HEATHER EWING: The CRE RUNdown
Are you intrigued by Commercial Real Estate? Join Heather Ewing, CCIM each week as she dives into CRE trends, Deals, and Developments throughout Madison, WI. Learn the crucial role of Mindset in CRE and Marathons! Success leaves Clues.
HEATHER EWING: The CRE RUNdown
Ep. 27 Sarah Carlson - Architecture in Design + Life
Ever wondered how a former television news anchor can revolutionize business development in the architecture industry? Join us for an insightful conversation with Sarah Carlson, the dynamic Business Development Manager at Sketchworks Architecture in Madison, Wisconsin. Sarah opens up about her fascinating career shift from journalism to architecture, sharing how her background has given her unparalleled networking skills and a passion for fostering personal connections. As we navigate through Madison's rapidly evolving development landscape, Sarah offers invaluable tips on effective networking and emphasizes the irreplaceable creativity that architects bring to their projects, even in an age of AI.
In the latter segment, we shift gears to explore the therapeutic and strategic parallels between running and professional life. We reflect on personal achievements like running marathons, and discuss how the discipline and perseverance required for long-distance running can be applied to our careers. We also spotlight Sketchworks' innovative approach to architecture, celebrating their 20-year milestone and diverse portfolio, which includes everything from multifamily housing to unique spaces like breweries and manufacturing plants. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration and actionable advice for both budding architects and running enthusiasts alike.
Welcome to Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown. I am your host, Heather Ewing, and today I have none other than Sarah Carlson. She is the Business Development Manager for Sketchworks here in Madison, Wisconsin. Welcome, Sarah.
Sarah Carlson:Thanks so much for having me, heather, looking forward to it. Good to see you.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yes, you too, my dear, definitely so. As you know, I always like to give people an opportunity to share a little bit about themselves. So then, obviously, we know each other well. Just for those that might be outside of Madison that don't recognize or know who you are yet Sure, I've been business development manager at Sketchworks Architecture for going on a couple of years already.
Sarah Carlson:Hard to believe. Locally, a lot of people say do you?
Heather Ewing, CCIM:look familiar or.
Sarah Carlson:I recognize your name because I spent a large part of my career here in the Madison area in television news as an anchor. So while a lot of people go architecture anchor, how do those two things mesh? Frankly, my journalism background and business development really are perfect, a perfect fit. So I was introduced to the partner at Sketchworks, steve Schilfer, through a friend of a friend and it really worked out great.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:And that's how so many different opportunities arise, right, whether it's commercial real estate, design related, such as architecture, any different arena. Networking is really a secret sauce and align those lines. You're just such a personal little person in warm and genuinely care, which I think is a big differentiator. What would you say are a couple of things that you like to recommend to people from the networking vantage point?
Sarah Carlson:Oh gosh, it's hard to recommend it sometimes because some people don't have that in them, but I always say don't be afraid to talk to anybody in a room. I love, actually, that thrill of introducing myself to somebody new, whether I know them, who they are, rather or not. So, I think, not being afraid to be yourself and not being afraid to reach out and introduce yourself in any location. I think you and I have been to a lot of the same networking events, but sometimes you know, if you're at a coffee shop and there's someone you know, with someone you know, introducing yourself and leaving a business card, it can never hurt most of the time.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Right, exactly Well, and two, you know, one of the really neat things about it is that architecture. I always have loved design, so it fits in so nicely with commercial real estate. What got you into architecture right, how did you end up there and how do you see it fueling?
Sarah Carlson:It's interesting. I didn't know how much this larger industry, I didn't know how much I would have to get to know about it, and it's been so fascinating and so much fun for me, because architecture is just one step in the process, as we know, and development and real estate. I'm so excited to be doing it in Madison. So what's fueled me and my energy in the last year or two is watching the statistics and watching the energy behind the growth in this area. It's tremendous.
