Between Two Chairs - Demystifying Commercial Real Estate

Hosted by Fernando Arencibia, Jr. and Jennifer Wollmann

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165

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Between Two Chairs: Demystifying Commercial Real Estate, the podcast that brings you the latest insights and trends from the Miami commercial real estate industry. Co-hosts Fernando Arencibia Jr. and Jennifer Wollmann, both former Chairman of the Board for the largest local real estate association in the Country, the Miami Association of Realtors, bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to every conversation. In each episode, we dive deep into the world of commercial real estate in Miami, speaking with market leaders, exploring the latest trends, and breaking down complex concepts to make them accessible for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned real estate professional, a curious investor, or just interested in the Miami market in general, Between Two Chairs is the podcast for you. So sit back, relax, and join us as we demystify the world of commercial real estate in Miami.

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60 recent

June 11, 202622 min

What Does It Take From A Logistics Perspective to Host the World Cup?

The World Cup starts today, June 11 and Miami will host our first match on June 15. Planning for this event, that will put Miami on the world stage again - we just wrapped up F-1, started as soon as Miami was awarded the 2026 World Cup four years ago.From fan transportation to and from the games and events, to the logistics of moving players, equipment, food and beverage to the stadium and events, there are a lot moving parts. Luckily for Miami, a lot of the infrastructure projects including the airports, stadiums and roadwork, had already been underway due to the growth the region experienced during COVID. I am sure there will be some challenges,

June 4, 202649 min

Why Do So Few Commercial Real Estate Sellers Do 1031 Exchanges? A Conversation with Jon Hilley

What do Scrooge McDuck, The Square Grouper, Goldman Sachs, commercial real estate and taxes have in common? The answer is Jon Hilley, founder of 1031 Specialists. In this episode, we dive into why so few sellers do 1031 exchanges, what differentiates 1031 Specialists from other intermediaries and the Golden Strategy.Jon brings his wide range of experience, curiosity and his "Client Happiness Project" to elevate the 1031 experience. "We are in the joy business".FEA Economic Impact Studies of 1031 Exchanges

May 28, 202624 min

Tourism, Tech & Tipping Points: What’s Fueling Miami Commercial Real Estate

What’s really driving Miami commercial real estate right now? In this episode, we break down the forces behind the market’s momentum—from record tourism and global events to tech growth, international investment, and shifting consumer demographics.Using the latest tourism trends and real-world examples, we explore how major demand drivers like Formula One, the World Cup, Art Basel, and eMerge Americas ripple through Miami’s commercial landscape. This isn’t just a hospitality story. It’s a conversation about how visitor growth fuels retail, industrial, office, mixed-use development, infrastructure, and the broader business ecosystem across South Florida.We also discuss how rising international travel patterns from regions like South America, Europe, Asia-Oceania, and Africa often become early signals for business expansion, capital inflows, and long-term investment activity.If you want to understand where the Miami commercial market may be heading next, this episode connects the dots between the numbers, the headlines, and the opportunities on the ground.

May 21, 202654 min

Founder, Founder, Founder: Bob Gillespie on PropTech, AI, and What Actually Wins in Commercial Real Estate

In real estate it is all about location, location, location... In this episode we sit down with Bob Gillespie, Managing Partner of REACH Commercial at Second Century Ventures, to talk about what really drives success in PropTech. Bob shares his journey from computer science and startup operations to venture investing, and explains how REACH Commercial identifies technologies that can make commercial real estate faster, smarter, and more profitable.The conversation explores why commercial real estate has historically lagged in technology adoption, what makes a startup investable, and why Bob believes the founder often matters more than the initial idea. He also breaks down the biggest reasons PropTech companies fail, why traction is everything, and how associations can play a meaningful role in fostering innovation rather than just reacting to it.Bob also offers a candid perspective on AI in commercial real estate—what excites him, what makes him cautious, and why defensibility, workflow integration, and real market demand matter far more than hype. Along the way, he shares examples from companies in the REACH portfolio and gives listeners a rare inside look at how venture investors think about scale, adoption, and long-term value creation.

