Rise Commercial

Rise Commercial Pittsburgh’s Top Conflict-Free Commercial Real Estate Experts. We Represent Tenants. Not Landlords. Ever. We’re not listing agents. We represent you, the tenant.

That means every recommendation is based on your goals, not our inventory. Businesses have trusted us for over 20 years because we offer the highest levels of market expertise, transparency and strategic positioning. Rise Pittsburgh brings sophistication to both commercial and residential real estate, striving to create a smooth journey and exceptional experience. Through our technology-driven dashboard, we have reimagined how you buy, sell, and lease real estate.

Being busy and paying attention are not the same thing.This was somewhere in the middle of a long bike ride.For a moment...
09/29/2026

Being busy and paying attention are not the same thing.

This was somewhere in the middle of a long bike ride.

For a moment, I stopped.

No emails.
No meetings.
No notifications.

Just a dark tunnel, my bike, and the light at the other end.

It reminded me how rarely we give ourselves that kind of quiet in business.

There's a Japanese concept called Zanshin that refers to continued awareness and attention.

Not just looking.

Noticing.

Most leaders spend their days reacting.

Emails.
Texts.
Meetings.
Problems.
Decisions that apparently needed to be made five minutes ago.

I've certainly had those days.

But some of the best decisions I've made weren't made because I responded faster.

They came when I gave myself enough space to think.

To listen a little longer.

To ask one more question.

To notice what wasn't being said.

Everything doesn't require an immediate response.

Some things require your full attention.

Sometimes leadership means creating enough quiet to hear what everyone else is missing.

Some of the most exciting projects are the ones we can tell you the least about.We are excited to announce the successfu...
09/23/2026

Some of the most exciting projects are the ones we can tell you the least about.

We are excited to announce the successful relocation of a confidential, Carnegie Mellon University startup into its new headquarters at Bakery Square.

While we can't share the company's name or the groundbreaking work they're doing, we can share the journey.

The leadership team came to us with a highly specialized set of technical and operational requirements. Finding office space was only part of the challenge. The new headquarters needed to accommodate confidential operations, specialized equipment, and future growth, all while remaining within close proximity to Carnegie Mellon University.

So we went to market.

We evaluated virtually every viable option in the area, carefully weighing each building's infrastructure, flexibility, and long term potential.

In the end, we found the perfect solution.

A thoughtfully designed spec suite provided a strong foundation with quality finishes already in place, allowing the team to customize the space for their unique operational needs without starting from scratch.

Just as importantly, the location offered everything they were looking for. Bakery Square's vibrant amenities, innovation ecosystem, and proximity to world class research institutions make it one of Pittsburgh's premier destinations for growing technology companies.

Every project is different, but this one reinforced something we see time and again: the right headquarters isn't just a place to work. It's a strategic asset that helps companies attract talent, fuel innovation, and prepare for what's next.

Congratulations to this incredible team on your new headquarters. We're excited to see what's next.

Perfection is one of the most expensive habits in business.This picture was taken while I was setting up a 360° virtual ...
09/22/2026

Perfection is one of the most expensive habits in business.

This picture was taken while I was setting up a 360° virtual tour for a client who couldn't make the property tours in person.

Was I a professional virtual tour photographer?

Nope.

Did that stop me?

Also nope.

The client had a problem. We had technology. So we figured out a solution.

There's a Japanese philosophy called Wabi Sabi that finds beauty and value in imperfection and in things that are still evolving.

I think there's a great business lesson in that.

Too often we wait.

For the perfect strategy.
The perfect technology.
The perfect timing.
The perfect conditions.

Meanwhile, someone else starts.

They learn.

They improve.

They keep going.

I've learned not to confuse excellence with perfection.

Excellence asks:

How can we make this better?

Perfection asks:

Is it ready yet?

One moves you forward.

The other can keep you standing still.

Start. Learn. Evolve.

You'll never get this conversation back or hear what they are saying again.I've spent a lot of my career in meetings.Cli...
09/16/2026

You'll never get this conversation back or hear what they are saying again.