Sarah Carlson:Some people are a little hesitant to see it happen, but I know the professionals that are doing it and helping it happen all have a lot of really good means. I mean they mean well is what I mean by that. So it's been a lot of fun to learn that what I thought was a really growing area is even growing faster hard to keep up with in a lot of cases and making that look nice. And so, from the design element, you know we want to make multifamily and other sorts of hospitality look nice from the outside and inside, so that that Madison that we've known for, however long we've lived here or for those who visit, can be the Madison that we love. So, yeah, it's been just fascinating and constantly learning, as you know.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Right, and I think, having grown up in the area and been here for you know my lifetime, for the most part outside of college that Madison really is near and dear to so many people's hearts obviously mine and others that I think it creates a special bond with design, with some of these different commercial real estate opportunities that are in the area, that the asset classes and things of that nature. How do you envision architecture shifting over the next several years? Like we hear a lot about AI, is AI going to replace this or that? Right, I think there's frequently fear or concern from you know, mass groups when there is something new to the arena, but how do you envision it changing?
Sarah Carlson:I probably don't have the best answer because I'm not an architect, but I think my answer would be an interesting one because I'm looking from the outside a bit, even though I work for an architecture firm. I think AI can help. Ai might help architects and firms, big and small, do things faster perhaps, but I don't think it can replace the unique spin that an architect can put on something and every client has a different recommendation, has a different need, demand, whatever it is, and vision, and they want to see a certain kind of building or interior in a certain way, and AI can only go so far. I mean, I know, for example, with writing, you can stick something in and it'll look like AI. It always needs to be edited and I believe there will always need to be a body and a mind and a hand and a computer behind that, with a person, a human.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Thank goodness it really does free up time for the mundane aspects to allow for higher level of creativity, thinking really also in the connection points between people, groups and I'm sure you'll agree that in working with architects that it's so important to have that good feedback loop, communications and in creating some of those designs, because if you don't understand your end user, how are you ever going to come up with a creative design interior, exterior that is really going to be conducive to their needs or even help elevate them and bring them into that next level?
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, I really do have a lot of respect for, and awe, frankly, the architects and the designers that I work with. I watch what they do and I don't know how to do everything they do, I just get to so-called brag about it. But again, what they do is is artwork.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Definitely I call it art on a grand scale.
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, exactly.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:So how do you see mindset? So the interesting thing you know you're in business development and kind of like me as a broker, you know I really understand my arena, but that's also why I work with great architects, great contractors, great sign companies, things of that nature. We always need to have our pivotal partners, is what I like to say. Yeah, what do you see from a mindset of you know life is busy these days, careers are busy. You know sales is busy and we're always out and about and juggling various things. What type of mindset do you utilize to help you keep it all going together Because you have so many events?
Sarah Carlson:I think one of the things I mentioned to you before is thinking about yourself first, even though you aren't really putting yourself first every day, when you're busy, from 7am to 7pm sometimes but trying to find a way to do that, in addition to getting everything done, Knowing that what your self-worth is on a personal level and keeping that in mind to stay confident and then getting through the day, even though it's busy, feeling better. I also am a big believer and you and I have talked about this in finding ways to breathe and I say slow down, but really in a lot of cases that means go on a run. So the mindset is I'm going to get my day started or end my day for me making myself feel like I'm rejuvenated, I'm re-energized, and then all of that busyness that feels like a whirlwind. Sometimes it'll be nothing.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yeah Well, and I think that's where, too, you hear typically the word you know, selfish tied in with that. And the way I see it is that, to your point, if you're not taking care of yourself, especially blanketing the day, right In the morning, in the evening of, if you're not taking care of yourself, especially blanketing the day, right In the morning, in the evening of, if your tank is on zero, how are you ever going to really be able to show up in career or life and provide more and give more right?
Sarah Carlson:Exactly, exactly. And I have had health issues in the past, so I have epilepsy, something that I've been dealing with for 15 years and seizure free now more than three. So I'm so grateful every morning when I wake up. But I also know that I have to take care of my body in a way that perhaps others don't. I remind myself all the time, and that's what you have to do. Remind yourself, write things down. It helps.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Oh, definitely so. Running, which you touched on, obviously near and dear to both of our hearts. How did you get into it and how do you use that? You know, how do you find ways to get your running in Right, cause that's something I'm sure you hear all the time too, of how in the world do you ever find the time to train for this race, to train for that marathon?
Sarah Carlson:Exactly.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:What's your recipe for success on that?
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, I have to congratulate you on running Boston.
