SF Commercial Property Conversations

In this episode, Bruce Bean welcomes Rocio Luna, a dynamic commercial insurance broker based in Southern California. Rocio shares her unique journey into the world of insurance—starting from the ground up with zero experience, facing challenges head-on, and eventually transitioning from claims management to a thriving career in sales.

Rocio explains the significance of the EMR (Experience Modification Rate) in the world of contract...

In this episode, Bruce Bean chats with Tim Chen, co-founder of Connected Companies, about his incredible journey from China to becoming a real estate entrepreneur in the U.S. Tim opens up about moving to the States with little English, failing early ventures, and how he finally broke into the commercial real estate world through sheer persistence.

He shares stories of cold-calling, learning on the job, and how he landed his first b...

In this episode, Bruce Bean chats with former athlete turned real estate entrepreneur, Javorn Ferrell, about his fascinating journey from pro basketball courts in Europe to leading build-to-rent housing developments across the U.S. Javorn shares how a desire to make a lasting community impact led him to Google “how to get rich”—and how that search brought him straight to real estate.

Javorn breaks down how he transitioned from sing...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean sits down with Bryan Marks, a real estate investor, home flipper, and realtor with a unique journey. From windsurfing instructor to advertising professional, pilot, and eventually a real estate entrepreneur, Bryan shares how his unexpected start in real estate led to a successful career in flipping homes and helping others build wealth through property investm...

How do shopping centers, commercial properties, and mixed-use spaces keep up with the rapid evolution of digital technology? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with David Blumenfeld, co-founder of NextRivet, to discuss how his company is bridging the gap between digital innovation and physical spaces.

With years of experience in San Francisco’s tech scene and as part of Westfield Labs' founding executive team, David shares his i...

1031 exchanges can be complicated, but what if they could also be... fun? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Kayla Frerking, a true leader in 1031 exchanges and a key player at Leader 1031, a subsidiary of Leader Bank. Kayla breaks down the complexities of 1031 exchanges, shares how she’s making tax code exciting, and talks about her unique "Deal or No Deal" game show approach to educating brokers, attorneys, and investors.

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean sits down with Jonathan Mitchell, a dynamic real estate developer in San Diego. Jonathan shares his journey from running a multimillion-dollar solar company to diving headfirst into real estate development. With a passion for transforming distressed properties into thriving multi-family units, Jonathan discusses how San Diego’s zoning laws allow for increased ...

From a small Wisconsin town to moving multi-billion-dollar infrastructure deals, Chris Groves shares a story packed with grit, hustle, and a sharp eye for where the money’s going next. In this episode, Bruce and Chris dive into infrastructure lending—a space Chris calls one of the most exciting and under-the-radar investment frontiers today. Chris walks us through his journey from real estate to launching Groves Capital with his wi...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean sits down with Shantelle Cabir, a powerhouse in the insurance industry who has built her career serving blue-collar businesses. From starting as a telemarketer at 16 to becoming a top producer at Newfront, Shantelle shares her incredible journey, the lessons she learned along the way, and why she’s so passionate about helping businesses navigate risk managemen...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Marc Ampil, a former supply chain consultant turned real estate investor and commercial real estate agent. Marc shares his journey from working long hours in consulting to finding financial freedom through real estate investing.

Marc dives into how he got started in real estate, the strategies he used to build his portfolio, and why Memphis, T...

How do you go from growing up in Brazil to building a self-storage empire in the U.S.? Steffany Boldrini did just that. In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Steffany shares her incredible journey—from working in tech startups to realizing the power of real estate investing.

Steffany, founder of Monte Carlo Real Estate Investments, dives into her experiences with angel investing, the lessons she l...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean sits down with David Saxe, Managing Principal and Co-Founder of Calvera Partners, to dive into the world of multifamily real estate investing. David shares his journey from working at a $30 billion real estate investment firm to launching his own company and navigating the complex landscape of value-add multifamily investments.

David discusses:

• The origin...

San Francisco’s Millennium Tower is one of the most infamous examples of engineering gone wrong. Dubbed the “Leaning Tower of San Francisco,” this luxury high-rise has faced years of controversy over its sinking foundation, expensive fixes, and ongoing structural concerns.

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean welcomes back Sam Louwrens, an expert in construction insurance, to dive deep into the s...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Grant Chappell, a seasoned commercial real estate broker with a deep focus on multi-family investments in the Bay Area. Grant’s journey from banking at Wells Fargo to 20 years in brokerage is packed with insights, lessons, and strategies for navigating the ever-changing real estate market.

We discuss the current state of multi-family investmen...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Michael Koch, an expert in insurance, payroll, and payment processing, to discuss his innovative approach to lowering business expenses.

Michael shares his journey from working in payroll and HR to disrupting the insurance industry. He explains how traditional insurance brokers often neglect their clients for most of the year, only reappearing...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we welcome Michael Chidambaram, a seasoned real estate broker specializing in retail and food & beverage spaces. Michael’s journey is anything but ordinary—starting in TV production in Bombay (now Mumbai) before making his way into San Francisco’s commercial real estate market.

We discuss:

• Michael’s transition from media to real estate and how he foun...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Jack Kaminer and Tyler from Vertical Markets to explore their unconventional path in real estate investing. From Section 8 housing to flipping boats and incorporating tiny homes into rental properties, Jack and Tyler share their dynamic approach to growing wealth and seizing unexpected opportunities.

We dive into:

• How they transitioned fr...

From designing soundstages to developing commercial real estate, Sean Lahijani has seen it all. In this episode, Sean shares his journey from studying architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to working on high-profile projects like Circa in downtown LA and transforming retail spaces for Sears Growth Properties. But it was his work in soundstage development that truly expanded his perspective on the intersection of real estate and ...

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Jake Cummings, an insurance expert specializing in affordable housing solutions. Jake shares his unique journey into the insurance industry, from his early aspirations in real estate to a chance meeting on a golf course that led him into his current role.

We dive into the fascinating world of insurance for affordable housing, discussing how de...