I've spent a lot of my career in meetings.

Client meetings.
Interviews.
Lunches.
Presentations.
Conversations with my team.

Some changed the direction of a deal.

Some changed the direction of my business.

And a few changed the direction of my life.

There's a Japanese phrase called Ichigo Ichie that captures something I've come to appreciate more with time.

It means, essentially, one time, one meeting.

The idea is that every encounter is unique. This exact combination of people, place and circumstances will never happen again.

That's a pretty powerful thought when you think about how often we're physically in one conversation while mentally already in the next one.

Great leaders listen.

Really listen.

They put down the phone.
Stop thinking about the next meeting.
Ask another question.
Pay attention to the answer.

Because you never know which conversation will become the important one.

After years in business, I'm convinced of this:

Relationships aren't built in grand gestures.

They're built one conversation at a time.

And you don't get any of them back.

I went all in. Every chip. No safety net.I was watching Landman and they talked about wildcatting. Betting everything on...
09/10/2026

I went all in. Every chip. No safety net.

I was watching Landman and they talked about wildcatting. Betting everything on the ground beneath your feet and believing there’s oil down there before anyone else does.

Because that’s exactly what I did when I decided to become a commercial real estate broker.

I didn’t dip a toe in.
I didn’t keep a backup plan.
I didn’t hedge my bet.

I pushed every chip to the center of the table and said I’m doing this.

I was walking into a male dominated industry where relationships mattered, trust was earned over decades, and no one was waiting to hand me a seat at the table. But I believed in my work ethic, my ability to outwork, outlearn, and outcare (not sure if that's a word) anyone in the room, and my conviction that clients deserved better representation.

Wildcatting isn’t reckless.
It’s calculated courage.

It’s doing the work when no one’s watching.
It’s taking hits early.
It’s staying when quitting would be easier.

That all in decision is what shaped my career, built Rise Commercial, and still drives how I show up for clients today. Fully invested. No conflicts. No half measures.

If you’re at that moment right now, staring at the table with your chips stacked in front of you, here’s my take.

The biggest rewards rarely come from playing it safe.
They come from believing in yourself before the results prove you right.

All in worked for me.
Still does.

A great office doesn't just bring people back together. It gives them a reason to be there.We are excited to announce th...
09/09/2026

A great office doesn't just bring people back together. It gives them a reason to be there.

We are excited to announce the successful opening of a new Pittsburgh office for one of our clients, in partnership with an outstanding co-broker from Savills.

Like many companies, this team had been operating remotely and reached a point where leadership recognized the value of creating a physical space that would foster collaboration, strengthen culture, and provide a place for employees to connect.

Together, we evaluated opportunities throughout the Pittsburgh market before narrowing our focus to the Parkway West corridor.

The result was exactly what we hoped for.

A space that was nearly move-in ready, requiring minimal updates so the team could get up and running quickly while creating an environment that reflected their culture and future growth.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was working alongside an exceptional leadership team. They had a clear vision, remained open throughout the process, and made thoughtful decisions that ultimately led to an outstanding outcome.

This project is also a great reminder of the value of collaboration. Working together with our partners at Savills allowed us to combine local market expertise with national client relationships to deliver the right solution.

Congratulations to the entire team on your new Pittsburgh office. We are grateful for the opportunity to help you establish a home for your employees and look forward to watching your continued success.

Here's to bringing great people together in a great space.

Kaizen | You don't have to see the whole path to keep moving forward.This was another day on the Appalachian Trail. Fogg...
09/08/2026

Kaizen | You don't have to see the whole path to keep moving forward.

This was another day on the Appalachian Trail. Foggy. Wet. Limited visibility. We couldn't see very far ahead, but we could see the next few steps. So we took them.

There's a Japanese concept called Kaizen that I've always liked. It means continuous improvement.

Not massive change overnight.

One better conversation.

One better process.

One better decision.

One more step forward.

I think leaders sometimes underestimate the power of that.

We're conditioned to look for the big idea, the big breakthrough, the big win.

