The Commercial Breakout Path kicked off at eXpcon 2024 in Miami on Monday with in-depth panels about the trends and opportunities that exist in the commercial real estate industry.

Building a Resilient Portfolio: Effective Investment Strategies

This session, moderated by Britney Mroczkowski, featured speakers Paul Frank, Jerad Graham, and Frankie Valle. The focus was on how investors can build portfolios that withstand market fluctuations while driving long-term growth.

*Left to right: Britney Mroczkowski, Frankie Valle, Jerad Graham, Paul Frank*

Key takeaways from the panel:

Mixed-Use Developments: Jerad Graham emphasized the importance of mixed-use developments in diversifying income streams and mitigating risks. These properties offer flexibility to adjust to market demands.
- “By incorporating different uses — like residential, restaurants, and retail –we were able to mitigate risk during the pandemic,” said Graham. “Mixed-use developments offer the flexibility to adjust to shifting demands.”
Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs): Paul Frank, a commercial developer, highlighted the enduring demand for QSRs, especially those with drive-through capabilities.
- “For me, the most resilient property type by far right now is Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) with drive-throughs,” said Frank. “Once you have a drive-through entitlement in place, the value of that property is incredible.”
Building a Strong Team: Frankie Valle emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with knowledgeable professionals.
- “You need your lawyers, you need your escrow officers, your lenders,” said Valle. “When you give a referral, they should be effective and do their job properly.”

eXp Commercial: Leading the Industry Transformation

eXp Commercial CEO Leo Pareja and CMO Wendy Forsythe stopped by the eXp Commercial Zone on the eXplore Floor and discussed eXp’s advisor-centric model and how it is reshaping the commercial real estate sector. They discussed several upcoming initiatives:

Improved Tech Stack: eXp Commercial is set to enhance its tech stack to better support its advisors.
Canva Enterprise: Through a new partnership with Canva, all eXp Commercial advisors will gain access to Canva Enterprise at no additional cost.
Refreshed Branding: A branding refresh is also on the horizon, designed to better reflect eXp’s cutting-edge approach.

From left, SVP Commercial Growth Sean Murphy and eXp Realty CEO Leo Pareja.

Driving Transformation: Opportunities for Women in Commercial Real Estate

The second panel featured eXp Commercial’s top-producing female advisors, including Pamela Junge, Michelle Pauley, Mallisa Jackson, and Doni Liu. The discussion, led by Junge, focused on the growing opportunities for women in the industry.

*Left to right: Pamela Junge, Michelle Pauley, Mallisa Jackson, Doni Liu*

Key topics from the discussion:

Opportunities for Women: Pam Junge reflected on how the industry has evolved, offering more opportunities for women than ever, and shared the approach that’s led to her success.
- “Being in the industry 38 years ago was a different story for women than it is today… every day you wake up, you’ve got to educate, lead gen, and follow up. It’s literally the recipe for success,” Junge noted.
Generational Wealth and Legacies: Michelle Pauley explained how building a real estate legacy not only benefits her family but also helps her clients and the broader industry in creating generational wealth.
Mentorship Is Key: Mallisa Jackson stressed the importance of mentorship in empowering the next generation of women in commercial real estate.
- “Mentorship has been key in my 12-year journey,” Jackson shared. “It helps women build their legacies more efficiently.”
Technology and Scalability: Doni Liu discussed how technology has transformed her business, enabling her to scale across multiple states.
- “There’s no broker in this world like eXp Commercial,” said Liu. “The technology has allowed me to expand my business in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”