Cambridge, a leader in the real estate sector in North America and Western Europe. The SITQ portfolio included prestigious office buildings, business premises, hotels, multi-unit residential buildings and senior residences in big cities in Canada, the U.S., France, the UK, Germany and India. It was an organization that offered (and still offers) many very interesting challenges for someone who wants to learn and advance. I spent 8 or 9 years in accounting as assistant comptroller and then as comptroller. I was interested in all aspects of the business and worked in sectors where I could learn and contribute: finance, transactions, acquisitions, construction, rentals and marketing.

I was involved in many special projects, which meant that I developed in-depth knowledge of property management. From being the comptroller, I went on to transactions analyst and then property manager. I worked under many different senior managers during that period, all of them encouraging, and the bar was set high in terms of expectations and demands. I thus developed an approach marked by rigour and versatility, which still serves me well today. I do not know everything, but I know how buildings and the industry function, and I know how to organize and manage the driving forces in a real estate project and how to propel those energies forward to completion. I learned my craft and earned my stripes over a 17-year period. It is an organization that played a decisive role in my career development, and one I have fond memories of.

What is your current position?

I've been a senior property manager at Bentall Kennedy since 2015. I manage the KPMG tower, Promenades Cathédrale and two office buildings in the Mile End neighbourhood. I find the job very stimulating. I'm lucky to be supported by several dynamic teams, and we work well together.

What do you like most about your work?

The action and the many diverse challenges! Every day is different and the daily routine is never humdrum. I think that is the case for many property managers, and I think it's fair to say that that is what we like most about real estate. Several times in my career I was offered a position in senior management, but I definitely prefer being close to the action, at the very heart of the hive of activity that a building is. I love being hands on, as the saying goes, it's what stimulates me most. My daily routine is one surprise after another. I'm involved in all aspects and work closely with various teams in all the buildings under my responsibility. It’s really fascinating and invigorating. It's a job that allows me to make use of the skills I've acquired over the years in both management and finance.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I can't say I've had any major accomplishments along the lines of big outstanding projects, but what I'm proud of are all the many small successes where my skills made a big difference. For example, I organized a big and successful marketing campaign for a new building of one million square feet, and in that project I had the opportunity to work closely with an incredible communications and marketing firm. There are also many transactions where my financial know-how and my involvement meant that the owner saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because I'm not the type to brag, I didn't have the impression that I was well-known or recognized in the milieu. I now realize, though, that I am recognized for my commitment and rigour, so that is something I'm proud of.

How do you see the future of property management?

That's a big question. It’s a sector that's booming and expanding. Today's real estate sector calls for people with a very high level of adaptability. We have become creators of living environments. We've always been a service industry but those services are changing, or expanding in scope, to now include myriad facets of the client experience. Ways of working are also changing, quickly and constantly. Tenants and users of our spaces have high expectations, particularly as regards access to technologies. The arrival of the millennial generation also exerts a sphere of influence, with their needs and expectations. We live in an era of responsive building, of sustainable development, responsible management, improved energy performance and a highly mobile population. Property management of the future demands that we understand the needs and the business reality of a clientele that is getting younger and younger, and that's a game changer. Buildings that perform the best in the years to come will be those that prove to be resilient, proactive and adaptable. In short, demand is changing and supply must adapt. We must reinvent ourselves in a changing world. I find that quite stimulating.

What suggestions would you give to someone thinking about a career in property management?

Go! Jump right in! Our sector needs new blood, and it's a great field to work in. I think that is even more the case today, given what I mentioned earlier. I would also encourage young professionals to get involved in their milieu and their network of contacts as much as possible. That is an aspect that I got involved in fairly late in my career. If I had the chance to do things over I would plunge right in very early on, because that opens a lot of doors and provides opportunities to learn and to grow. I would say get involved, go for it, develop skills in as many aspects of the business as possible, because that is key to what we do. It is a stimulating, highly diverse sector that is very fulfilling, very rewarding.