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2021 Women in Real Estate
Phoenix & Southwest
Shannon Hersker
Hersker’s sourcing techniques have resulted in her being able to build relationships with several clients
Hersker is focused on getting more women involved with the industry and helping to make it more diverse.
Although the ultimate goal is to continue broadening Hersker’s leadership role with the team so she’s primed to take over eventually, she’s setting lofty goals for the near term
Shannon Hersker is a director in the company’s capital markets group. Hersker asked Keaton Merrell for one piece of advice at their initial meeting. He said be the first person at an event and the last person to leave. She has continued to put that advice into practice to this day. These attributes: the personal touch, ability to network and maintain communications, seeking and acting upon advice, and challenging herself to be better put Hersker on the Phoenix office’s radar.
In 2017, her last year at a title company before shifting careers, Hersker sourced more than $1.4 billion in business and didn’t take her foot off the gas pedal once recruited by W&D. She came over with the idea that Single-Family Rental (SFR) and Built For Rent (BFR) products were going to be the next big product type. Hersker convinced her team to dig in, build debt and equity relationships and start prospecting clients to be able to make W&D a leader in the space. Currently, W&D has a dedicated BFR/SFR group that offers a one-stop shop including equity, debt and investment sales that is managing a $1B pipeline and deals in more than 30 states.
Because of her leadership, competitiveness, research acumen and persistence, she was made a partner after only two years. Hersker is also active within leadership roles in ULI, NAIOP and Valley Partnership (a local Phoenix organization) and is very involved with several charitable organizations including Brokers for Kids which raises about $700,000 per year.