Written by: John Frisbie
John Frisbie is a student at The Ohio State University studying Finance. He is currently interning with Colliers | Columbus on the brokerage team of Gilli Zofan, Andrew White and Samantha Starkoff. Keep reading to get John’s take on how his internship has helped him grow in his career.
What has been your favorite project to work on throughout your time at Colliers?
My favorite project that I’ve worked on has been the Front and Fulton project. Front and Fulton is such a unique development that combines a number of different challenges with great opportunity. The reconstruction and revival of the old Hoster Brewing Co. building has already attracted so many great potential tenants, and I know it is going to be a great development for the Brewery District and the city of Columbus.
What has been the biggest learning lesson you will take away from this internship?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned has been to be present and ask questions. During the pandemic, the nation saw a drastic decline in presence in the office. As an intern, a lot of the most valuable information has come through just being around conversation in the office and going on property tours with my team. Gilli, Andrew, and Sam have been amazing in giving me tips, tricks and lasting advice that I’ll carry with me through my developing career in commercial real estate.
What aspects of commercial real estate has this internship made your more interested in?
Not being from Ohio, I knew it would be a challenge upfront to work in a city that I was unfamiliar with. This internship has allowed me to learn, explore and understand the retail market, the city and the surrounding areas fully. I’ve come to appreciate this area immensely and am excited for the growth we’ve seen to continue in years to come!