When Hughes Marino Executive Vice President Owen Rice joined the firm in 2017, he was immediately taken aback by the company’s culture and the way team members value tenants. Rice had come from a commercial brokerage background and was recognized as a top award-winning performer but says he didn’t find true job satisfaction until he landed a job at Hughes Marino.
“Happiness and fulfillment in my professional life doesn’t come from compensation or accolades,” Rice says.
Rice was eager to team up with an independent brand offering conflict-free services to clients, and he says he found that in Hughes Marino. Rice first learned of Hughes Marino in 2015, and was immediately drawn to the company’s tenant-driven focus and positive interactions with clients.
Strengthening Company Ties
Rice, who is based in Seattle, has overseen more than 750 transactions for commercial tenants and has been a key player in securing space for tenants during Seattle’s ongoing life science boom. Rice and his team are consistently studying market trends, helping clients optimize their workspaces, and looking to the future as office needs continue to evolve. He adds that the company is perpetually raising the bar when it comes to client services. And the ultramarathon runner says he also enjoys overcoming challenges with commitment and integrity while developing custom strategies to meet clients’ needs.
“With amazing new offices emerging on the market, it is important that companies create workspaces that cater to the next generation of business leaders,” says Rice, who has won Broker of the Year from the Puget Sound Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).
The company itself is no stranger to a slew of awards, including No. 1 Best Workplace in the Nation by Fortune magazine, a Top 100 Best Workplace for Millennials, and one of the nation’s Best Workplaces by Inc. magazine.
Hughes Marino’s Company Culture Continues To Attract Talent
“Hughes Marino’s culture is all about substance, not appearances,” Rice says. “As a privately held, family-owned company with no fiduciary obligation to Wall Street, it is free from the restrictions of formality. Unlike typical environments found at commercial real estate companies where each broker is competing against their own colleagues for business, at Hughes Marino, members work together to achieve incredible outcomes for their clients.”
President, COO, and owner Shay Hughes says having happy people on their team is paramount to the foundation of Hughes Marino’s success. “I want everyone on our team to love what they do and who they do it with,” Hughes says. “Is it realistic for everyone to love being a part of our company and contributing to the betterment of the team? I believe so, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
Brand Expansion Is Conducted With Intention
Hughes says one of the ways the firm entices talent is by pointing potential candidates in the right direction. Hughes Marino’s team never wants anyone coming on board out of necessity, and she adds there is a meticulous interviewing process.
“We only want people to join our team because they connect with what we’re about on a deep and personal level,” she says. “All I can hope and strive for is that our team members feel like I do, that they can’t imagine working anywhere else. The fact is, all of us have the opportunity to love what we do. By focusing on helping others, whether it’s our teammates, our clients, or our families, it feels good to contribute and be part of a team with a shared mission.”
Hughes Marino’s co-owner says she’s always embraced the concept of loving what you do and appreciating who it’s being done with, but it’s also vital to know every job comes with its own set of challenges. “I realized that we all have the opportunity to love the work that we do, even if it isn’t always a bed of roses,” she says. “Every role in every company, even if you are the CEO, requires some work that isn’t necessarily fun. However, I’m a big believer that busy people are the happiest.”
Tending to Talent Beyond the Pandemic
Senior Vice President Mike Paleo says even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hughes Marino maintained strong communication with current and potential team members, and the company’s leaders have been available to support everyone, including clients, along the way.
“We are proud to be a resource for our clients’ needs in any capacity,” Paleo says.
