Cathy Kottwitz – Star City Six
Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC (guiderockrealty.com) is a real estate brokerage founded in 2016 offering tenant and buyer, post-transaction, and consulting services. Cathy Kottwitz, CPM is a broker and property manager for Guiderock Commercial Realty.
Tell us a little about your business.
Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC is focused on building strong communities. Primarily, I work with local businesses to make strategic decisions about the locations they use, but I also help communities and landlords understand trends and assets to build strong business climates.
How did you get started in the business?
Before I got started in commercial real estate, I was working for the State and pursuing a master’s degree in city planning. I had known one of the commercial developers in town for several years, and they were looking to expand their team at the same time as I was considering how to apply what I had learned to the private sector rather than continuing to work in government. That has now turned into 13 years in the industry in both brokerage and property management roles.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
My most important professional achievement has been founding an independent brokerage firm and cultivating a sustainable niche. It has been an amazing journey to be in a place where I can have a meaningful impact.
Tell us a little about your family.
My husband Jason and I have been married for 15 years. I have one son, James, and two dogs.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
My husband and I are home-brewers. Several years ago, my step-dad shared his recipe for mead with us, which has become kind of a signature item for us. My personal favorite was an experimental batch that came out much drier than expected. We added vanilla to it, and it turned into a very smooth tasting variety.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to leave time for rumination. Having time to be involved in other groups and activities, as well as being able to simply step away from a problem, has allowed me to draw on outside experience to make better decisions and find creative solutions.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be?
I am a huge data junkie, so I would probably choose to do something in data analytics or machine learning.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
I just finished reading Range by David Epstein. As someone with a diverse educational and professional background, the premise of utilizing a broad range of knowledge in today’s economy appealed to me greatly. It also ties in well with How To Be Everything by Emilie Wapnick (which is a great read for those with diverse interests) and Originals by Adam Grant. For leisure, I’m reading The Lost Queen by Signe Pike and have read quite a few books from Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dan Brown, Lisa Lutz, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz.
What is your favorite TV show?
Stranger Things is definitely my current favorite (and I’m anxiously waiting now for news on season 4!
What is your favorite local restaurant?
It’s so hard to pick just one! La Paz, Buzzard Billy’s, and Yia Yia’s are among my favorites.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 421-7474; Email: cathy@guiderockrealty.com; Website: guiderockrealty.com.