Women of Influence Podcast Series: DeLea Becker & Barbara Morrison

The Crexi Commercial Real Estate Podcast: Conversations in All Things CRE

This is the Women of Influence Podcast series, delivering next level insights and expertise live from GlobeSt.’s Women of Influence Conference.

The Women of Influence Podcast Series is an exclusive mini-series of The Crexi Podcast, an insider’s look at all things commercial real estate, produced in collaboration with GlobeSt. The Crexi team visited Women of Influence and recorded in Lake Tahoe, California, from the floor of the conference, highlighting movers and shakers in commercial real estate.

The Crexi Podcast explores various aspects of the commercial real estate industry in conversation with some of the top professionals in the space. In each episode, we feature different guests to tap into their wealth of CRE expertise and explore the latest trends and updates from the world of commercial real estate.

In this episode, Crexi’s Shanti Ryle sits with DeLea Becker, Founder and Owner of Beck-Reit Commercial, and Barbara Morrison, Founder and President of TMC Financing, to cover wide-ranging topics, including:

• Introduction to The Crexi Podcast
• Meet DeLea Becker: Background and Achievements
• DeLea Journey into Commercial Real Estate
• Navigating the Great Recession
• Transition to Commercial Real Estate
• The Importance of Long-Term Vision
• Empowering Women in Commercial Real Estate
• Advice for Aspiring Investors
• Conclusion and Contact Information
• Meet Barbara Morrison: A Pioneer in Small Business Advocacy
• The Journey of TMC Financing
• Expanding Impact: Working Solutions and TMC Community Capital
• Barbara's Early Career and Civic Leadership
• Barbara's Path to Commercial Real Estate
• Understanding the SBA 504 Loan Program
• Trends and Insights in Small Business Real Estate
• Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
• Conclusion and How to Connect with Barbara

About DeLea Becker:

DeLea Becker is the Founder & Broker of Beck-Reit Commercial & Beck-Reit Asset Management. In addition, she owns with her husband, a 25-year-old Heavy Highway Civil Construction Company, Beck-Reit & Sons, Ltd which specializes in TxDOT road & bridge repair.

Her experience in Commercial Real Estate started as an investor and developer. She has vast knowledge in the greater Austin area real estate market with expertise in East Austin. She seeks to purchase Income Producing Properties across Texas, Vacant Properties to tenant in Central Texas, and Old Buildings to gut and rehab in Austin Texas. She lowers her risk exposure in investing by having her companies manage all aspects - Brokerage, Property Management & Construction. DeLeas's focus is growing her personal CRE portfolio while the majority of her brokerage clients are serviced by Brokers she has working for her company.

DeLea actively champions women with careers in Commercial Real Estate to become active investors with their knowledge and expertise. Real Estate has proven through history to be an excellent path to growing wealth, DeLea is adamant that women get in the game.

DeLea is a member of many professional organizations that are specific to Commercial Real Estate and Business. She has been honored with awards from Austin Business Journal, Bisnow, CREW, CCIM, WRECONF, CREi Summit, Otso Influencer, and the National Association of Realtors.

About Barbara Morrison

Barbara Morrison, a Bay Area small business advocate and civic leader, is the founder and president of TMC Financing, a certified Development Company that provides SBA commercial real estate financing.

In 1981, Barbara founded TMC Financing to provide access to affordable capital with the SBA 504 loan program for small business owners to purchase the real estate utilized by their business. From just 6 employees lending in the 9 Bay Area counties, TMC has grown into the largest CDC in the nation, providing financing for small businesses in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Hawaii. Under her visionary leadership, TMC has facilitated over $14 billion in SBA commercial real estate loans for over 7,000 small businesses, leading to the creation of an estimated 60,000 jobs.

Recognizing the needs of smaller entrepreneurs, not able to take advantage of the 504 program, Barbara expanded her impact by founding Working Solutions a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), in 1999. This initiative addressed the financing gaps faced by start-ups, women, minorities, and low-income businesses unable to access conventional funding sources. Working Solutions was “incubated” in the TMC office until it grew into self-sufficiency. Today, it is one of the most successful CDFIs in the country.

In 2018, repeating the method of incubating another nonprofit, Barbara founded TMC Community Capital (TMC CC), an online, technology-based microlender. Since its inception, TMC Community Capital has disbursed over $7 million to approximately 350 businesses, providing crucial support to under-served entrepreneurs. Notably, 82% of the loans facilitated by TMC CC supported entrepreneurs of color, while 56% benefited women-owned businesses and 75% aided business owners with low-to-moderate income levels.

Morrison developed her passion for small business economic development early in her career while serving as deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development in San Francisco.

A former mayor and city council member for the city of Belvedere, Morrison has been widely recognized for her advocacy for women and small business owners, as well as the leadership she provided for many community organizations.

Currently, Barbara participates in several influential organizations, including the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and the International Women’s Forum (IWF). Her engagement in these organizations reflects her ongoing commitment to fostering economic growth, supporting entrepreneurship and helping local communities grow and thrive.

About GlobeSt. Women of Influence:

The Women of Influence Conference is an exclusive two-day event that celebrates the women who drive the commercial real estate industry forward. These influential leaders will discuss the critical issues facing CRE now and in the future, what it means to be a woman in business today and how women CRE leaders can uplift and support each other on their journey to the top.

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For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi’s blog.

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