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Expanding educational opportunities for students in under-resourced communities

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real estate

Uncovering the World of Real Estate Development: PCSD’s Recent Adventure at Lighthouse Community Public Schools

October 30, 2023 by PCSD

The journey for the right career path is what makes events like job fairs an invaluable resource for students. Recently, Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) had the privilege of participating in the Lighthouse Community Public Schools job fair, where I was able to present alongside toy designer, Mr. Chip.

The focus of my presentation? Real estate development – a field that offers an incredible array of opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Whether you’re starting at the entry level or aiming for the C-suite, there’s a place for everyone in this dynamic industry. As I was able to highlight, you can choose to work out in the field, in an office setting, or even find a role that combines the two.

High school students, known for their candid and curious nature, were eager to engage with us. Their questions ranged from the practical, “What’s a day in your life like?” to the ever-important, “What’s the salary?” But it was one question that truly resonated – “Is this something you always wanted to do?” I shared my personal journey, revealing that my passion for economic development as a way of supporting the community wasn’t discovered until my junior year in college. This just goes to show that finding your true calling doesn’t always happen overnight, and it’s okay to explore different paths.

PCSD is committed to breaking down the barriers to entry in the world of real estate development, making it accessible to all who are interested in exploring this exciting industry.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: career fair, real estate

PCSD Interns: First Day Experience

October 17, 2023 by PCSD

Who did you meet with today?

We met with the following people from Colliers and PCSD.

Colliers

Tony Burnett, Head of Office, Regional Managing Director

Rebecca Scalfaro, Senior Client Services Officer

Shayla Mellenthin, Marketing Manager

Gregory Hunter, Vice President

Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD)

Jennifer Afdahl Rice, Executive Director, Northern California

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Pacific Charter School Development is a real estate development firm; based on my takeaways from the experience, it is a non-profit company that helps out communities with local and convenient school sites, as well as providing support with funds for charter schools. In addition, PCSD advocates by managing the outlook of the design, finance, and construction of facilities.

PCSD works with Colliers. PCSD and Colliers are two separate companies with similar ideas; both companies have been able to promote progress in communities as well as impact the environment in a positive way. Both Colliers and PCSD have also worked to make the companies more inclusive and maintain a diverse work force. Colliers itself is a services investment management firm, which advises clients about real estate and the process behind it. Colliers is a collaborative company that works to help other companies like PCSD.  The firm provides support for other companies and different partnerships but all focus on making the community better. Ultimately these companies work to make a sustainable and elevated society.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

My experience was exceptional, I gained an understanding of the different fields related to design and architecture. Specifically, I highlight the perspective of being a broker. Brokers uphold a significant amount of responsibility at Colliers, which gained a majority of my attention. Moreover, the Colliers team also taught me a lot about the different requirements and opportunities that could allow us the ability to be able to work and involve myself in other careers related to their company.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

I had the ability to get a little more insight into the school’s perspective on the different fields. Moreover, we got insight on how college would be a lot more beneficial to get a career related to real estate development, and the managing, marketing, etc. We discussed the correlation between different positions and the levels of education you might need; ultimately, we determined that 2-4 years of college experience is best.

What did you find the most interesting about the field after today?

Overall, I would say I was very intrigued by what everyone at Colliers and PCSD does.  Personally, I was pulled to the background of Vice President Gregory’s career at Colliers. It was similar to what I wanted to do which pulled my interest towards his position. The team in general all gained my attention, and all of the different fields they work for are just as similar to what I want to do after college. It was just so interesting to overall learn how much goes into the management and coordination of being a part of a company like Colliers.

Gregory and John Dunning showing Esteban and me a potential site.
Gregory discussing the site with Esteban and me.
Esteban and I talking about the site with Colliers.
Our first day with the PCSD internship.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: internships, real estate

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