Beyond the Resume

Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker
  • 4.5 (8)
  • Careers
  • Weekly

Co-hosted by industry veterans, Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker, the weekly Beyond the Resume Podcast features interviews with some of the best known real estate experts in the U.S. By exploring how they built their successful careers and the impact they have made to the communities around them we hope to educate and inspire anyone building or thinking of building a career in real estate. Join us as we go Beyond the Resume.

  1. 20h ago

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Russell Flicker (Success isn't a straight line)

    In this episode of Beyond the Resume, we welcome a guest five years in the making: Russell Flicker, co-founder of AWH Partners. We follow Russ’s unconventional journey from law school to dot-com-era startup to real estate investing and building a hospitality business that now owns 24 hotels. Russ takes us back to the career pivots that shaped his path. He also explains why he left an executive position during the Recession, despite having two young children, to launch AWH Partners. We learn how hotel acquisitions, property management, and renovations work together within the firm — and why the responsibility of supporting employees has become one of his most important lessons as a business owner. We examine the impact of COVID-19 on the hotel industry, including shutdowns, threatened investments, emergency borrowing, and efforts to keep employees on payroll. Russ describes a recovery complicated by inflation, higher interest rates, and reduced hotel transaction activity. He also explains where AWH sees opportunity today, from newer cash-flowing properties overlooked by large investment funds to distressed hotels requiring substantial renovations. We then explore how AWH’s years of collecting and standardizing hotel financial data created a foundation for AI-powered underwriting, allowing the team to evaluate more deals with greater speed and consistency. And there’s more to Russ than business. We talk pickleball, weightlifting, and his unexpected pursuit of stand-up comedy. Finally, we discuss why careers are marathons rather than straight lines, how professional reputation can open doors decades later, and what Russ learned from mentors and partners along the way. CHAPTERS (00:20) Meet Russ Flicker of AWH Partners (02:09) Building a Hotel Investment and Management Company (04:03) From Law School to a Failed Startup (07:32) An Unexpected Meeting with Donald Trump (11:21) Leaving a Steady Paycheck to Become an Entrepreneur (13:22) The Responsibility of Leading a Team (15:37) Surviving COVID-19 in the Hotel Industry (20:48) Opportunities in Today's Hotel Market (24:09) Turning Hotel Data into an AI Advantage (30:31) The Hot Seat (36:07) Career Advice, Reputation, and Relationships (38:38) Mentors Who Made a Difference YouTube: https://youtu.be/iyu5EGXmNBI Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Russell Flicker (Success isn't a straight line)

  2. Oct 26

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Carlina Rivera (From Section 8 to CEO)

    In this episode of Beyond the Resume, we welcome Carlina Rivera, President and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), for a conversation about affordable housing, public service, leadership, and community advocacy. Drawing on her experience as a New York City Council Member, tenant advocate, and legislative staffer, Carlina explores the challenges facing affordable housing development in New York. From rising construction and insurance costs to housing policy, public-private partnerships, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), she explains how NYSAFAH advocates for the production and preservation of affordable homes. Carlina also reflects on her upbringing in public housing and Section 8 housing on Manhattan's Lower East Side, her early experiences at the Marist Poll, and her involvement with the Essex Crossing development. She shares how these experiences shaped her commitment to public service and housing stability. Beyond policy, the conversation explores balancing family and leadership, expanding NYSAFAH's reach, mentoring future professionals, and why storytelling matters in affordable housing. CHAPTERS (00:20) Welcome and Introductions (01:34) NYSAFAH and New York's Affordable Housing Crisis (03:04) Rising Housing Costs and Policy Challenges (04:14) From City Council to Housing Advocacy (07:10) Journalism, Polling, and Early Career Lessons (11:44) Essex Crossing and Community Development (12:55) The Roots of Public Service (17:05) The Benefits of NYSAFAH Membership (18:52) A Day in the Life of NYSAFAH's CEO (21:00) Expanding Affordable Housing Advocacy (24:28) Transit-Oriented Development and Housing (26:45) Balancing Family and Leadership (28:16) The Hot Seat (32:01) Hiring, Storytelling, and Building Teams (33:42) Mentorship and Career Lessons YouTube: https://youtu.be/FfOgrhkbElg Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Carlina Rivera (From Section 8 to CEO)

  3. Oct 19

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Allison Smith (The mission needs the math)

