An interview show with leading commercial and multifamily real estate participants in various disciplines. John Coe, a 41 year real estate finance professional, will interview many of his long time friends and past clients to learn about their backgrounds and what brought them into the income producing real estate business. He will probe into their career paths and what they have learned along the way, highlighting their successes, failures and lessons learned. Each episode will explore the interviewee's individual perspective and offer unique views of their particular expertise and where the trends are leading.
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An interview show with leading commercial and multifamily real estate participants in various disciplines. John Coe, a 41 year real estate finance professional, will interview many of his long time friends and past clients to learn about their backgrounds and what brought them into the income producing real estate business. He will probe into their career paths and what they have learned along the way, highlighting their successes, failures and lessons learned. Each episode will explore the interviewee's individual perspective and offer unique views of their particular expertise and where the trends are leading.
Roberta Liss- Leaving Cushman & Wakefield to Build the Data Center Future (#132)
Icons of DC Area Real Estate
2 hours 44 minutes 23 seconds
6 months ago
Roberta Liss- Leaving Cushman & Wakefield to Build the Data Center Future (#132)
Bio:
Roberta Liss has launched LNSS Advisors, a commercial real estate consultancy focused on data centers and highest and best use advisory. This new firm is motivated by her vision for her professional "last chapter" and the significant economic impact of AI and technology.
Liss draws on over 42 years of experience, including a decade as President of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions at Cushman & Wakefield. Her career spans key roles at Trammel Crow, CBRE, and BECO Management, executing over 30 million square feet in transactions.
Crucially, she has an early technical background in data center precursors from mechanical contracting, raised floors, and network operating centers. At LNSS Advisors, her expertise covers critical data center aspects like land assemblage, zoning, securing power, and adaptive reuse.
Her foundation includes a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Penn State University (1978-1983) and data center infrastructure education from IDCA.
Show Notes
Strategic Transition (6:00)
Pivoted from Cushman and Wakefield regional presidency to found LNSS Advisors focusing on data center advisory
Positioned data centers as critical infrastructure underpinning the AI revolution and digital economy
Launched firm immediately after C&W departure, targeting high-growth sector with specialized expertise
Combines commercial real estate advisory with highest and best use evaluations and data center focus
Personal Foundation (9:45)
Atlantic City upbringing provided firsthand exposure to real estate valuation principles
Father's FAA Tech Center background fostered interest in technical systems and early computer modeling
Mother's artistic influence balanced technical perspective with creative problem-solving
Observed demolition of historic Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel, demonstrating highest/best use concepts
Atlantic City's casino redevelopment provided early lessons in market transformation dynamics
Technical Expertise (19:00)
Penn State Architectural Engineering provided technical foundation for complex asset evaluation
Initial interest in architecture evolved toward technical engineering applications
Icons of DC Area Real Estate
An interview show with leading commercial and multifamily real estate participants in various disciplines. John Coe, a 41 year real estate finance professional, will interview many of his long time friends and past clients to learn about their backgrounds and what brought them into the income producing real estate business. He will probe into their career paths and what they have learned along the way, highlighting their successes, failures and lessons learned. Each episode will explore the interviewee's individual perspective and offer unique views of their particular expertise and where the trends are leading.
