CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the Skyline

Nadine Ezzie + Ryan Elazari
  • 5.0 (6)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The commercial real estate (CRE) industry, long resistant to change, is poised for transformation with AI and climate change driving the charge. This podcast bridges the worlds of CRE with Proptech, bringing humorous, insightful conversations with both industry veterans and newbies. Aimed at innovators and occupiers alike, we've set out to demystify and revolutionize CRE, making it accessible and relevant for a diverse audience. Join us in shaping a new, innovative era of real estate.

  1. 6D AGO

    Ep. 4 - Founder Series: What Tenants Actually Want vs What the Industry Thinks with David Abrams

    What happens when a marketing veteran builds PropTech from the inside out? In this episode of CRE Unplugged, Ryan sits down with David Abrams, Co-Founder and CEO of HILO, to unpack why the best building technology isn't the loudest it's the most thoughtful. David shares how 20+ years running a marketing and communications agency shaped HILO's obsession with partnership, service, and genuine tenant engagement. From launching right before the pandemic to scaling a platform that helps owners and operators deliver hospitality-driven workplace experiences, David's journey is a masterclass in building with purpose. Together, Ryan and David dig into what tenants actually value (hint: it's not the fancy fitness center), why PropTech can't be a checkbox, and how HILO's collaborative approach to sales and customer success is turning heads in one of the world's oldest asset classes. David also hosts TEN, the Tenant Experience Network, where he brings together leading CRE voices on the future of work and his vision for buildings that don't just support businesses, but help people truly thrive. Show Notes: 00:10: Intro & Welcoming David Abrams 01:25: From Marketing & Communications to Founder 06:14: Why a Great Tech Company is 50% Service 07:44: The Metrics That Actually Matter in Building Technology 11:00: How HILO Rises Above a Crowded PropTech Landscape 13:00: The Collaborative Sales Process That Replaces the RFP 17:00: What Tenants Actually Want vs. What the Industry Assumes 19:28: The 15 Minute City and the Role of Neighborhood in Tenant Experience 21:18: David's Vision for the Workplace 5 to 10 Years from Now 28:05: Ryan's Postgame Recap & Key Takeaways Love what you hear? Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform! Connect With Us 📧 Email: info@creunplugged.com 🌐 Website: www.creunplugged.com 📺 YouTube: @CREUnplugged 💼 LinkedIn: CRE Unplugged 📱 Instagram: @CREUnpluggedLearn more about HILO and their vertically integrated resident experience platform at www.hiloapp.com or connect with David directly on LinkedIn. Want to be featured on the Founders' Series? We're spotlighting bold leaders building the future of commercial real estate. Reach out at info@creunplugged.com. We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how this industry operates, we want to hear from you.

    31 min

  2. FEB 11

    From Zero Real Estate Knowledge to Powering Multifamily's Future with Konrad Koczwara

    How a founder with no real estate experience built a vertically integrated platform now powering the future of multifamily living. A conversation on bootstrapping, resident expectations, and why the best PropTech founders stay close to customers. In this Founder Series episode, Ryan Elazari sits down with Konrad Koczwara, Founder and CEO of ElevateOS, to explore how he went from complete industry outsider to building the overtically integrated resident experience platform in multifamily real estate. Konrad shares why he bootstrapped ElevateOS without outside capital, how his Polish roots shaped his relentless work ethic, and why he stays deeply involved in sales and customer relationships as the company scales. The discussion covers the evolution of resident expectations, why today's renters demand hotel-like experiences, how AI is transforming multifamily technology, and strategies for generating revenue beyond rent. Konrad also reflects on co-chairing the Emerging Leaders program at RETTC and why integrated tech stacks matter for onsite teams managing disconnected platforms. Show Notes: 00:10: Introducing Konrad Koczwara 01:15 – Konrad's Polish heritage and how immigration shaped relentless work ethic 04:42 – Leading by example: building a company from square one with no network 09:42 – How resident expectations have evolved in the past 5-10 years 13:36 – Key trends in multifamily tech: centralization, AI, and avoiding "Frankenstein buildings" 17:57 – Why AI will make certain jobs irrelevant and what founders should know 22:00 – Generating revenue beyond rent without resorting to junk fees 26:43 – Why staying close to customers drives the best product roadmap 32:38 – Co-chairing Emerging Leaders at RETTC and giving back to the industry 36:03 – Ryan's Postgame Recap Love what you hear? Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform! Connect With Us📧 Email: info@creunplugged.com 🌐 Website: www.creunplugged.com 📺 YouTube: @CREUnplugged 💼 LinkedIn: CRE Unplugged 📱 Instagram: @CREUnplugged Learn more about ElevateOS and their vertically integrated resident experience platform at www.elevateos.com or connect with Konrad directly on LinkedIn. Want to be featured on the Founders' Series? We're spotlighting bold leaders building the future of commercial real estate. Reach out at info@creunplugged.com. We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how this industry operates, we want to hear from you.

