IAMC Member Spotlight
As an organization, IAMC fosters relationships that turn into both business partnerships and long-term friendships. The path to corporate real estate varies widely, and our members come from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds.
We thank Jim Horigan, manager of Global Real Estate Transactions for Corning Inc., for sharing his!
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Tell us a little bit about you:
My name is Jim Horigan. I work for Corning Incorporated – think fiber optic cable, Gorilla Glass, display panels – not Pyrex (though Corning did invent it), nor Owens Corning -that’s Jim Eckhart. I am the manager of Global Real Estate Transactions- responsible for any and all real estate matters that may come up. I actually grew up in the Corning area and somehow managed to find a way back home after several years in the DC area. I attended James Madison University in Virginia, followed by Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in DC. Stuck around the DC area until my wife and I decided to make a change and move back to sunny Western NY.
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Tell us about your path to corporate real estate.
Following law school, I ended up at a boutique law firm in Arlington, VA. There I handled all sorts of real estate matters (once helped sell an island off the coast of Belize), but my primary role was as a litigator for residential landlord tenant matters. Not the most fulfilling work. So, I made a career shift after a few years and began working for a local retail developer – assisting in-house counsel and brokers with leasing and the accounting side with lease administration and abstraction. I found that I had a knack for translating “legalese” into something everyone else could understand. I generally enjoyed the work, but there wasn’t much of a chance for advancement. After about 6 years of that type of work, my girlfriend (now wife) decided that we’d move back to NY – aging parents, lower cost of living, etc. Not much opportunity in the legal/real estate world in Western NY, but my wife is a teacher, so we figured if worse came to worse, she would teach, and I’d find something. As it happens, a cousin of mine heard about an opening at Corning and sent it along thinking I might have a shot. Quite honestly, I fell backwards into the position and am incredibly grateful to the gentleman who left Corning.
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What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization?
Corning is a global company; we have real estate interests all around the world – whether it is a small 1-person sales office or a million square foot production facility – and all fall under the Global Real Estate team’s purview. My role is primarily transactions – site selections, leave vs. buy, lease renewals, easements - basically anything that touches real estate, we’re involved. We try to take as many non-production related matters off of the business unit’s plates so they can keep making glass.
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What is your favorite part of your role, or the industry as a whole?
It’s tough to narrow it down – I gain quite a bit of satisfaction learning about how some of our products are produced and how that drives some of the more unique real estate holdings – I could give a mini-lecture about the production of optical fiber. And the global nature of the role lends itself to travel (well, did, and fingers crossed that it’s coming back) – I have been able to travel to places I never even considered visiting and have met people from all over the world. Honestly, it’s a great perk when stationed in our small corner of New York. Finally, the people – Corning fosters a great culture – we all have our challenges, but in the end, we all try to row the boat in the same direction.
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What is one skill specific to your job could you share with the rest of the membership?
Well, I no longer give legal advice, so that’s out. I think the ability to bend but not break – corporate real estate manages so many different interests within the company – the business unit, treasury, finance, environmental – the list goes on and on. A CRE professional has to be flexible enough to take all of those interests and accommodate (or manage) them – all while understanding the interests of the landlord or GC need to be addressed as well. There’s a good bit of patience that is needed as well – I’m still working on that.
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What led you to join IAMC?
Corning’s Director of Real Estate, Colleen Caravati, points all of the transaction team to IAMC. There’s a wealth of knowledge and valuable connections to be shared and made. I think I most enjoy the willingness of everyone to share their experiences – the freedom to reach out and, well, “Get Some Help”.
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Fun Facts:
Tell us about one thing you have on your bucket list.
I’d love to go to Pamplona – I have no interest in actually running with the bulls, I just want to sit on one of those balconies with a nice cocktail and watch.
What was your first job?
Paperboy, followed by fast food.
What would your superpower be?
Ability to fly, no close second.
Thank you again to Jim Horigan for letting us know more about his path to corporate real estate and IAMC.