Leadership Class Member Spotlight: Chase Merkel

Name: Chase A. Merkel

Company Name: Trinity Partners

Current position/Industry Specialty: Associate, Office Leasing

Years in the industry: 4 years total; 2 in Office Leasing, 2 in Industrial Site Selection

Hometown: Severna Park, Maryland

Most satisfying part of your job: Every deal brings the chance to learn something new; either regarding a prospect/tenant and learning about their business or specific to real estate and how to structure a deal that is good for the landlord and tenant.

Last book you read or movie you’ve seen: The Elephant in the Room by Tommy Tomlinso

Favorite vacation spot: Hatteras, North Carolina

Favorite restaurant in Charlotte: Sushi Guru Plaza Midwood

Hobbies/Interests: Watersports. And Washington Redskins football.

One thing on your bucket list: Catch a 1,000 lb. Blue Marlin

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why? Jimmy Buffett. I know a lunch with him would be a ton of fun; but I would love to learn about how he’s found so much success in business while maintaining his laid-back persona. Is the persona a façade or is his success in the fact that his brand is completely authentic? Would also love to hear about how he’s maintained his passion for what he does over a career spanning decades.

What you like best about CRCBR: The opportunities it’s presented me to broaden my understanding of non-office property types and meet the people who are driving those deals.

What else should we know about you: I moved to Greenville, SC for college and have no plans to go farther north than the Carolinas.