NEIL MERIN

CHAIRMAN, NAI/MERIN HUNTER CODMAN, WEST PALM BEACH

Founded by Merin in 1983, NAI/Merin Hunter Codman is the largest privately held commercial real estate firm in Palm Beach County. Its more than 150 employees provide property management and brokerage services to a portfolio of properties valued at more than $2 billion. They also contribute more than 3,000 hours of work annually to nonprofit entities in the company’s service area. Merin has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Chamber of the Palm Beaches, the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Anti-Defamation League of Palm Beach.

EDUCATION: Boston University (BS)

FIRST JOB: At age 15, working in an un-air-conditioned warehouse during the summer, packing ladies’ intimate items for distribution to retailers. My first full-time job was as a property manager for a portfolio of four- to 20-unit apartment buildings in West Palm Beach.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I couldn’t imagine wanting to do anything else! However, my original goal from junior high school was to become an architect.

MENTEE IMPACT: I have had the fortune of hiring eight personal assistants over the years, and six of them have gone on to successful careers in commercial real estate.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: From 1970 until 1976 I attended over 200 Grateful Dead shows and recorded many of them, which I freely distributed to anyone who would listen.

HOBBY: I am and have been an amateur photographer for almost my whole life. My passion is black-and-white film photography, and I maintain two darkrooms to work in.

INDUSTRY TREND: I hear younger real estate brokers talking about the use of social media as a game-changer. But that is just advertising just like newspapers and magazines were 25 years ago. However, I think the lurking challenge to younger brokers is the shortening of their careers by artificial intelligence. I predict that in five years, half of the commercial real estate brokers could be out of a job, replaced by AI. Just think, you can get space without human contact!