Hire a Real Estate Warrior

Why You Need Experts AND Advocates. By Jeannemarie Hendershot, VP of Partner Success

Like all school leaders, I was permanently time-pressured. As the person responsible for real estate at my organization, but without the background in it, I often believed what I was told…. The best path forward was approving the first solution offered - to keep things moving.

But then I called Ahkilah Johnson and Diane Flynn (now PS Wrx's Chief Real Estate Officer and CEO, respectively) for help on a thorny project. As they supported and coached me, I started learning what it means to be a “good consumer”of real estate and finance services. 

I watched Ahkilah firmly but kindly ask extensive follow-up questions of architects, engineers, contractors, and landlords, while Diane coached me on how to navigate our brokers, lawyers, and lenders. 

During that time I realized that saying yes to the wrong thing now, even if it moved things forward short-term, meant saying yes to future stress, future costs, future breakdowns.

Speed matters, but quality decisions matter more. With speed alone, you install the wrong fixture faster. With the right questions, you get the right fixture - and it lasts.

When you have real estate warriors on your team, they ask the uncomfortable questions. They refuse quick fixes. They hold people accountable - kindly, but firmly. Most of all, they protect your long-term vision and free you to focus on running your school.

Real estate is high-stakes, high-pressure, multi-disciplinary work. No school leader should have to shoulder it alone.

Every school needs a real estate warrior - someone who can hold the line while leaders focus on students.

That's why I'm proud to be part of PS Wrx, where we show up not just with expertise, but as the warriors committed to fight for what schools - and students - deserve.