#15: Eric Garrett’s Journey — From Subsidized Housing Tenant to CEO of the 7th Largest Developer in the Country

#15: Eric Garrett’s Journey — From Subsidized Housing Tenant to CEO of the 7th Largest Developer in the Country

Eric Garrett, President of The Garrett Companies, shares his journey from growing up in subsidized housing in Indiana to building one of the nation’s largest multifamily development firms. He reflects on the lessons from his early life, how culture and resident service have become central to his company, and why The Garrett Companies continue to thrive even in one of the toughest markets for development. In this episode, we cover: * How Eric’s early years in subsidized housing shaped his resident-first philosophy * Lessons from breaking into brokerage and development with no safety net * The construction efficiencies that allow Garrett Companies to outperform competitors * Why culture, incentives, and empowerment drive long-term employee and resident success * The balance of leadership, family, and longevity practices in a demanding industry * The Garrett Family Foundation’s mission to step in for families in crisis This was an inspiring discussion about resilience, discipline, and building a culture that treats residents, employees, and investors with respect and care. Intro voice-over by: Yitzy Rohatiner – yitzyrohatiner.com

#14: How do you define risk? Why Matthew Berry Took the Leap From Law to Corporate Real Estate to starting Wayland

Matthew Berry, Founder of Wayland Real Estate, shares the story of how he left law, entered capital markets, and eventually launched his own firm focused on middle-market multifamily and mixed-use opportunities in North Side Chicago and beyond. In this episode, we cover: * The moment John Buck took a chance on him—and what it meant * How to reposition your professional identity and tell a better story * The personal vs. professional dynamics of risk-taking * What most sponsors get wrong about follow-through and reputation * Why Wayland focuses on neighborhood-scale deals and how they underwrite risk * The opportunity and capital gap in $5–$20M mixed-use and multifamily projects This was a powerful discussion about professional reinvention, market discipline, and building a company around trust, local insight, and long-term investor relationships. About: Eytan works at Greystone, specializing in Fannie, Freddie, HUD, CMBS, and bridge loans. This podcast is not affiliated with Greystone or any other institution, nor does it represent their opinions. Intro voice-over by: Yitzy Rohatiner – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yitzyrohatiner.com [http://yitzyrohatiner.com]

#13: Finding the Perfect Development Site: Lessons from Matthew Marshall’s 54 Projects

What does it really take to find the right student housing, multifamily, or active adult development site—and what happens when everything around it starts to fall apart? Matthew Robert Marshall, SVP of Development at RISE: A Real Estate Company, shares insights from 54 development projects spanning student housing, active adult, build-to-rent, and market-rate multifamily. In this episode, we cover: * How to evaluate and select the right site across asset types * Why high barriers to entry are often a green light * The role of AI in land sourcing—and why relationships still drive everything * How student housing timelines increase pressure on delivery * Navigating bridge debt and lease-up in today’s market * A belief Matthew completely rethought over the course of his career A conversation filled with practical site selection wisdom, leadership insight, and stories from the front lines of development.

Ep. 12: Jay Remillard of CP Capital — Partnering with the Country’s Largest Developers

Jay Remillard, Executive Managing Director at CP Capital, joins Eytan Goldstein to share his journey—from working as a teenager alongside his father managing apartments in New Hampshire, to leading one of the most active equity investment groups in multifamily development nationwide. Jay opens up about his unconventional path: starting in pre-med at Georgetown, getting accepted to Harvard Law, selling a screenplay, and ultimately landing his first real estate analyst role—by chance. Jay and Eytan explore why mentoring the next generation matters, and how CP Capital builds long-term partnerships with top-tier developers like Greystar, Trammell Crow, and Wood Partners, and why Jay sees today’s market as a prime moment to launch new developments—and the disciplined mindset required to seize those opportunities. About: Eytan works at Greystone, specializing in Fannie, Freddie, HUD, CMBS, and bridge loans. This podcast is not affiliated with Greystone or any other institution, nor does it represent their opinions. Intro voice-over by: Yitzy Rohatiner – ⁠⁠⁠⁠yitzyrohatiner.com [http://yitzyrohatiner.com]

Ep 11:Respect the Past, Build the Future – Paul Vranas on Real Estate, Risk, and the Immigrant Journey

Paul Vranas, Director at akin—a joint venture between Denver-based Revesco Properties and Alpine Investments—joins Eytan Goldstein to share his journey as a third-generation Greek-American real estate investor. He talks about how his grandparents’ immigrant story shaped his approach to business, investor relationships, and risk. They dive into the complexities of real estate syndication, the discipline it takes to walk away from misaligned capital, and the parallels between building trust in investor relationships and mastering a sales process. Paul also reflects on cultural identity and how long-term thinking and adaptability are key in today's shifting market. They discuss opportunities in development, what it takes to raise capital in a tougher environment, and how lessons from software sales apply directly to the capital-raising world of real estate. About: Eytan works at Greystone, specializing in Fannie, Freddie, HUD, CMBS, and bridge loans. This podcast is not affiliated with Greystone or any other institution, nor does it represent their opinions. Intro voice-over by: Yitzy Rohatiner – ⁠⁠⁠yitzyrohatiner.com [http://yitzyrohatiner.com]