Arbor Expands Mentorship Initiative with Two Spring Project Destined Programs

Arbor Realty Trust, a long-term partner of Project Destined, is once again reaffirming our commitment to the next generation of commercial real estate leaders by participating in two new programs this spring that will provide students with invaluable insight into multifamily real estate and single-family rental (SFR) financing.

Project Destined Bridge Financing Program

Arbor continues to expand our mentoring tradition through The Arbor Realty Trust Commercial Real Estate Finance Bridge program. Now in its second year, the program is focused on the many facets of SFR financing and agency screening. During live, virtual sessions throughout March, students heard from Arbor professionals representing our SFR Financing, Underwriting, Screening, Servicing Operations, and Portfolio Management departments. The program culminated in a site visit to Arbor’s New York City office in April to network with Arbor professionals and learn more about early-career roles available at the company. Students selected for the program also receive an academic scholarship stipend.

“I feel lucky to spend a few hours with the next generation of CRE leaders,” said John Tarantino, Managing Director, Screening, SFR Underwriting at Arbor, who spoke about SFR and build-to-rent (BTR) financing during one of the program’s sessions. “There’s nothing quite like explaining how underwriting criteria shift for a construction project, or why build-to-rent requires a different lens than multifamily. It is a great reminder of why I got into lending, but even more so why our industry needs several points of view to mitigate risk.”

Both the Bridge and Career Pathways programs are customized to help students better understand Arbor’s business and team and offer insight into how the company’s different departments operate and work together to deliver strong results for our clients, sponsors, and partners.

“Opportunities like Project Destined are meaningful because they allow us to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world,” said Dustin Pevear, Managing Director, Director of Screening, at Arbor, who also led a session for the Bridge program. “Walking through the loan screening process and agency lending space gave me a chance to share not just what we do at Arbor, but how we think about risk, opportunity, and long-term value. The level of insight and curiosity these students brought to the conversation was impressive, and it’s exciting to see the next generation of real estate professionals so engaged.”

Project Destined Career Pathways Program

The Project Destined Real Estate Finance & Advisory Career Pathways Bridge Program, in partnership with EisnerAmper, is an opportunity for students to explore various areas of the real estate finance industry, while learning about different career paths in the industry. Through weekly virtual, interactive speaker sessions; skills-building workshops; career-focused discussions; and an in-person visit, participants will gain practical exposure to CRE and early career opportunities. As with the Bridge program, students will receive an academic scholarship stipend for participating.

During weekly sessions beginning in April, participants will hear from professionals at both organizations about how they navigate their work while combining technical expertise with critical soft skills. Students will also learn how to develop their personal brand and receive tips on negotiation techniques that can be very helpful in business relationships.

“In each Project Destined program I help to organize at Arbor, I prioritize including career-focused and skills-building components, because those are just as — if not more — important to being successful in this industry than the educational background you have or the type of resume you bring to a firm,” said Leah Fisher, Managing Director, Special Projects, Governance and Risk, at Arbor Realty Trust, who developed and has been spearheading the program. “There are so many different things that you can do in this industry besides, for example, traditional underwriting or screening. I want to make sure these students receive that message from experienced professionals who understand the different paths you can take.”

Project Destined is committed to introducing diverse high school and college students and military veterans to business and real estate fundamentals. Since its inception nearly a decade ago, Project Destined has provided more than 15,000 students worldwide with training in real estate, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Arbor is proud to be an active partner of Project Destined as we shape the next generation of commercial real estate leaders together.

Interested in the multifamily real estate investment market? Contact Arbor today to learn about our array of multifamily, single-family rental, and affordable housing financing options or view our multifamily articles and research reports.