May 14, 202633 min

Miami’s New Cycle: How Wealth Migration Is Repricing Office, Retail, Multifamily & Logistics

A practical, CRE-focused look at why wealth migration is reshaping South Florida’s office, multifamily, retail, and industrial markets—and what comes next.Miami isn’t just adding people—it’s absorbing capital, talent, and corporate gravity. In this episode, we break down the wealth migration into Miami and greater South Florida and what it signals for commercial real estate across the region.

May 7, 202650 min

Is “A Picture Is Worth a 1,000 Words" Still True? Serena Ziv of Proofmark, Discusses Trust and the Rise of Hybrid Media”

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what about a picture that has been manipulated by AI? According to an article in Florida Realtors Magazine, real estate fraud hit $275 million last year. Fraud has been increasing rapidly and AI is making it more difficult to detect fraudulent pictures, videos, documents and content. Sarina Ziv, cofounder of Proofmark, explains how rapid AI adoption is making it harder to trust what we see—and why that matters most when money, property, identity, and legal claims are on the line. She describes Proofmark’s origin in a warning-sign moment: receiving media that looked convincingly real to some viewers but “clearly fake” to her, prompting a deeper question—what happens when people can no longer discern what’s real?

April 30, 202622 min

Why Coworking Spaces Are Thriving in Miami

From Brickell and Downtown Miami to Wynwood, Coral Gables, Kendall, and Aventura, coworking has become one of the most practical and creative responses to how people actually live and work in South Florida today. What started as a niche option for freelancers has grown into a core part of Miami’s business ecosystem. Tune in to this episode to learn why this office model works so well here. Including:Short‑term commitments instead of multi‑year leasesFully furnished offices with shared amenitiesThe ability to scale space up or down quicklyLocations closer to where people actually liveIn a city where traffic, lifestyle, and flexibility matter as much as square footage, the coworking model fits right in.

April 22, 202623 min

Building Resilience and Sustainability in South Florida Commercial Real Estate

In this Earth Day–inspired episode, hosts Fernando Arencibia Jr. and Jennifer Wollman discuss how sustainability, resiliency, and climate strategy are reshaping South Florida’s commercial real estate market, moving the conversation beyond traditional drivers like supply, demand, and capital markets. They explore Miami-Dade County’s Sustainable Buildings Program and other regional initiatives that promote LEED-certified construction, long-term operational efficiency, employee wellness, and climate preparedness, emphasizing how these efforts can reduce costs, preserve asset value, and command higher rents. The episode highlights landmark developments such as 1450 Brickell, Brickell City Centre, and the Miami Design District—recognized as the world’s first LEED Gold–certified neighborhood—to illustrate how innovative design and resilient infrastructure enhance both performance and user experience. Fernando and Jennifer also examine the evolving role of ESG, the impact of stricter building codes and insurance reforms following Hurricane Andrew, and the challenges of retrofitting older buildings, concluding that sustainability in South Florida is ultimately about smart stewardship, durability, and responsibly accommodating continued growth in a changing climate.

April 16, 202622 min

Lessons on Environmental Legacy by Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

South Florida is blessed with a beautiful environment; from beaches, to the Everglades, the wildlife and tropical foliage all contribute to an amazing quality of life. In Miami we have UDB to protect the Everglades, which in turn protects the Biscayne Aquifer. The importance of considering the environment in our developments and buildings is important to maintaining a quality of life and place that is worthy of leaving to our grandchildren and theirs and theirs. "Real estate is not just a transaction. For an owner it is stewardship. It is durability. It is thinking about today for what the building will need tomorrow." DeLeah Becker

April 9, 202626 min

Using AI As a Real Estate Advisor? Beware of Confirmation Bias

In this episode we dive into an Instagram post by Ryan Serhant that starts with "ChatGPT blew up my $50 million deal". We use a lot of large language models to help us automate tasks, give us alternate scenarios that we may not be taking into consideration, but if you are using ChatGPT as a real estate advisor, you need to beware of confirmation bias. Large language models tend to confirm ideas and beliefs we already have so it is going to feed you the information you want to hear. A way to get over that is better prompts, uploading unbiased data or information and make sure you are not asking a question to assuage a fear or doubt you may have.