Sarah Carlson:I mean that is one of my life, one of my life goals, and I've run several marathons all Chicago, but I've done it about seven or eight times. I don't always do distance running, but I do believe that a little bit of it goes a long way. So when people say, how do you get that in? Well, when there are days like weekends that there aren't work events or work to do, you can do a longer one. Or anyone who wants to try can always try doing a mile, and I'm a big believer in getting outside. So people who say, oh, I don't like running, I say then you don't want to walk.
Sarah Carlson:I also honestly believe it prevents me from getting cold. It makes me happier whether I'm walking the dog or just sitting outside. But running is something I started, probably gosh in my 20s and just a few miles here and there. And it was a lot later in my life, actually in my early forties, that I started the distance, the distance running. Interestingly, it was really therapeutic for me around the time I was diagnosed with epilepsy and going through so many things. I would get out there and let hours go by and that was a great training run and a great therapy session all in one.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Exactly, it's the cure all folks.
Sarah Carlson:It can be if you, if you want it to be and if you let it be.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:I agree it's. You know, as I reflect on mine as well, I got into distance in 2015. So the interesting thing is that ties in with me for commercial real estate and it was one of those of it was just challenging and other careers you know years prior to to really fit it all together and because you can literally walk out your door and start to run, that that was one of the things that I really liked about it. And then to my brother you know there's some interesting parallels because, like yourself, he too has epilepsy and is the seizure free, thankfully as well, but he was the one that always did the running. So that inspired me many years ago.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:But I think the nice thing about it and I think you'll agree too is with our distance running is that it really ties into career right, whether it's architecture, whether it's brokerage, any arm that you're in, that there's always going to be the big projects. You have to tactically break them down. You have to work together. You also have to work solo on things and the exertion, I think, also helps you to put different things in place and also come up with different ideas.
Sarah Carlson:Oh yeah, you have weather getting in your way and you have other little things getting in your way when you're training, but there's that perseverance, you can't just stop. And that does relate so much to what you do professionally, I agree. I agree Big time.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think actually it'd be more hard not to train for people than to train with it, because I've always noticed that there seems to be a correlation between the two for me, Yep, I agree.
Sarah Carlson:It puts you in a different state of mind and again self-worth, self-confidence, and it all wraps in.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yep, that's a positive attitude. Yeah, trying, oh you do you do? So? What do you envision, right as you know, for 2024,? Um, you know, inflation rates have been high. Everything has been really busy, especially in Madison, you know, to your point, with design, with construction, multifamily. Wisconsin is number one as far as all of that happening. And office is still struggling. Retail restaurants is picking up. What is a unique way that sketch works, you know, works with some of these different areas, or what is something that they're able to really shine in that you'd like to share?
Sarah Carlson:Well, thanks for asking that Sketchworks. One of the things I love about it is that we are in commercial excuse me architecture for everything but single family homes, so we really do know how to do a lot, and when I was told that I thought, how can you be an expert in everything? And then I've watched hands on how remarkable we are with all of these different projects. Multifamily has been about a third of what we do in recent years and that's because of the growth that we're having population wise. But some of the restaurants that I've seen, coffee houses and then several of them that are very popular in the area. Right now we're working on a manufacturing plant. The owner is really loves his employees and wants to completely remodel and gut the inside and have more light, come in and then build out. So we will be building a really cool new employee gathering area, lounge, kitchen, you name it.
Sarah Carlson:So everything from manufacturing to breweries and distilleries as well one of our niches which is super fun. So what I love about what Sketchworks can provide is if you ask on. So what I love about what Sketchworks can provide is if you ask can you do this?
Heather Ewing, CCIM:The answer is yes.
Sarah Carlson:Most of the time it's like you'll find a way right, We'll find a way and we've done it before, so I've been, as I you know, learn more about my job and about the firm, able to come up and pull go through files and pull up photos and say, oh wow, we did all of these different things related to that, when someone asks about it, and it's pretty tremendous, and Sketchworks is celebrating 20 years too.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:That's come up quick. Yeah, I know it flies by, doesn't it?
Sarah Carlson:It does, it does.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:What would you suggest if someone is interested in getting into architecture? Do you frequently offer internships? You know what might be something that you could suggest for people, and I know this one. This question just bubbled up for me, but what might be a path or two that you would recommend for people?
