National + Apartments | December 12, 2016

3 CRE Q&A: CBRE’s Asian Pacific Career Builders

By Dennis Kaiser

CBRE’s Lilian Cavaleri, business manager for the company’s Microsoft account, and Eric Chen, first vice president, Investment Properties, Capital Markets, have taken leadership roles in the company’s Asia Pacific American Forum (APAF). Cavaleri and Chen will serve as the Co-Chairpersons of the brokerage firm’s newest employee network group.

Connect Media wanted to find out what APAF is about, so we asked Lilian and Eric to share more about the group, how it helps build CBRE’s advantage in the marketplace and what their vision is for the network in the coming year.

Q: Why was the APAF started?

A: APAF is the first Asian network group for CBRE nationally. Founded in 2015, APAF is focused on helping CBRE attract, develop and retain Asian-Pacific-American talent, while advancing our business to serve the Asia Pacific marketplace. APAF is creating professional development opportunities that build skills and help members advance their careers. It is also focused on supporting CBRE local markets through volunteerism and charitable events, while building external connections to Asian professional organizations and Asia Pacific.

Q: What is the vision you intend to bring to APAF as new Chairpersons?

A: We intend to rapidly grow our membership nationally, start implementing our key initiatives, and make sure our members have a place where they can share their ideas, feedback, and help one another grow. We also plan on adding activities for local chapters, and making APAF known outside of CBRE to attract and retain talent.

Q: What are some of the first steps and initiatives you will take in your new position with the APAF?

A: Professional development and mentoring, business opportunities, internal networking events, community outreach, and membership growth. We will also focus on working with other employees located throughout our Asia Pacific offices.

Through a platform of connecting Asian and all employees within CBRE, this group allows a channel to share ideas, create local chapters for different regions, as well as connect the dots for employees for business opportunities, mentoring and professional growth.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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