Retail tenant broker Monetha Cobb, who joined up-and-coming firm Franklin Street about a year ago, works with clients including Cato, Bealls and Dollar Tree. She is heavily engaged in the Atlanta commercial real estate industry, whether planning a fundraiser for ICSC’s PAC in Georgia (sponsored by Hartman Simons) or organizing programs for CREW (where she works closely with Hartman Simons’ Lori Kilberg.)
We are big fans of Monetha (on the left in this photo), and are thrilled she agreed to participate in our weekly Four on Friday interrogation!
HS: Not everyone in Atlanta knows Franklin Street. Give us the quick story.
MC: Andrew Wright, a former Marcus & Millichap guy, started the firm in 2006 in Tampa. Atlanta, the second office, opened in January of last year. We also now have offices in Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale. The main business concept of Franklin Street is results through collaboration. There are four companies — real estate, management, capital, and insurance — that make up Franklin Street and we are constantly working together to get the best solution for our clients. The core of the business is landlord services. However, I focus on retail tenant rep, so there is lots of room for growth within the company. In Atlanta, we are particularly focused on retail, though we are growing the multi-family business here and also we are interested in office and industrial.
HS: It is fun to be at a company that is growing?
MC: Extremely! The opportunity to grow with a young, very ambitious group of people was the main catalyst for my transition from a company where I had thrived for over 10 years. I am able to help influence the company’s growth.
HS: Tell me one interesting thing you are working on.
MC: I am working with Cato on a new concept called Versona. These are accessory stores that will be in malls, lifestyle centers and fashion-oriented power centers. Ten will open by October of this year, including two in Atlanta by end of the first quarter 2012. Another 50 per year are planned each year companywide starting in 2012. It is a very exciting concept that targets upper-middle-class women.
HS: You are involved in CREW. What do you like about it?
MC: I love the relationships. I have met a variety of women who work in all aspects of commercial real estate, so I have really broadened my network.