PEORIA, ARIZONA – As the founder and president of a woman-owned commercial brokerage firm specializing in healthcare real estate, Melynn Wakeman says the past 5 years building her company have been some of the best days and some of the most trying days of her life.
“Founding a company from the ground up is hard work, as is being a commercial real estate broker. In the end, you either give up or knock it out of the park, which is what we are planning on doing, one small step at a time,” said Wakeman, whose brokerage firm, Wakeman Integrity, celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.
Founded in 2017, Wakeman Integrity bucked the trend of downsizing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Wakeman grew her company in 2020 with the addition of two brokers and a team of marketing, website, legal and accounting consultants.
Currently, Wakeman Integrity has added a project manager and IT programmer for the workflow automation along with recruiting a business developer.
“The purpose for founding Integrity was out of the desire to do commercial real estate in a new modern way,” Wakeman said. “Through workflow processes, simplifying the day by adding technologies, virtual assistances and offering a nurturing environment for not only our customers but for those we stand side by side in a deal and do so with class and Integrity.
“Our business tag line ‘Where a handshake still means something,’ represents the ethics of having your word mean everything, and standing by that word, no matter what.”
Wakeman Integrity had a modest beginning. Wakeman opened the office as a one-person operation then added an administrator, Marion Chaney, a year later. Wakeman added agent Kristin Glavin, whose specialties included assisted living, behavioral health, chemical dependency centers, and hospitals.
Wakeman Integrity currently represents Hammes Partners, the largest healthcare developer/investor in the U.S. in a new ground up 45,000 SF Class A medical office building in Buckeye, Arizona, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.
Wakeman Integrity also represents Akos, a 68,000 SF Class A medical office campus in Avondale, leasing 12,224 SF with a 12-year term in the first 60 days of listing execution.
The company added Real Nex Software for CRM and market edge and developed a virtual work-flow process. The addition of Glavin paid off. She closed the following deals:
- A 12,000 SF lease representing Sunrise Native Recovery;
- Represented Hope & Healing outpatient care facility;
- Represented Wisemind Sober Living facility;
- Represented Zika Recover by leasing with an option to purchase Serenity Care Hospital, located in Sun City West, a deal well over $5 million.
“Being a business owner is about relationships and time. By looking at how things or processes are being done today and developing a better way is the true definition of being a passionate, visionary entrepreneur,” Wakeman said.
For more information visit www.integrityRealty4U.com.