Sarah Carlson:It's a great question and we do have interns. We've used interns for design, we've used interns for interior design. So I would say, absolutely, no matter where you are, reach out to your local architecture firm and ask that question, and I imagine someone will need an architecture intern and you can learn so much just by standing by and frankly, even though I'm not an intern, I have loved sitting in on meetings to learn more about what they do and how projects begin, and I obviously then won't sit and hover over somebody's desk when they're designing, but you can learn a lot just by being in that environment a lot.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Definitely, and I don't know about you, but I've noticed, also through brokerage, that it seems like people want to have an answer without really digging into something, and it's really in starting to emotionalize, feel and map out what the steps would be maybe the dollar amounts, different factors like that that people then start to really feel is this the avenue that I want to go? Is this the amount of the investment? Do I need to go here or there, or does it line up? So there is something about really taking the steps and experiencing it to know if it's the right fit or not.
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, we see a lot of clients and then potential clients who come to us and say we have this lot of land, we are thinking about purchasing it, we're envisioning this and we work a lot with some people who don't end up becoming clients, but perhaps they will down the road and some have. But that's all worth every minute of it too, to just go through those motions.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Definitely so. My big question is so my big question is what next run are you training for? I know you just ran one with your daughter.
Sarah Carlson:I did it, even though I've done a full marathons, and those are just so tremendous. This was a half marathon in Savannah, georgia, where she goes to college and crossing a finish line holding hands, it's hard to beat, yeah, I saw that picture.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:I loved it and my adult daughter.
Sarah Carlson:It's just, it was so special. I am thinking about running Chicago again this year. I am actually signed up to do it. Depending on life circumstances, I'm getting married in a couple of months, so lots of moving parts. It daughter home um, it depends on that whether I'll run chicago, but my goal is to run all the majors, which I know might be one of your goals too it is.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:I've got tokyo remaining the others are done.
Sarah Carlson:Oh wow, yeah, that's so cool and we're targeting next year oh good I've always wanted to visit all of those cities. I've been to a few of them, but tokyo especially, um, and I hear really cool things about it from a couple of people who've who've run it. So I would love to do that and I know I'll be in my 50s, but I never want to say that's why I can't do it, I'm just going to keep running yeah, there's.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:There's people in their 80s that are running it. Some of them are very quick.
Sarah Carlson:I know, I know that's one of my favorite parts about running marathons is seeing all different kinds of people ages, shapes, sizes, color doesn't matter and they're faster or not, but it's just such a great community feel I love it, a family.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yeah, and I think it's also, you know, the the thing I've taken, also from the different marathons, like you have, is it's really just staying active and keep moving. It's when you stop that you know you can always return, and you and I have both returned from different things, but it's really anything you can do to keep moving is going to be helpful throughout life and it really opens the doors to a long and healthy life, which is exciting.
Sarah Carlson:That, and both, like you say, physically, but also professionally.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Yeah, exactly, oh and that's where, too, I've met several people that I work with through a run group, oh cool, yeah. So networking too, kind of like we had talked about in the beginning. You know, really, spread yourself out, try different things, do something different. You never know who you'll meet and um and continue working on. So that's exciting. My final question for you is what does living fully mean to you, sarah?
Sarah Carlson:Honestly, living fully is I think I might've mentioned this cheesy concept of waking up, happy to be here, um, but having gone through so much physically, uh, with my health living fully is appreciating what I have and appreciating where I am. So another seizure free day is what I appreciate and what I'm living fully. And then also trying to give back. And giving back doesn't just mean I'm volunteering for the epilepsy foundation that's something I do, but giving back to the neighbors and giving back to a person who might be a friend or a colleague that just needs someone to talk to. And I want to be remembered as somebody who wanted to give back, and that would be in the end how I would be want to be remembered too.
Sarah Carlson:That's a great question.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:Oh, thank you.
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, definitely.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:And I would say anyone that knows you would definitely agree that you are hitting the mark on all of those aspects of it.
Sarah Carlson:Thank you, my dear, thank you Definitely.
Heather Ewing, CCIM:So, sarah, thank you so much for joining me today and I look forward to seeing you soon, and I look forward to connecting another time.
Sarah Carlson:Yeah, it was a pleasure. Thanks for having me, heather, you bet Bye-bye, bye.