    What does it take to lead an affordable housing organization, build meaningful public-private partnerships, and turn financial expertise into lasting community impact? In this episode of Beyond the Resume, host Chris Papa sits down with Allison Smith, CEO of the Texas Housing Foundation, to explore her unconventional journey from accounting to executive leadership in affordable housing. Allison shares how her early nonprofit experience in Rwanda shaped her commitment to service, how an unexpected layoff led her into affordable housing, and why financial discipline is essential to sustaining a mission-driven organization. She explains how the Texas Housing Foundation partners with developers and local governments to create and preserve affordable housing through property tax exemptions, financing tools, and community partnerships. The conversation also explores Allison's leadership philosophy, the importance of mentorship, building strong teams, and the organization's evolving strategy to address housing needs across rural and suburban Texas. From navigating local government approvals to prioritizing community relationships, Allison offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders and professionals pursuing careers in affordable housing and nonprofit management. CHAPTERS 00:15 – Meet Allison Smith and the Texas Housing Foundation 02:13 – How Affordable Housing Partnerships Work in Texas 04:29 – Property Tax Exemptions and Local Government Approvals 06:44 – Asset Management and Accountability in Affordable Housing 08:11 – From Accounting to a Career in Affordable Housing 10:59 – An Unexpected Career Turning Point 13:11 – Why Financial Discipline Matters in Mission-Driven Work 16:51 – The Responsibilities of a CEO 18:16 – Family Values, Mentorship, and a Commitment to Service 22:35 – Life-Changing Lessons from Rwanda 24:36 – The Future of Affordable Housing in Texas 30:11 – The Hot Seat 33:19 – What Allison Looks for When Hiring 35:08 – Mentorship, Communication, and Building Strong Teams YouTube: https://youtu.be/DJ52S6y_qjA Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Allison Smith (The mission needs the math)

  4. Oct 12

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Robert Sessa (Investing in more than money)

    What does success look like beyond a paycheck? In this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Lisa Flicker and Chris Papa welcome Bob Sessa to explore career development, institutional real estate investing, leadership, and finding purpose in professional life. From competitive swimming and public accounting to managing real estate investments for a public pension fund, Bob shares the experiences that shaped his career. He discusses turning down a banking opportunity offering three times the salary, choosing work-life balance over financial gain, and how volunteering transformed his perspective on success. Bob also offers valuable career advice on intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, mentorship, and the importance of resilience. Through personal stories and professional insights, he demonstrates why meaningful careers are built on more than technical expertise. Whether you're an aspiring real estate investor, young professional, or experienced leader, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on building a fulfilling career. CHAPTERS (01:15) Early Influences and Career Beginnings (04:00) Lessons from Public Accounting (05:20) Volunteering and Finding Purpose (09:25) Choosing Work-Life Balance Over Salary (11:50) Inside Institutional Real Estate Investing (16:00) Discipline, Resilience and Critical Thinking (18:30) The Hot Seat: Books and Personal Interests (20:50) Meditation and Staying Grounded (22:50) Hiring, Leadership and Intellectual Curiosity (24:35) Mentorship and Lessons for the Next Generation YouTube: https://youtu.be/1oxQrqxOmjQ

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Robert Sessa (Investing in more than money)

  5. Oct 5

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Paul Salib (Start small, stay patient)

    Paul Salib joins Beyond the Resume to discuss a career spanning real estate investment, bridge lending, and affordable housing development. From learning the business at Redstone Partners to building and selling a substantial New York portfolio, Paul explains how changing market conditions pushed him to adapt, manage risk, and pursue new opportunities. Paul also shares how CRP Affordable Housing and Community Development expanded into California and why affordable housing has become such an important part of his work. He discusses serving populations including veterans, farmworkers, active military members, and young adults at risk of homelessness. The conversation also explores leadership, breaking into affordable housing, the value of strong partnerships, hiring for work ethic and attention to detail, and the mentors who shaped Paul’s career. His advice throughout is simple: start small, stay patient, build relationships, and be willing to adjust when the market changes. CHAPTERS (00:42) Building a Real Estate Business in New York (03:25) From Ownership to Bridge Lending (05:42) Returning to Affordable Housing (07:46) Developing Affordable Housing Across California (09:52) Knowing When to Pivot Your Strategy (11:28) How to Break Into Affordable Housing (13:49) What Does a CEO Actually Do? (14:59) From Sports Television to Real Estate (18:41) The Hot Seat (21:00) Routine and Staying Productive (24:20) Mentors Who Shaped His Career YouTube: https://youtu.be/1wX65Jfcb-c Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Paul Salib (Start small, stay patient)

