Sallie Jarosz entered the CRE industry in 1983, a time when women weren't in professional or leadership positions. Taking advantage of the mentoring support of both men and women, she quickly rose up the ranks to become a veteran of the mortgage banking and lending industry.
Jarosz co-founded what is now known as Grandbridge Real Estate Today she is an SVP and the CRE director for an $8-billion bank in the Southeast US—NewDominion Bank, a division of Park National Bank. Among her duties is overseeing all CRE originations, business development and underwriting; creating policies and procedures for financial functions; financing investment and development projects; handling all legal aspects of a transaction. Over the past 12 months, Charlotte, NC-based Jarosz has produced in excess of $46 million in loan production, which was 32% over plan and secured in excess of $500,000 in fees, in this case 333% over plan. She also gained deposit relationships in excess of $7 million, a whopping 466% over plan.
Starting as a development assistant in the mid-1980s, Julie Kimble worked her way up through positions of increasing responsibility and leadership at St. Paul Port Authority, Opus Corp. and Johnson Controls Global Workplace Solutions before starting her own Minneapolis-based company, KimbleCo., four years ago. Today her WBE-certified CRE services firm focuses on consulting, brokerage and corporate advisory services. Almost 100% of KimbleCo's work has been referrals or repeat business and the company, which posted 30% revenue growth from the previous year, gives 10% of its pre-tax profits to charity.
On top of building a successful all-women team, Kimble has developed and leased in excess of four million square feet throughout her career. She served as development consultant to the state's first WELL- and LEED-certified office building; is on the board of National Association of Women Business Owners' Minnesota Chapter and is the planning commissioner for the City of Roseville.
Kimble, who has lived on three continents, is a major advocate for business and civic causes. She is active in the CREW Network, having served as president of the local chapter and as the national chair for the CREW Foundation. She also volunteers extensively and is on a number of boards including a nine-year stint with Feed My Starving Children. During her tenure, she traveled to Haiti and the Philippines to work in the field.