Alison O'Connell

If you would have asked me 20 years ago what my professional aspirations were, commercial real estate would have never come to mind. A career in the arts is what appealed to me, so how was it that I landed at NAI Hiffman? Well, very much like commercial real estate – through relationships and timing. Prior to joining NAI Hiffman, I spent 15 years working for a prominent politician in Illinois and met an array of people in both the public and private sectors. One of those individuals was Dan Leahy. Dan and I worked together as volunteers on that politician’s  grassroots political campaign but then the politician retired, leaving me at a career impasse. I was forced to find another job. Ironically, it was during that time that I received a telephone call from Dan Leahy asking if I knew anyone that had my similar background, as he and his business partner Gerard Keating were looking to hire a marketing specialist. And as the saying goes, “the rest is history.” I have spent the last two decades in the industrial division with the extraordinary team of Dan Leahy and Adam Roth who managed our logistics and supply chain specialty practice. I feel so fortunate to be a part of their team and this firm where creativity and innovation are encouraged and where I have formed lifelong friendships.