  6. Sep 28

    Beyond the Resume with Andrea Kretchmer (The career you never planned)

    Andrea Kretchmer’s career was never supposed to lead to affordable housing development—and that is exactly what makes her story such a compelling fit for Beyond the Resume. Andrea, a principal and founder of Xenolith Partners LLC, joins Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker to trace a career that began in science. After studying geology and earning a master’s degree, Andrea worked as an environmental consultant conducting soil and groundwater investigations. She later stepped away from her career for a decade to raise her family, volunteer in her community, and develop skills she would eventually bring into an entirely different profession. When she was ready to return to work, Andrea approached her father, longtime real estate developer Jerry Kretchmer, about working together. Their search for an opportunity led them to affordable housing, where Andrea could combine real estate development with the community-focused work she had grown to value. Her earliest projects included successful New York City RFPs in Coney Island and East New York—but the 2008 recession dramatically altered their plans and taught Andrea just how much patience development can require. Andrea also explains how she and Terry Belkas Mitchell founded Xenolith in 2016 and built a company around partnerships, complementary skill sets, and affordable and supportive housing development. She discusses the importance of earning credibility with lenders and investors, expanding into Connecticut, collaborating with nonprofit organizations, and maintaining what she calls a “pleasantly persistent” approach to the business. The conversation also explores Andrea’s strength as a connector: networking, mentoring younger professionals, participating in industry organizations, and helping others gain access to relationships and knowledge that benefited her earlier in her own career. Andrea closes by reflecting on returning to work after ten years away, recognizing life experience as legitimate professional experience, building teams with people whose skills complement her own, and acknowledging the mentors and partners who helped make her career possible. CHAPTERS (01:02) Building affordable and supportive housing through partnerships (03:31) From geology to environmental consulting (05:55) Stepping away from work to raise a family (07:26) Returning to work and discovering affordable housing (08:47) Winning Andrea’s first New York City development projects (12:06) Why affordable housing became the right career (16:59) Breaking into development and learning the business (19:50) Growing Xenolith beyond New York City (24:23) Networking, mentorship and the “people business” (28:25) What’s next for Xenolith (33:19) Returning to the workforce after a 10-year career break (36:05) The Beyond the Resume Hot Seat (38:44) What Andrea looks for in partners and colleagues (40:11) The people who helped shape Andrea’s career YouTube: https://youtu.be/g29vTeErK7I?si=nLAxxF93CSbvaL2e Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume with Andrea Kretchmer (The career you never planned)

  7. Sep 21

    Beyond the Resume Podcast with Susan Dimikele (The next right thing)

    Susan DiMickele spent 21 years in Big Law before making a career pivot that ultimately led her to become President and CEO of National Church Residences. In this episode of Beyond the Resume, Susan joins Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker to discuss the experiences, decisions, and leadership lessons that shaped her path from attorney to nonprofit housing executive. Susan shares how her father’s end-of-life journey, the needs of her family, and a longstanding desire to do mission-driven work helped push her toward a new chapter. After serving on the National Church Residences board, she joined the organization as its first general counsel, then expanded into innovation, home- and community-based services, senior living, and healthcare before eventually stepping into the CEO role. The conversation explores National Church Residences’ work serving older adults through affordable housing and services including service coordination, home health, hospice, primary care, caregiver support, and benefits navigation. Susan also discusses the growing population of older adults, the rise in homelessness among seniors, the difficulty of getting affordable housing deals done, and the organization’s goal of serving 100,000 older adults by 2030. Susan also breaks down what leadership looks like from the CEO seat: surrounding yourself with talented people, giving them the tools they need, and staying accountable to the organization’s vision. She identifies talent as one of the biggest factors in reaching National Church Residences’ growth goals and explains why adaptable people with a growth mindset will be increasingly important as roles and technology continue to change. For professionals considering a career change, Susan offers a clear message: be willing to make a lateral move or even take a pay cut, focus on the “next right thing,” and play the long game. The episode closes with Susan discussing faith, personal routines, her hiring philosophy, and the mentors who shaped her career. CHAPTERS (00:00) Meet Susan DiMickele & National Church Residences (03:02) What Makes Senior Affordable Housing Different? (04:02) Leaving Big Law for a Mission-Driven Career (05:43) From General Counsel to President & CEO (06:44) Combining Housing, Healthcare & Services (08:01) The Origins of National Church Residences (09:49) Living Longer vs. Living Better: Finding Your “Joy Span” (11:39) The Growing Housing Challenge Facing Older Adults (12:34) What Does a CEO Actually Do? (13:41) Transferable Skills & Developing a Growth Mindset (15:23) Susan’s Early Career, Family & Sense of Purpose (17:24) Why Affordable Housing Deals Are Getting Harder (18:42) Career Pivots: Take the Lateral Move and Play the Long Game (19:52) The Talent Needed to Serve 100,000 Older Adults (21:47) AI, Changing Roles & Hiring for Adaptability (23:29) The Hot Seat (25:13) Faith, Personal Rhythms & Staying Grounded (26:46) Susan’s Hiring Philosophy (29:37) Mentors Who Shaped Her Career (30:59) Closing Thoughts with Susan DiMickele YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cb3D6TjUPmU Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume Podcast with Susan Dimikele (The next right thing)

