Earlier this month, I touched down in Carlsbad, California with nearly 500 Berkadia teammates for our annual National Production Meeting. The meeting, designed to give production teammates insight into evolving technology, tools and resources, was centered around the theme “One Berkadia,” a theme meant to unify Berkadians across the organization under the belief that a cohesive, collaborative workforce is stronger when we’re united. It was a great opportunity for leadership and the production network to come together and plan for the year ahead, especially amid turbulent market conditions.
It’s one of my favorite times of the year. On the heels of a very busy conference season in January and February, it’s important to spend time with fellow Berkadians and discuss what we’ve learned during the conference circuits and what we can do, together, to best serve our clients.
Justin Wheeler and I kicked off the meeting by introducing the “One Berkadia” theme and noting that the last ten years won’t look like the next ten years – we need our teammates now more than ever. Throughout the three-day meeting, we kept to that theme and hosted a series of breakout sessions focused on new developments in research, marketing, lending products and the power of specialization. Nearly 100 Berkadians attended the Women of Berkadia Luncheon, where Hilary Provinse, Lisa Drake, and Jen Messina, CEO of The Forte Collection shared words of wisdom about the power of networking and the importance of mentorship. I was thrilled to host the annual Awards Dinner where we celebrated the success of individuals and teams who led Berkadia in 2022.
As we wrapped up the conference, every Berkadia received the same message. First and foremost, we at Berkadia are advisors. There has never been a better, or more important time, to be a partner to our clients and set the strategy for 2023. The future is bright as we strive to build the best culture in our industry while efficiently serving our clients.