If you browsed her resume back in 2015, you would think Jessica Sarkissian would be the kind of expert in her field that would be a guest speaker for a class of young professionals. But there Sarkissian was, with her Masters degree in Administration and Community Planning and her job as a senior planner for a national firm like Bowman Consulting, learning things about the real estate development industry she never even considered from her point of view as a planner.
“Attending those meetings, you hear from one side, either the public or private side or from the view of an architect, and then you’re also hearing what the opinions are of the other side,” Sarkissian said. “It really makes you understand why things are done a certain way and what to take into account on your projects.”
Those meetings Sarkissian attended were part of the Advocates program of the Valley Partnership. The program is for young (35 and under) professionals from all parts of the real estate development world. The class is limited to 25 participants who take part in monthly meetings with various industry experts and government officials. Advocates learn about the development process, network with industry leaders, tour development projects, and create business relationships with their classmates.
The program started in 2014 and part of that initial class was Kristina Locke, the director of business development for Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Inc.
“I jumped at the chance to be involved,” Locke said about hearing about Valley Partnership’s new “mentorship” program. “None of us knew what to expect, so I believe it was a learning experience for everyone involved.”
The Advocates program is quite different than a standard mentorship program. The most striking difference is the make-up of the class. There are planners, architects, lawyers, construction engineers, brokers and developers who bring their expertise to the table. When the class meets with a city leader, for example, about a development issue, each member of the class can add to the discussion, which means everyone involved can better see the entire picture.
“As a transactional commercial real estate and corporate attorney, I only see deals at a certain point in the process (for purchases, sales, financings or developments),” said Nicole Hanson, an associate at Squire Patton Boggs in Phoenix and a member of the 2017 Advocates class. “The Advocates program showed me the other players and at what stage in the process they become involved. It presents a lot of interesting and valuable information (and contacts) in a fun and upbeat setting.”
For people just getting their careers off and running, the Advocates program is a valuable tool. Aside from the practical and professional information it provides, participants have access to 24 contacts that they develop strong personal and professional ties to.
“At first, I was intimidated,” said Dylan Whitwer, an associate in the Office Properties Division at NAI Horizon in Phoenix.
“It was a group of young men and women who seemed to be established in their careers,” Whitwer said of the Advocates class of 2017. “I soon realized that most of them were like me, in the sense that they were trying to find their place in their careers and were looking for relationships to help develop them in that journey.
“The Advocates program taught the value of building career-long relationships. I can count on the advocates to provide me knowledge in their area of expertise as well as help provide leads to further grow my business.”
In the original 2014 Advocates class with Locke was Nicole Maas, vice president of marketing and communications for Kitchell. Maas became the first Advocates graduate to earn a spot on the Valley Partnership Board of Directors this year.
Sarkissian was part of the 2015 class and shortly after her time in the program she moved into a leadership role with The Planning Center as Principal Planner for the company’s Phoenix office. The Planning Center is a planning and landscape architecture firm that has established a solid reputation in land planning, community visioning and urban design.
Sarkissian has served on the Valley Partnership panel that selects class members for the following years and speaks glowingly of the value of being an Advocate.
“I’ve actually partnered with other Advocates on projects we have coming up,” said Sarkissian. “I think because we have that connection and that experience, we worked together, even if it was just through Advocates. I think that the work dynamic is a lot stronger.
“Being in the Valley Partnership and Advocates definitely helped in just getting out networking and helping me build The Planning Center, because that was a huge impact. One of the first things I did when I started The Planning Center, I wanted to make sure we were part of Valley Partnership as a sponsor, I knew how valuable it is.”