  8. Sep 14

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Pastor Martin Porter (Building on Faith)

    What happens when a pastor approaches affordable housing with the discipline, financial fluency, and ambition of a seasoned real estate developer? In this episode of Beyond the Resume, Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Martin Porter, founder and CEO of Logos Development, for a candid conversation about faith-based affordable housing, church real estate development, personal transformation, and purpose-driven leadership. Martin explains how Logos Development partners with churches and religious organizations to transform underused land—including parking lots and surplus parcels—into much-needed housing. Rather than purchasing church property, Logos uses joint ventures and long-term ground leases that allow congregations to remain invested in the land and participate in the value created through development. The conversation goes far beyond real estate. Martin shares his unconventional journey from the restaurant and nightclub business to commercial brokerage, ministry, sobriety, and ultimately affordable housing development. He describes how recovery helped him rebuild his life, answer a spiritual calling, and pursue the seemingly unattainable goal of becoming a full-scale developer. Martin also discusses the importance of assembling teams with more experience than you, maintaining trust through difficult development decisions, and understanding that affordable housing is fundamentally a relationship-driven business. He reflects on second chances, resilience, self-discipline, family, gratitude, ethical leadership, and the daily choice to remain grounded while leading a rapidly growing company. The episode also explores what Martin looks for when hiring, why faith-based organizations must hold themselves to exceptionally high professional standards, how he creates boundaries around technology, and the mentors and books that continue to shape his approach to leadership and development. Building on Faith is a deeply personal conversation about affordable housing, church land, recovery, real estate entrepreneurship, and what becomes possible when professional ambition is anchored by a meaningful purpose. CHAPTERS (00:00) Martin Porter: Pastor, Developer and Mission-Driven Entrepreneur (01:52) The Meaning and Mission Behind Logos Development (04:00) Why Churches Are Turning Underused Land Into Housing (06:35) Joint Ventures, Ground Leases and Church Ownership (10:38) Understanding Church Partners and Returning to Their Mission (12:44) From Nightlife and Sales to Commercial Real Estate (14:58) Sobriety, Ministry and the Birth of Logos Development (17:17) Breaking Into Development Without a Traditional Roadmap (21:40) Resilience, Second Chances and Believing in Your Purpose (26:56) Ethics, Trust and Mission-Driven Affordable Housing (31:39) The Hot Seat: Books, Robert Moses and the Use of Power (36:28) Staying Grounded Through Gratitude, Family and Discipline (40:33) Hiring for Mindset, Excellence and Authentic Diversity (44:10) The Mentors Who Shaped Martin’s Leadership (45:29) Final Reflections and Closing YouTube: https://youtu.be/3LmdJfuOzQA Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

    Beyond the Resume podcast with Pastor Martin Porter (Building on Faith)
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Co-hosted by industry veterans, Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker, the weekly Beyond the Resume Podcast features interviews with some of the best known real estate experts in the U.S. By exploring how they built their successful careers and the impact they have made to the communities around them we hope to educate and inspire anyone building or thinking of building a career in real estate. Join us as we go Beyond the Resume.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Resume

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