The CRE Connection · Samy Soussan

Samy Soussan•creconnection.transistor.fm

Welcome to the Commercial Real Estate Connection Podcast: Building Relationships for Commercial Success', the place where we connect with the brightest minds in commercial real estate, uncovering their secrets, strategies, and captivating stories. We are dedicated to helping beginners learn from experts in the commercial real estate industry. Join us as each episode, we sit down with successful investors, brokers, developers, and other key players in the commercial real estate world to discuss their experiences, strategies, and secrets to success. Our goal is to provide you with valuable insights and perspectives to help you navigate the complex world of commercial real estate and build strong relationships that lead to commercial success. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, join us as we connect you to the industry and share expert insights for aspiring professionals.

Last refreshed: July 25th, 2025 at 8:56 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Ep. 9 - Dance of Deals: Andy Weiner's Real Estate Revolution at Rockstep Capital

Rockstep Capital's Andy Weiner shares his transformative journey from the retail world to spearheading a successful real estate investment company. Raised in the bustling environment of Weiner's Stores in Houston, Andy's early days in his family's clothing business equipped him with a deep understanding of retail markets. He recounts his strategic pivot to real estate, where he initially focused on Walmart-anchored centers and later embraced opportunities in secondary and tertiary markets with T...

Apr 02, 2025•39 min•Ep. 9

Ep. 8 - Leased and Loaded: Mastering Retail Leasing with Beth Azor, The Canvassing Queen

Joins us as we sit with Beth Azor , widely known in the commercial real estate world as "The Canvassing Queen." Beth shares her incredible journey from growing up in a real estate family in Wisconsin to becoming a leading expert in retail leasing and property ownership in Florida. Beth reveals how her passion for connecting with people and helping businesses grow led her to transition from residential real estate to commercial leasing, where she thrived for 18 years, eventually becoming the pres...

Jan 22, 2025•56 min•Ep. 8

Ep. 7 - The LP's Playbook: Strategic Investing with Aleksey Chernobelskiy

💼 The LP’s Playbook: Strategic Investing with Aleksey Chernobelskiy 💼 Curious how to become a smarter, more strategic real estate investor? 🎧 In our latest episode of the Commercial Real Estate Connection Podcast , we feature Aleksey Chernobelskiy, an entrepreneur and LP advisor who shares weekly insights to help Limited Partners level up their investment game. Prior to founding his own business, Aleksey ran STORE Capital’s $10 billion commercial real estate portfolio and led the firm’s under...

Oct 28, 2024•38 min•Ep. 7

Ep. 6 - Unanchored Retail and UPREITS: The Hidden Gems of Commercial Real Estate with Garrett Lepow

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of commercial real estate with our special guest, Garrett Lepow, a key player in acquisitions and investor relations at KM Realty. In this episode, Garrett shares his early passion for real estate, sparked in middle school and solidified by a high school internship with a Houston syndicator. Discover how KM Realty focuses on the niche market of unanchored retail strip centers in Texas and Arizona and their strategic plan to consolidate these assets int...

Aug 27, 2024•41 min•Ep. 6

Ep. 5 - The Art of Marketing in The Commercial Real Estate Arena with Shannon Bedinger and Ashlyn Wooten

Today, we're exploring the fascinating crossroads of marketing and commercial real estate with the insight of Shannon Bedinger and Ashlyn Wooten, both at the helm of their own marketing firms. As we navigate their stories, you'll hear about Shannon's leap from architecture to marketing and her ascent to the role of Chief Marketing Officer at Midway, along with Ashlyn's evolution from real estate agent to a maestro of marketing across various domains. They each shed light on the rollercoaster of ...

May 14, 2024•45 min•Ep. 5

Ep. 4 - From Wall Street Dreams to Real Estate Titan with Bob Knakal

Step into the world of commercial real estate mastery as we welcome Bob Knakal, a visionary whose journey from a sports-loving New Jersey kid to a real estate behemoth is a playbook of ambition and strategy. Bob's candid discussions about his ascent within the industry, which includes pioneering success at Massey Knakal with an astounding $23 billion in sales, are more than just numbers—they're a testament to the power of competitive spirit and hard work. Every anecdote he shares is a brick in t...

Mar 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 4

Ep. 3 - Unveiling the Entrepreneurial Path in Real Estate with Ola Dantis

In our latest episode, we take a fascinating journey with Ola Dantis, who made a courageous leap from a corporate analyst to a successful real estate entrepreneur. Ola shares his story, the highs and lows of navigating the world of entrepreneurship, and the invaluable role mentorship played in his journey. From Nigeria and England to the US, from corporate comfort to the dynamic world of commercial real estate, Ola's journey is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships, finding the righ...

Nov 01, 2023•46 min•Ep. 3

Ep. 2 - Creating Waves in Commercial Real Estate: Uri Man's Crystal Lagoon Vision

Ever wondered how an innovative mindset can transform communities and reshape the commercial real estate industry? Join us for a chat with Uri Man, CEO and founder of the Lagoon Development Company, who has done just that. Uri's extensive experience spans over two decades, starting with the Related Group in Miami and leading to the pioneering vision of Lagoon Development. Listen to Uri's insightful journey, from bringing the Crystal Lagoon concept to the US to forming the Lagoon Development Comp...

Aug 23, 2023•25 min•Ep. 2

Ep. 1 - Unlocking the Secrets of Retail Tenant Rep with Jason Baker

Join us for an insightful conversation with Jason Baker, co-founder and principal of Baker Katz, where we explore his remarkable 25-year career dedicated to the Houston retail market. Listen in as Jason shares his personal journey, from growing up in a real estate family to becoming a leader tenant rep. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his role, the importance of a good partnership in the industry, and sprinkles in some wisdom he has gathered over the years. We continue our discussion by ...

Jul 17, 2023•40 min•Ep. 1

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