Exclusive: Cushman & Wakefield announces leadership change at Portland office
Beddard will be responsible for the state's day-to-day operations, client service and business development.Alison Beddard is the new managing principal for Oregon and will be responsible for the state's day-to-day operations, client service and business development.
Cushman & Wakefield, a real estate brokerage (NYSE: CWK), has reshuffled the leadership of its Portland office. Seattle-based Alison Beddard replaced market leader Jason de Vries.
Beddard began April 1 in her role as C&W’s managing principal of Oregon. She has held the same position for Washington since January 2020, and the same role before that in Utah. De Vries will continue to work with C&W Portland, according Beddard. De Vries did not reply to an inquiry for comment. Her responsibilities will now include Washington and Oregon.
According to Business Journal's research, C&W is ranked ninth in the region by Portland metro brokers. At last count, it had 28 regional brokers.
Beddard reports directly to Matt Chatham who is C&W's Northwest Regional President. He said, in a press release, that "her leadership style, her tenacity, and her infectious enthusiasm has made Beddard a respected and valued leader within C&W as well as across the industry."
She is a member of the National Leadership Council, C&W's Women's Integrated Network. In 2017, she was president of CREW Network, a network for women working in real estate. She is also a member of the Unity resource group for LGBTQIA C&W employees.
Beddard cited brand awareness in the market as an example of C&W’s aggressive strategies. C&W must be considered when requests for proposal are sent out. If people don't think of C&W, then "that's a big problem," said Beddard.
She has already flown twice to Portland and will be going by train in the future. She expects to spend a few days each week in Portland. Beddard describes her leadership style as "a change agent", who believes in collaboration, and developing young talent.
She's still getting to know Portland but has an overall roadmap of what she would like to see. She is looking to recruit more local staff and continue to improve their asset service and valuation strategies.
Beddard stated that "these two business lines are very productive and solid for us here in Portland."
She said that both Seattle and Portland had been through difficult times. However, she thought Seattle might have pulled ahead a bit by now. She praised Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell for his efforts to react downtown.
She said that in Portland, it would be a long road back. As a team, we are focused on how to be the market leader and deliver thought research, while also being more visible.