Barret believes in two notions related to business: First, one phone call can connect you to an amazing opportunity, and second, having the right mentor can absolutely change your life. While in college, he was fortunate enough to experience both.
After working at an excruciatingly painful summer internship while studying finance at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, he knew next time he would follow his passion and not just “settle” for any job. Barret always had an interest in large buildings, construction projects and malls and wondered to himself, “who builds, owns and manages these things?”
That’s what led him to research and cold-call the owner/manager of a local apartment complex. What began as a surprising return phone call (after the many initial calls Barret placed), led to an internship and a mentor who was willing to expose him to every aspect of the business, including acquiring more apartment buildings while he was still an undergrad.
This unique hands-on experience led Barret to his role with CenterCal Properties as a Development Associate, where he was involved in more than $400 million worth of ground up development projects in California. He oversaw the entitlement, construction and stabilization of 2nd & PCH, a 215,000 square foot waterfront retail lifestyle destination in Long Beach and served on CenterCal’s investment committee, evaluating and analyzing new business opportunities for the company. Previous to that, he served in both Acquisitions and Asset Management at Site Centers.
As a relatively new team member at NewMark Merrill, Barret holds the position of Vice President of Acquisitions & Development for the San Diego division. He is responsible for sourcing and overseeing acquisitions of existing properties, and identifies and manages new development projects within San Diego, South Orange and South Riverside Counties.
Barret takes a competitive approach to his own growth, attempting to learn something new every day. This potentially stems from his one-time experience driving in the competitive 24 Hours of Lemons endurance racing series for “lemon” cars. Coming from a bitter cold climate, he thrives on many Southern California lifestyle activities and sports including skateboarding, basketball, beach outings, snowboarding and exploring the incredible food and beverage scene in the area.