The spotlight today is on Partner Circle award-winner Alex Ruggieri, CRE, CCIM, SEC, CIPS, MBA, who is vice president of SVN | Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. in Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Ruggieri specializes in industrial, multifamily and office commercial real estate, in the Champaign and Urbana areas of Illinois, and throughout the Midwest.
Alex Ruggieri, VP, SVN | Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.
What advice would you provide to an aspiring advisor who is new to the industry?
I’d say you have to get involved. You should also have a plan, and be prepared to follow your plan.
What does the SVN Difference mean to you?
The SVN Difference is the culture of support, and the tools that help me compete.
What learning tools (book, blog, website, etc.) would you recommend to your colleagues to further their knowledge and enhance their careers?
I recommend The Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin.
What was your most memorable deal and why?
I sold a very large portfolio, worth $22mm for a Region REIT last year. It was memorable because the CEO personally called me to handle it, and it resulted in my largest fee ever!
List a fun fact to share about yourself – something that people may not know and that they may be surprised to find out.
As part of my pro-bono work in the community, I do a local talk radio show. I interview top business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and other movers and shakers. They don’t pay me to do it, but after years on the show have made me a local celebrity, and brought me a lot of business too!
Looking for a successful career in commercial real estate? Check out opportunities with SVN.
Recognizing the SVN Difference with Specialty Awards
If you read my recent blog post about the SVN Annual Conference highlights, you know that the SVN Specialty Awards recognize members of the SVN community who have distinguished themselves in 2015 by making significant impacts on the commercial real estate industry and beyond. The awards – which included Team Player of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, Collaborator of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Prospector of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Firm of the Year – looked beyond production results and instead focused on culture. The winners of this year’s SVN Specialty Awards each embody traits that the SVN culture values immensely: practicing collaboration, cooperation and conscious capitalism while excelling in commercial real estate.
SVN Ambassador of the Year 2015 – Alex Ruggieri
What can we say about Alex Ruggieri? Not only does he dress the part of an impeccable Ambassador – he is out there online and in person representing SVN on his radio show, at CCIM conferences and with clients around the country. Recently he’s been working with David Wilk on some leading-edge corporate service projects as well. He’s been a Partners Circle winner for four years in a row – from 2012 through this year. This is his second time winning the prestigious Ambassador of the Year award, as he also received this honor in 2013.
Alex Ruggieri serves as a Senior Advisor for SVN | Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc., specializing in the sale of investment properties and corporate relocations in Champaign- Urbana and Central Illinois. With more than 30 years of commercial real estate industry experience, he has built an array of valuable business, real estate, and banking community contacts that benefit his clients. He has secured a transaction career sales volume in excess of $500 million.
The SVN blog will be featuring one SVN Specialty Award winner every week for the next few weeks. Subscribe to the SVN blog on the right-hand column of the blog homepage to stay up to date with SVN and CRE industry news.
If you missed the 2014 Sperry Van Ness® National Conference held in San Antonio, TX, you missed all of the incredible individuals and teams who received a 2013 Specialty Award.
The Specialty Awards were given to those who far exceed the everyday commercial real estate responsibilities. These recipients are nominated by his or her peers and are considered leaders within the organization and contributors to the community. As an organization it truly is amazing to see all of the knowledge, character and drive that Sperry Van Ness Advisors possess. Please find below a list of this years recipients.
Nicole Abresch, Collaborator of the Year (Kassandra Bruhn not shown)
Wesley Cox, Humanitarian of theYear
Alex Ruggieri, Ambassadzor of the Year
SVN l Chicago Commercial, Firm of the Year
Curt Arthur, Trainer of the Year
Doug Wilson, Team Player of the Year
Justin Horwitz, Innovator of the Year
Firm of the Year: SVN Chicago Commercial The Firm of the Year Award is given to the SVN office that goes above and beyond to help fellow SVN offices and Advisors. SVN Chicago Commercial has been the host, promoter, and hospitality provider to new recruits, business owners and more. SVN Chicago Commercial always says ‘yes’ to anyone who asks for assistance.
Ambassador of the Year: Alex Ruggieri – Champaign, IL The Ambassador of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embodies the SVN culture and helps contribute to the success of the company. Alex is not only a top producer, but he authors articles for major publications, hosts podcasts as well as radio shows. He is a model SVN Advisor.
Team Player of the Year: Doug Wilson – Columbus, OH The Team Player of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who collaborates in a significant way with other SVN Advisors or offices across the nation. Doug contributes throughout his Mid-West region and assists fellow team members daily.
Trainer of the Year: Curt Arthur – Salem, OR The Trainer of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who most exemplifies the qualities of a high-caliber mentor. Curt goes out of his way to take a call from a prospect, deliver webinars to new Advisors and continually mentor those in our SVN community.
Innovator of the Year: Justin Horwitz – Phoenix, AZ The Innovator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embraces the latest CRE technology, including all the SVN tools available to enrich business practices. Justin uses the SVN National Sales Calls, Product Councils and various other tools to find, win and fulfill business on a daily basis
Prospector of the Year: Justin Verner – Baltimore, MD The Prospector of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who consistently prospects and develops a strong pipeline of business for the future. Justin uses all of our SVN tools available while maintaining great relationships and trust with his clients.
Collaborators of the Year: Nicole Abresch – Salisbury, MD & Kassandra Bruhn – Phoenix, AZ The Collaborator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Office, Advisor or Staff member who takes the SVN dedication to collaboration to the next level. Nicole and Kassandra assisted the SVNIC marketing team with pilot programs and contribute regularly to social media and branding efforts.
Humanitarian of the Year: Wesley Cox – Salisbury, MD The SVN Humanitarian of the Year Award is given to the Advisor who makes an extraordinary effort to give themselves to their community. The Mission of Mercy, The Christian Shelter, Salvation Army, and the Village of Hope are a handful of the organizations that have benefited from Wesley’s work.
Please join us in congratulating every 2013 Specialty Award recipient, individuals who truly embody the SVN Difference!
*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.
Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA, SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.
Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA, with Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate Inc., recently asked marketing experts how commercial practitioners can improve business in the areas of public relations, branding and social media. In the article that was published by Illinois Association of Realtors, Ruggieri explains that the keys to success are:
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