Sherri Giacinto

Meet Sherri Giacinto

What is your role at Avison Young?

I am a Property Manager. Currently I manage a large portfolio that consists of several banks from Brunswick, Georgia to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was hired four years ago specifically for the banks, but I now also manage several warehouses in the Charleston area.

How did you get into commercial real estate?

21 years ago, I had a neighbor that approached me with a job opportunity. She needed help managing a new 300-unit residential apartment complex and was having a great deal of difficulty finding reliable employees. I did not know anything about real estate or leasing apartments, but she mentored me and helped me get my South Carolina Property Management License. When the apartment industry was having a difficult time, I moved to vacation rentals and then worked for a large hospital system managing several medical facilities and doing some construction and renovations for clinics. During that time, we were leasing and renovating a building from Avison Young that was going to be for a Ryan White Aids Clinic. After the project was complete, Avison Young invited me to join their team. It was one of the best moves I have made during my career.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

My grandmother, Mary Kilner. She lived alone and cared for herself until she was 103. She died a few years ago at age 106. She had to quit school in 8th grade to help support her family and when she was widowed with 3 children, she worked two jobs to put food on the table. She had a tremendous work ethic and never felt sorry for herself. She didn't have a driver's license, but it did not slow her down. She always wanted to learn something new every day. She said that was the secret to a long life. She walked a few miles a day well into her 80's saying that was another thing to do for long life. She was a genuinely joyful lady with many talents such as gardening and crocheting. She was amazing!

What advice would you give women starting out in real estate?

Remember the importance of human connection. Our world has gotten so computerized. It seems like most people want to communicate any way but face to face. A hand-written thank you card can create such a lasting impression especially when your competition is sending an email or text. Slow down and take the time to understand what your client needs. This will certainly build long lasting relationships.

This year's IWD theme is Choose to Challenge. What do you choose to challenge or celebrate to help create more inclusion in your community?

I would love to start a book club for women that features and celebrates minority authors. More specifically, female minority writers. I am an avid reader and recently decided to read more books by minority writers. Wow, what stories they tell! I think more people need to be exposed to such great work.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I have suffered from Dyslexia all my life but was not properly diagnosed until I was a young adult, it was quite a struggle. I have learned to take things slowly when writing or reading. I always repeat information that someone gives me so I can double check that I have written it correctly. I had such self-doubts and didn't feel like I measured up to my peers when I was younger. I know now that it is just something that makes me who I am, and we all have things to deal with. I do not let it get me down.

What women’s organizations would you recommend other women get involved with?

NOW - National Organization for Women.