Bob Cohen- From Brokerage To Development Leader (#91)

Bio Robert “Bob” Cohen recently retired from Perseus-TDC (now known as Transwestern Development Company). Bob founded Perseus in 2004 after leaving Insignia ESG, a large commercial brokerage firm that was acquired at that time by CBRE. Perseus, now Transwestern, is a significant development company that has produced over 20 projects in the region totaling about 3.8MM s.f. in office, apartment, hotel and industrial space. Their most recent delivery was the Revel Apartments, a 500 unit high rise project in conjunction with a full service Marriott Hotel in NOMA. Bob began his career in 1971 with Barnes, Morris and Pardoe as a commercial broker and eventually became President of the company in 1982. Subsequently, the company acquired Long & Foster’s Commercial Division. In 1998, the company was acquired by Insignia, ESG. In 2003, CBRE acquired Insignia, ESG. Bob decided to start Perseus the next year. Bob graduated from George Washington University with a B.A. in 1967. He currently serves as a member of the Federal City Council. He is a past member of the Board of the Public Policy School at Duke University. Show Notes Current Situation, Origins and Education “Retired” is a strange word- He has a number of projects ongoing (5:30) Just got a call about an opportunity in Arlington and a “deal junkie” (6:30) Pivoting from brokerage to a Principal (7:00) Grew up in Long Meadow, MA near Springfield, MA (7:30) Interested in sports, but not academics (7:45) Guidance counselor recommended that he goes to trade school (8:10) Attended Kent State University prior to the tragedy there (8:15) Subsequently attended George Washington University (8:50) Worked while he was in college (9:30) Liked urban environment (10:00) 1965-1967 there (10:10) Met two guys from Seattle- got jobs on Capitol Hill (10:30) Met Sam Ervin, Senator from North Carolina (11:10) Worked on Capitol Hill running an elevator in a Senate Office Building (12:00) Worked in two bars and a liquor store while in school (12:30) IBM Interviewed with technology companies for sales (13:00) Joined IBM and had great sales training in Dallas and White Plains (13:15) Beneficial training Office equipment sales Qualified for Golden Circle at IBM (14:30) Event where spouses were to attend Brought his fiance to the event, which was not “proper” and he was fired for this faux pas (15:00) Brokerage- Barnes Morris Pardoe Looked for real estate brokerage jobs Went initially to Shannon & Luchs and was told to go over to Barnes Morris & Pardoe (16:00) Joined Barnes, Morris & Pardoe (16:30) Became top salesmen for about 10 yrs. (17:45) Before CB