    39 min

  3. JAN 27

    Ep. 18 - PropTech Playbook: Data Monetization & How Property Owners Take Back Control w/ Bill Douglas

    Bill Douglas doesn't sugarcoat it: most CRE owners are sitting on a goldmine of data they don't control, don't understand, and can't monetize while vendors quietly profit from it. In this episode, the CEO of OpticWise and co-author of Peak Property Performance pulls back the curtain on the messy reality of digital strategy in commercial real estate. From buildings running 17 systems on 13 networks with zero integration, to property management firms recommending tech they've invested in without disclosure, Bill breaks down the conflicts of interest and missed opportunities that are costing owners millions. Bill also opens up about his near-death skiing experience, his wife's cancer battle, and why he lives by the motto: "Life is a gift. Work to live, don't live to work." If you've ever felt overwhelmed by vendor pitches, suspicious of PropTech promises, or unsure how to turn building data into actual NOI, this conversation will give you the framework to take control. Show Notes: 0:10: Introducing Bill Douglas 1:39: Skiing and fatherhood - the "truth serum" of ski lifts 4:17: Why the CRE industry is at a critical crossroads 8:23: Status quo bias and why owners wait for fines to act 12:05: Case Study - 17 systems, $50K+ wasted, hidden savings 15:47: The 5C method for digital strategy 20:25: Dreamers on stage vs. doers in the audience 24:50: The AI bubble and 12 critical questions for vendors 37:08: Who should be the digital champion inside your firm? 40:38: Why do firms ghost vendors then scramble last minute? 47:31: How Bill unplugs and the gift of life 52:07: "Busy doesn't mean successful" - rethinking work-life balance 57:33: Ryan's takeaways If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at ⁠www.creunplugged.com⁠ for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠@CREUnplugged1⁠ and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on⁠ LinkedIn ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠! This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, ⁠HILO⁠, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

    1 hr

  4. JAN 13

    Ep. 2 - Founder Series: How Construction Is Entering Its Next Technology Cycle with Paul Zeckser

    How AI is transforming pre-construction, and why precision matters as much as speed in construction tech. A conversation on AI, risk reduction, and building durable software for real estate development. In this Founder Series episode, Ryan Elazari sits down with Paul Zeckser, Co-Founder and CEO of LightTable, to explore how AI is changing one of the most expensive and error-prone phases of real estate development: pre-construction. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Paul shares why building the company later in his career shaped everything from product focus to pricing, and why precision is the real advantage in construction tech. The discussion spans the challenge of building vertical software as foundational models evolve, what it takes to earn adoption across developers, architects, and contractors, and why in-person collaboration still matters as the industry enters its next technology cycle. Show Notes: 00:00 – Introducing Paul Zeckser 02:37 – Why building a company later in your career can be an advantage 06:01 – Assembling teams with deep domain expertise 08:33 – Leadership, transparency, and prioritizing goals over being liked 10:16 – Why most construction problems originate in pre-construction 15:40 – Can vertical solutions survive as foundation models evolve? 20:37 – Why LightTable chose unlimited-user pricing over traditional SaaS 24:05 – Being bullish on the office: collaboration, culture, and outcomes 28:32 – CU Boulder, the Deming Center, and a full-circle founder moment 31:10 – Postgame Recap If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram! Interested in being featured on the Founders’ Series? We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how this industry operates, we want to hear from you.

    33 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    Ep. 1 - Founder Series: Building Northspyre and Modernizing Development with William Sankey

    In the debut of the Founders’ Series, Ryan and Nadine sit down with William Sankey, CEO of Northspyre, to unpack what it really takes to build a tech company inside one of the most conservative industries: commercial real estate. William shares the moment he knew he had to build Northspyre, the messy leap from idea to execution, and whether, after a decade of lessons, he would choose the founder path again. They explore hiring for intangibles, why CRE negotiates SaaS contracts like construction deals, and how developers succeed or stumble when pivoting into hot asset classes like data centers and affordable housing. He also highlights the industry shifts people are overlooking, from the real impact of AI to the regulatory pressures that will shape the future of development. If you want an unfiltered look at what it takes to build in CRE, this episode delivers. Show Notes: 00:10: Welcome to the Founders’ Series 2:04: Introducing William Sankey 2:31: “I have to build this”: William’s origin moment 11:09: From idea to execution: the messy middle 17:14: Would he become a founder again? 21:30: Hiring for intangibles in an early-stage company 30:44: Why negotiating SaaS contracts in CRE is so uniquely challenging 34:40: Developers chasing “hot” asset classes: when it works and when it burns 40:39: Underhyped shifts: AI, regulation, and capital 47:14: Postgame Recap (actionable insights) 50:06: Closing thoughts & where to reach us If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions?  We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram! Interested in being featured on the Founders’ Series? We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how the real estate industry operates, we want to hear from you.

