Discover more about the faces behind our deals! This showcase: Occupier Services Associate, Meriel Curry.
Meriel received her BS from the University of Pittsburgh in Finance and has been with us since February 2024. She brings consistent positivity, a passionate drive for her work, and a strong work ethic to the team; we appreciate her efforts greatly!
What initially drew you to a career in the commercial real estate world/how did you end up at Colliers?
I have been interested in real estate since I was 11 years old, helping my mom search for our family home. I would be on Keller Williams’ website picking out properties, going along with her on tours, and never missed the chance to watch HGTV after school; as a finance student, I had a hard time picturing where I could see myself working. During my senior year of college, JLL partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to create the “Real Estate Finance Academy,” where students got the opportunity to visit the JLL, run through workshops, and meet industry professionals – I knew that’s where I wanted to be.
After college, I worked for Yardi Systems and supported public housing clients. Following that, I received my HCV certificate and joined PNC Bank to work as a Market Analyst for Multifamily deals. I felt that I would get more fulfillment out of my work being the person to work on the deal every step of the way, so I made the decision to join Colliers earlier this year.
What do you find most rewarding about working at Colliers/in CRE?
At Colliers, we have different teams set up by industries (Office, Industrial, Capital Markets, Retail), and the collaboration is very neat. I love getting the chance to work with other teams as well, getting exposure to industries I may not have encountered elsewhere. I also enjoy the volunteer events and team-building activities our office puts together, which make me feel integrated and proud to be a part of this team.
In your opinion, what is the key to building a great work environment/culture?
Coming into the office and being present. One thing I love about this career is that people are excited to show their faces and share their knowledge. Both of my previous post-collegiate jobs were remote jobs, and as much as I loved the flexibility, I have a newfound appreciation for the hands-on learning environment that I’ve experienced these past four months at Colliers than any other job. There is definitely something to be said with being able to pop down to my coworker’s office to ask a question, or just sit in their office and learn while they take a phone call.
Stay up to date with Meriel on LinkedIn, as well as the rest of our office on our socials!
Colliers' Pittsburgh Office 