Karen Simon, a seasoned professional in the commercial real estate industry, serves as the president and managing partner of Emersons Commercial Real Estate. With over 30 years of experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Karen has become a force to be reckoned with in the office, retail, industrial, and land sectors, excelling in both leasing and sales. Throughout her career, she has consistently been recognized as one of the top producers at the companies she has worked for, earning her a reputation as a skilled and successful leader in the industry.
Karen has navigated the competitive landscape of commercial real estate and established herself as a leading and inspiring woman in the industry. Her success is attributed to her three key qualities: being well-prepared, knowledgeable, and open-minded. Combined with her drive and determination, these qualities have allowed her to achieve her professional goals and earn the respect of her peers and superiors.
Entering in the Industry
In 1983, Karen ventured into the field of commercial real estate, which was then dominated by men and women mostly engaged in residential real estate. At that time, Karen was serving as the head of public relations and intergovernmental relations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the region covering Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Her role involved maintaining the relationships between the department and the state governments within the region. As part of her job, she was also in charge of handling public relations through newspapers and radio, which made it impossible for her to actively participate in the real estate business or obtain a real estate license, as it would have created a conflict of interest with the department’s functions. However, in 1982, when Texas passed a law allowing individuals who did not hold a real estate license as salesmen but could hold their own broker’s license to have their transcripts evaluated and become licensed as brokers within a year, Karen took advantage of the opportunity and submitted her transcripts.
Karen, who was missing 9 classroom hours, took a break from work to complete the required hours in a 2-week period and successfully passed the broker’s exam, scoring 75 on each section. With her newly acquired broker’s license, Karen returned to her job and eventually met the head of the industrial division for the Henry S Miller Company, the largest real estate company in Texas and the fifth largest in the United States at the time. The company was looking to increase the representation of women in commercial real estate and was in search of a woman to head a commercial department. Thus, Karen was offered the position of heading the Industrial Department in the Fort Worth, Tarrant County office. After months of consideration and negotiation, she accepted the offer and started the industrial Fort Worth office.
The company was supportive of Karen’s transition into the role and offered her several months to familiarize herself with the industry, develop the necessary skills, and provide her with the opportunity to attend training sessions before embarking on her new venture.
Thriving with Excellence
Karen served as the head of the Industrial and Land Division for the Henry S. Miller Company in Tarrant County for six years, until the company underwent changes and sold, leading to downsizing and office closures. Afterward, Karen worked for various other companies and ultimately became the managing partner of the Bradford Company in Tarrant County in 2003. She stayed with the Bradford Company until 2014, when she took up the role of Managing Head of TIG Tarrant County for two years. In 2016, Karen joined Emersons. Throughout her career, Karen was recognized and honored by the Fort Worth Business Press in the “Who’s Who in Business” section. Karen was recognized by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a newsmaker for her civil involvement and was selected as a top producer for the Bradford companies in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008. In 2007, she was named “Businesswoman of the Year” by the State Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and in 2011, she was selected as one of the “Most Influential Women in Texas” by the National Diversity Council.
Karen has always aimed to balance her professional and civic life and currently serves on several boards, including the board of the Jewel Charity, which raises funds for Cook Children’s Hospital, and the Women’s Health Council at Baylor Hospital. These are just a few of the organizations she is involved in.
The Company
Emersons Commercial Real Estate was founded in 2004 by two visionary entrepreneurs, Matthew Price and Richard Webb. Richard, who had a background in banking and real estate teamed up with Matt, an accountant and real estate broker, to create a company that would excel in both commercial real estate and management. In 2016, Karen joined the team and established the Tarrant County division, bringing the company’s presence to Ft. Worth. At that time, they already had a thriving office in Dallas, as well as representation in Oklahoma, Houston, and Austin, managing a total of 7 million square feet of commercial real estate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Three years later, in 2019, they joined forces with Priority Properties from St.Louis to create a new entity, 1045, aimed at maximizing their combined real estate management expertise.
Emersons Commercial Real Estate has grown significantly since its inception and now through 1045 manages a nationwide portfolio of over 2,900 properties, encompassing more than 80 million square feet of commercial real estate. The individual companies under Emerson’s umbrella continue to operate autonomously, but the addition of management has fueled their growth. Karen’s office focuses on leasing and sales of commercial properties, while the team refers opportunities for property management to the parent company.
Emersons Commercial Real Estate is a national real estate platform that aims to optimize values and resources through the expertise of its dedicated team. With a nationwide presence, the company provides services in property management, accounting, leasing, and consulting to meet the needs of its clients. The team’s passion and commitment to excellence set them apart, resulting in industry-leading solutions.
Leading, Educating, and Bringing Growth
Karen believes in staying informed and knowledgeable about industry developments through ongoing reading and research. However, she emphasizes the importance of retaining one’s own core values and not compromising them, even under pressure. Karen values open communication and seeks input from others to make informed decisions, recognizing that no one person should be solely responsible for decision-making.
Karen’s main responsibility is to bring in business for the company, allowing it to maintain its operations and provide opportunities for others. As a former teacher, Karen takes pleasure in mentoring young women in the real estate industry and helping them grow in their roles. She values a new team member who is dedicated, proactive and has a willingness to continuously learn and improve. Being smart and having a good education are also important factors. She values the importance of her work but also finds joy in spending time with her Bichon at the end of the day.
Karen promotes a strong work ethic among her team while also reminding them to prioritize their family responsibilities and not lose sight of the importance of work-life balance.
Success for Karen
As per Karen, the gentlemen at Emersons offered her a valuable opportunity to be an equal partner in the professional organization. They gave her the latitude and responsibility for decision-making and encouraged her to focus on long-term growth rather than quick financial gains. The opportunity for ownership and participation in the company was seen as highly valuable by Karen, and she took a step of faith by accepting the offer.
The industrial real estate industry has undergone significant changes over the last 30 years, with a growing presence of women, although men still hold the majority of positions. Karen’s career has also evolved, expanding her focus to include office, retail, sales, leasing, and development. Karen defines success not only by her achievements but also by her commitment to treating others with dignity and respect. Her ongoing, self-challenging approach has established her as a strong leader in the industry.
Tech Disruption Over the Course of Time
Karen is acknowledging that the younger generation in the workplace has a higher level of technological skills compared to themselves. She mentions how technology has evolved greatly over the course of their career, from using a triplicate typewriter to computers and now everything being digital. Karen references the change in technology by mentioning their 33rd car telephone, which was a big box, compared to the small cell phones used today.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