    51 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Ep. 17 - Leading with Purpose: The Power of Data, Culture, & Collaboration in CRE with Richard Reyes

    Real estate’s future won’t be built by code alone. It will be built by people who know how to connect it all. In this episode of CRE Unplugged, Ryan Elazari sits down with Richard Reyes, CEO of OSCRE International and VP of Digital Strategy at ConnexFM, to discuss how data, culture, and collaboration are reshaping the built environment. From his Texas ranch roots to leading digital transformation across real estate, Richard shares how hard work and hands-on experience shaped his mission to “assemble people, not just systems.” He explains the idea behind a “smart data highway,” why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to innovation, and how events like FutureBuilt are breaking down silos between trades and technology. A grounded and inspiring conversation about leadership, digital strategy, the evolution of the built environment. Show Notes: 0:10: Introducing Richard Reyes 2:19: Texas roots and developing a strong work ethic 4:21: How his ranch upbringing shaped the man he is today 6:30: Clean eating 7:29: “Assembler of people” 10:58: Data blind spots 15:40: Understanding culture within an organization 19:06: FutureBuilt, a ConnexFM Event 25:25: Advice for younger professionals in the world of AI 27:33: Are we seeing a future of more skilled laborers? 32:40: Shifting companies’ mindset toward data sharing 35:34: How does Richard unplug? 41:22: Ryan’s takeaways If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram! This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate. To learn more about the FutureBuilt event and how it’s bringing together leaders from across the built environment, visit futurebuilt.io.

    43 min

  7. 10/07/2025

    Ep 16. Retail Isn’t Dead. It Just Got a Makeover - with Beth Azor, The Canvassing Queen

    Everyone loves to say retail is dead. Beth Azor is here to say: not so fast.In this episode, Nadine and Ryan sit down with the indomitable "Canvassing Queen" to break down why retail’s not dying, but rather, evolving. From the rise of “competitive socializing” and medtail to the real story behind retail occupancy rates, Beth brings receipts, red blazers, and a whole lot of truth. We talk through her famous 5 F’s driving tenant demand, why personal branding in CRE is less about polish and more about showing up, and how Twitter (yes, still Twitter) landed her great deals. Whether you're a retail skeptic or superfan, this conversation might just change how you see your local strip center. Show Notes: 0:10: Introduction 1:10: Nadine's launch of the CRE AI Studio, a new AI learning platform 6:30: The REAL story on retail - it's not dead, it's just shifting 7:48: Introducing Beth Azor "The Canvassing Queen" 8:15: The biggest myth about retail real estate 13:00: The real story behind retail occupancy and sales 15:27: Beth's 5 "F's" of tenant demand 18:25: The shifting narrative around shopping centers 21:40: "Competitive socializing" and its role in retail 25:04: The rise of "medtail" 30:47: Creative development tactics in challenging times 34:44: The impact of cannabis on retail; are we in a bubble? 39:40: Tips to leveraging social media in CRE 45:09: The birth of "The Canvassing Queen" 49:35: Personal branding in CRE 53:42: How does Beth unplug? If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at ⁠⁠creunplugged.com⁠⁠ for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠⁠@CREUnplugged1⁠⁠ and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, ⁠⁠HILO⁠⁠, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

    1h 3m

  8. 09/25/2025

    Ep.15 - Building Towns for People, Not Cars: How Casey Roloff Made New Urbanism Real at Seabrook

    What if the real fix for America’s housing challenges isn’t just more supply, but better-designed towns? In this episode, Nadine and Ryan sit down with Casey Roloff, the visionary behind Seabrook, Washington, a walkable coastal town built from scratch on the principles of New Urbanism. From starting with a $500 land option and a cold-calling hustle, Casey shares how his early experiences shaped a mission to build places that prioritize people over cars. They explore why free “third places” are the social infrastructure we overlook, how zoning and capital markets make human-scale communities harder to replicate, and what developers often miss when trying to foster authentic connection. Casey also shares lessons from studying towns abroad, what he’d do differently if he built Seabrook today, and why the future of housing may look a lot more like the past. This episode is for anyone rethinking what livability actually means and how to build communities that feel like home from day one. Show Notes: 0:10: Introduction 1:30: Best practices for the conference circuit  9:17: Why we need a different kind of town? 11:02:  How growing up with limited resources inspired Casey Roloff to build a new kind of town  19:20: From painting houses for college tuition to designing and building houses  25:35:  Let’s build a town! New Urbanism and Seaside, FL 26:20:  The birth of cars and the death of town building  29:35: From vision to reality; designing the town Casey wanted to live in  37:05: The biggest misstep in modern day American developments 42:15: What policy updates are needed to bring back the art of town building 48:26: Striking the balance between effective town building and technology 55:00: Drawing inspiration from international travels for domestic town building  59:39:  A preview of Casey’s Blueprint talk  1:00:46 How does Casey unplug?  If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Be sure to visit our website at ⁠creunplugged.com⁠ for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠@CREUnplugged1⁠ and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on⁠ LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠! This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, ⁠HILO⁠, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

    1h 10m
See All (28)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The commercial real estate (CRE) industry, long resistant to change, is poised for transformation with AI and climate change driving the charge. This podcast bridges the worlds of CRE with Proptech, bringing humorous, insightful conversations with both industry veterans and newbies. Aimed at innovators and occupiers alike, we've set out to demystify and revolutionize CRE, making it accessible and relevant for a diverse audience. Join us in shaping a new, innovative era of real estate.

Information