Bjorn Beer became a commercial broker after first investing in value-added apartments in the PNW as well as a stabilized hospital real estate syndication in Montana. This prior experience as an investor led him to investment brokerage. While Bjorn is a “numbers guy,” his favorite part of brokering is the negotiation process where he leverages his prior background in strategic partnerships and business development for two financial software start ups. In software, he was known to be a cooperative team player internally, while being known to negotiate assertively and firmly with external audiences. He’s working towards his CCIM designation because he's seen how CCIM designees value life-long education. A commitment to education (i.e. continuous improvement) is what brought him to SVN Imbrie. Bjorn lives in Corvallis, Oregon, where he serves client needs across the state. He has his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he studied economics and diplomacy. He paid his way through college with summer jobs in various construction trades, which gave him a great appreciation for aspects of buildings that you can't see in a spreadsheet. Bjorn and his wife are originally from North Carolina. He first became interested in real estate when he bought land at an auction and attempted a development project in 2007 that turned out to be a “valuable learning experience." As the economy collapsed, he broke even a few years later by donating the land to his favorite charity - Habitat for Humanity. This "humbling" experience early in his career informs his cautious and analytical disposition today. He also learned the importance of working with clients to include their tax considerations whenever thinking through a particular investment. His "emergency donation" to a cause he supports helped him see that Massive Returns = Massive Impact in investors' lives and communities. What he likes most about advising clients' investment real estate decisions is just how many successful real estate entrepreneurs give back to their communities and their passions in big ways.