Today marks the last day of my summer internship with ShopCore Properties, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey I’ve had and the valuable lessons I’ve learned. This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work in the Asset Management team, and I want to extend my gratitude to Rowan, Max, Justin, Matt, Paul, Kori, Lauren, and my intern buddy Bailey for their support and unfettered guidance.
This 10-week experience has been eye-opening and rewarding, offering me a realistic view into the commercial real estate space from an institutional perspective. Here is a snapshot of what I have learned and worked on:
🔍 I honed my eye for detail by identifying discrepancies between tenant sales reporting frequencies and actual sales reported through MRI, a property management software.
📊 I utilized my analytical skills by transforming AR data into a comprehensive summary report that can be filtered by property, region, and asset manager.
📄 I simplified the legal language of a complex forced sale right and presented my findings — Thank you Gary for your guidance!
📈 I refined predictive models on Argus by zeroing out BDE and adjusting general vacancies.
📅 I enhanced my project management skills by noting tenants with LEDs in the next 24 months and outlining a clear plan to renew or backfill the space.
📝 I developed a deep understanding of ShopCore’s consideration process for a tenant by writing Real Estate Committee Memos after thorough research of a potential tenant’s business strategy, team, and credit background.
📉 I contributed to internal dashboards, gaining insight into how powerful Excel modeling is for streamlining communication.
🗺️ I noted discrepancies on our properties’ site plans, which will be updated on the ShopCore website.
📍 I had the privilege of visiting all three of ShopCore’s Chicagoland-area properties — Springbrook Prairie Pavilion in Naperville, Stony Creek Promenade in Oak Lawn, and Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg — which provided me with a tangible understanding of our assets.
🎓 I culminated my internship by providing an overall asset strategy for Streets of Woodfield, integrating my own ideas on how to capture the most value at the 693k SF premier lifestyle asset anchored by Whole Foods, Dick’s, and Legoland.
Throughout the summer, I also had many meaningful conversations with wonderful individuals who helped me grow both personally and professionally. In addition to everyone who has taken the time to connect with me this summer, I would like to thank Aimee, Claudia, Rocell, Bella, and Brian McAluney. I am elated to say I have several role models in the ShopCore office! Finally, I want to thank my fellow interns in the Chicago office: Daniel, Jonah, Liza, Arnav - let’s keep in touch!
As I begin my junior year at Cornell, I am excited to carry forward the skills I have gained and speak to my phenomenal experience at ShopCore.