137: Courtney Stanford – Building & Maintaining Strong Relationships

Guest: Courtney Stanford

Guest Bio:

​Courtney Stanford, CCIM is a Managing Director at SVN Dunn Commercial where she facilitates the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of industrial properties in the Mid-Cities market of Dallas-Fort Worth. In addition to her role as a producer, Courtney also assists with the management and strategic direction of the firm as a whole.

Courtney graduated from Texas Christian University in 2012 and earned her CCIM designation in 2019. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Texas CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) Chapter as immediate Past President & is the Co-founder & Past President of IWIRE North Texas (Industrial Women in Real Estate). Courtney is also an active member of NTCAR (North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors), the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth (TREC), a Member Associate of the SIOR North Texas Chapter & active volunteer with the Fort Worth Junior League.

When not driving around to explore a new industrial facility in the area, Courtney enjoys practicing yoga, playing golf, or engaging in a game of Mahjong. She also likes spending time with her husband, Adam Stanford, and their three dogs, Sophie, Henry, & Chance.

Key Points:

Women in Commercial Real Estate

· Co-founded iWire (Industrial Women in Real Estate) to support women in the field.

· Advocates for strong mentors, self-confidence, and overcoming imposter syndrome.

· Credits her Christian faith and personal growth for helping her through difficult times.

Leadership and Team Building

· Initially faced resistance from male colleagues when joining her father's company.

· Transitioned into leadership and rebuilt the team post-COVID.

· Now leads a diverse team she personally recruited and trained.

· Emphasizes company culture, core covenants, and creating an inclusive environment.

Recruiting Strategy

· Recruits both junior and senior talent, focusing on cultural fit.

· Uses tools like CareerPlug to streamline the hiring process.

· Looks for traits like discipline and financial preparedness.

Client Relationship Management

· Maintains relationships with clients through quarterly touches.

· Uses a CRM to automate and manage communication.

· Recognizes the value of the human touch and still makes personal calls when appropriate.

Use of AI in the Business

· Exploring AI tools like Jasper and Buildout for efficiency in marketing and communication.

· Values AI for support but maintains that personal relationships and human interaction remain key.

Managing Pipeline and Team Consistency

· Encourages agents to specialize in a product type and market area.

· Treats junior brokers like entrepreneurs building their own businesses.

· Uses weekly team meetings and accountability huddles to track progress and keep brokers focused.

Challenges as a Leader

· Biggest frustrations: inconsistency among team members and maintaining a predictable pipeline.

· Coaches and produces simultaneously, which adds pressure.

· Leans on partnership with her father to balance responsibilities.

Guest Links:

Connect on LinkedIn

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