Englewood, NJ, March 25, 2024 – Marty Hennessy, President, Katz & Associates is celebrating 25 years at Katz this month. A giant in the commercial real estate industry, Hennessy has many notable credits to his name, including: successfully negotiating thousands of real estate transactions over the past 30+ years, opening the Katz Florida office in Boca Raton in 1999, and representing over 100 nationally known retailers including ULTA Beauty, DSW, and Saks OFF 5th.
Marty is a specialist in tenant representation with advanced market knowledge of eight Southeast markets. Marty’s expertise includes: company rollouts to new and existing markets, site selection, lease negotiations, and disposition work. He also has developed relationships with all the top regional and national landlords that have properties throughout the Southeast.
Joining Katz & Associates:
Hennessy started working in commercial real estate in 1990 in-house at Hallmark as Director Real Estate and Site Development, East Coast Region, overseeing 2,400+ stores; he was previously doing sales and sales development at Hallmark for a little over a decade. Marty met Katz & Associates’ founder Dan Katz who invited him to come to Katz & Associates and start a Florida office. Marty shares why he was comfortable to make the move: “I came from a family-owned and run company in Hallmark and went to Katz, another family company. I have always been proud to work for a company where the family running it did it extremely well and is respected.” Marty goes on to share how it was to work at Katz when he came over: “Dan allowed me to grow as a person and to grow the office, which current CEO Brian Katz has carried forward.”
How Katz Has Evolved with Marty Hennessy:
Katz Florida started with two brokers and a part-time assistant. Today, under the co-leadership of Marty Hennessy and David Emihovich, Managing Partner, (who joined Katz in 2006), Katz Florida is one of the largest volume players in the Southeast. The Florida team consists of 26 people, including 19 brokers, and marketing and admin teams. It’s comprised of offices in Boca and Orlando, and handles tenant and third-party leasing and sales throughout Florida and neighboring states. Marty also works closely with other Katz offices, including Nashville and Charlotte. He shares about the Katz team: “The company we’ve grown is a great family and a great team. And, to watch young brokers succeed is very exciting to see.”
Q&A with Marty Hennessy: State of CRE
Q. How has CRE remained constant?
A. Forming and maintaining good relationships is paramount. Market knowledge is key. Being proactive is crucial.
Q. How has CRE changed?
A. “There have been great changes. What used to be a very homogenous composition of brokers has evolved into a much more eclectic mix in terms of age, race, gender, personality, and even attire. Thinkers and talkers are equally needed, respected, and have success.”
Q. What excites you most about the future of CRE?
A. “It’s a great industry because there are always new assignments, new challenges, and new tools that help us improve. The quality of people and work continue to grow. I’m excited about the future and have several family members entrenched, including my son, my daughter, and my soon to be son-in-law.”
Q: Best advice you’ve gotten?
- “To be successful in this business – listen more. Talk less. Always try to understand where the other party is coming from.”
Q. What advice would you give?
A. “Be a sponge. Learn as much as you can. Listen to as many people as you can. Network as much as you can. You’ll learn a lot! And, have fun!”
Q. What would you attribute to your longevity and success?
A. “Working with great people as clients, working for a great company, and working alongside great colleagues.”
Brian Katz, CEO, Katz & Associates shares: “We are happy to celebrate Marty Hennessy’s 25th anniversary at Katz & Associates. Marty is a leader, a team player, a consummate professional, a top producer, a force in the industry, and an all-around great guy. To be with Marty at ICSC Las Vegas is like being with a celebrity where run-ins, hugs, shout-outs, and impromptu dinner invites ensue. We recognize and appreciate his innumerable contributions to Katz and to the CRE industry.”
Katz & Associates began operations in January of 1996. The company currently maintains offices in New York City, Charlotte, Boca Raton, Nashville, New Jersey, Orlando, and Chicago. Katz & Associates’ primary focus is assisting retailers, restaurants and landlords in all capacities including strategic planning, market analysis, lease and sale negotiations and dispositions. Our team of seasoned veterans has decades of experience and invaluable market knowledge.