But companies don't become exceptional overnight. Neither do people.

Most meaningful progress comes from doing something a little better today than you did yesterday.

Then doing it again tomorrow. Improve. Repeat. Keep going.

You don't always need to see the finish line. Sometimes you just need to see the next step.

I’m incredibly honored to be named a 2026 CREi Top Instagram Influencer. And I have to admit, this one makes me smile.I ...
09/03/2026

I’m incredibly honored to be named a 2026 CREi Top Instagram Influencer. And I have to admit, this one makes me smile.

I originally joined Instagram for a very sophisticated reason: to keep up with my kids. Somewhere along the way, I started sharing a little more about commercial real estate, leadership, Pittsburgh, the people I meet, the lessons I’m learning, and the work we’re doing at Rise Commercial.

I’m still learning Instagram. I still wonder what I’m supposed to post, which button I’m supposed to push, and whether I’ll ever completely understand the algorithm. 😅

But maybe that’s part of the point.

Social media has reminded me that business has always been about people and relationships. After more than 25 years in commercial real estate, I’m still learning, still asking questions, still trying new things, and still finding new ways to connect and help people make better decisions. That idea has been at the heart of my career and the work we do at Rise.

To CREi, thank you for this recognition again this year and for building a community that encourages our industry to share ideas, challenge traditional thinking, and embrace what’s next.

And to everyone who follows along, comments, shares an idea, teaches me something, or tolerates my attempts at Instagram, thank you. I genuinely appreciate you.

I’m especially grateful to my family, my kids who unknowingly started this whole Instagram adventure, and the Rise team who continue to push me to think bigger and embrace the future.

85 years of deals, relationships, ideas, and friendships. New York City feels like the perfect place to celebrate what m...
09/02/2026

85 years of deals, relationships, ideas, and friendships. New York City feels like the perfect place to celebrate what makes SIOR so special.

I’m excited to be heading to NYC for SIOR’s Fall Event, October 19 through 22, as we celebrate the 85th Anniversary of SIOR.

I’ve always believed that commercial real estate is ultimately a relationship business. Markets change. Technology changes. The way we work certainly changes. But the value of surrounding yourself with smart people who challenge your thinking, share their experiences, and genuinely want to see one another succeed never goes away.

That’s one of the things I value most about SIOR. The designation is meaningful, but the people behind those four letters are what make this organization extraordinary.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, come to New York! Connect with old friends. Make some new ones. Learn something that changes the way you approach your business. And help us celebrate 85 years of an incredible organization.

I’ll be there and would love to see you.

Turns out, business strategy and sourdough have more in common than they should.I’ve been working on my sourdough starte...
09/02/2026

Turns out, business strategy and sourdough have more in common than they should.

I’ve been working on my sourdough starter, and somewhere between feeding it, watching it grow, and wondering whether I had accidentally killed it, I realized something:

Building a business is a lot like building a great loaf of sourdough.

You need the right ingredients.

You need consistency.

You need patience when nothing seems to be happening.

You need to know when to let things rest and when it’s time to act.

And occasionally, you have to accept that despite your best planning, something is going to come out a little weird.

The biggest similarity?

You can’t rush something that needs time to develop.

Relationships. Trust. Expertise. Culture. Reputation. A great team. A great business.

They’re built over time.

After 25+ years in commercial real estate, I still believe some of the best results come from doing the simple things consistently. Listen. Show up. Do what you say you’re going to do. Keep learning. Keep adjusting. And give good things enough time to rise.

At Rise Commercial, we talk a lot about being transparent, determined, client focused, and willing to do things differently. Apparently, my sourdough starter got the memo.

And speaking of this starter...

Mine is officially producing offspring faster than I can bake.

So, Pittsburgh friends, if you've been thinking about jumping on the sourdough bandwagon, I’m happy to share.

Comment STARTER below, and I’ll drop some off to you or feel free to send me a DM or email.

No lease negotiation required. 😉

Address

180 Swinderman Road, Suite 150
Wexford, PA
15090

Telephone

+14123363333

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