What You Don't Know About Robert Brierley
Photo: Rob trying on a Patriots Super Bowl ring at a recent season ticket holder event at Gillette Stadium.
Position: Colliers SVP and shareholder; recently elected vice chair of BOMA International; and BOMA Fellow.
Location: Boston.
Where he grew up: Born and raised in scenic Pawtucket, RI.
Responsibilities: At Colliers, I am responsible for new business development for our Real Estate Management Services department. I seek new property management assignments and demonstrate how Colliers can improve property operations and drive asset values for our clients through Colliers’ proactive property management platform. With BOMA International, I help support a vibrant and productive commercial real estate industry while promoting and communicating BOMA’s value proposition to our members and member companies.
Career, in a nutshell: I recently celebrated my 27th year in commercial real estate management, and I’ve spent the bulk of my career (a combined 18 years) employed on the owners' side, leading and managing the property operations for Class-A, high-rise office portfolios with iconic and forward-thinking industry firms, including Beacon Properties, Equity Office Properties and Brookfield Properties. This is my second time working with Colliers, having worked for its predecessor company, Meredith & Grew, from 1990 until 1996. I rejoined the firm, now Colliers, in 2013. These experiences have given me a unique perspective when it comes to property management and implementing strategic vision.
How he got involved in property management: I was bored stiff working at AT&T performing accounts receivables collections with the City of Boston as my main account. One day, I received a call from my sister-in-law, Eileen, who at the time worked for Gilbane Properties, asking if I was interested in becoming a property manager at a subsidized and senior housing facility in Pawcatuck, CT. I interviewed for the position, got the job and, with that, became fully immersed in the industry.
Industry and life extracurriculars: Past chairman of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, past president of BOMA/Boston, and immediate past chair of the BOMA 360 Performance Program Council.
Daily habit: Evening walks along beautiful Cohasset Harbor with my wife.
Favorite book: Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.
Favorite music: I like music from almost every genre, but I’m partial to country music, particularly Garth Brooks and Toby Keith.
Favorite movie: The Star Wars series.
Startling fact: I had the opportunity to give a speech at this past year’s BOMA International Conference & Expo in LA just prior to guest speaker Jay Leno coming out to perform his routine. Now I tell everyone that I warmed up the crowd and opened for Jay Leno! (He's snapped above with his two oldest children and Jay.)
Favorite restaurant: Tie between Pagliuca’s in Boston’s North End and Angelo’s of Mulberry Street in NYC's Little Italy. Love, love, love Italian!
Favorite vacation: No vacation comes close to when my wife and I took our children to Disney World and got to see their reactions when they first saw Mickey Mouse and Tigger. Such great memories!
First job: Stock clerk at Ann & Hope, an old discount retailer, in Cumberland, RI. It taught me the importance of customer service and the value of a strong work ethic.
Job in another life: Sports broadcaster.
Item on bucket list: Take a trip to Italy.
Person he'd like to meet, dead or alive: Clint Eastwood.
Hobbies: As a sports junkie, I’m always following my favorite teams either on television or in person. I am a die-hard New England Patriots fan and season ticket holder. I also try to catch at least one or two Yankees games at Yankee Stadium each season, and I visit my daughter, who’s a senior at Clemson University, and see at least one Tigers football game each year. I also like to golf and hit the beach whenever possible.
Family life: I’ve been married to my wife, Susan, for 24 years. We have three children: Stephanie, 21; Christopher, 18; and Kyle, 12. Our family has a dog, Bailey Jeter, and a bearded dragon, Teddie.
