If you have taken in one of the First Friday’s at the Suzanne Zahr Gallery or sipped your way through a few Wine Wednesday’s at Caruccio’s, then you have met, or at least seen, Shannon Carver. Shannon, one of the newest members of the SZ Team, brings a welcomed background in property management and a love for all things real-estate. Entering the Suzanne Zahr Gallery, Shannon is one of the first to welcome you to the gallery’s artistic embrace. I was able to catch up with Shannon to ask her some fun questions during an unusual day where not much was happening in the office. Through our conversation, her kindness was obvious, but I clearly saw her dynamism as she spoke with passion about real-estate and her work with Suzanne. What did we discuss? Life and the pursuit of real-estate.
Keith Imper - Tell me about your position in the SZ Team?
Shannon Carver - I am the Development Coordinator, which is a new position for Suzanne. After launching Rêve Development, she was looking for somebody to help and I threw my hat in the ring. My background has always been on the property management side and in fact I met Suzanne while I was working in property management here at the Aviara (the building in which the SZ office and gallery are located). I first heard about the position when Suzanne came over to Caruccio’s Wine Wednesday and the rest, as they say, is history.
KI – Tell me about a project you are working on?
SC - A current project that we have is Stazione25 off of MLK, near the light rail station. It’s been fun getting to know about the construction process, talk with the architects, and just learn about the world that I’m really starting to love. We are growing the development side of the business and I’m excited for more opportunities.
KI - What is the one thing you have learned since starting to work with the Rêve side of the business?
SC - There is so much to learn. I’ve always been passionate about real estate, but don’t have a background in development. What I have learned is that it’s a face-paced world out there! (both laugh). My time management skills have really been put to the test and learning about the various processes and procedures has been intense and great at the same time. That’s not even including all of the legal stuff I’m learning. I’m loving it. It’s all new and exciting!
KI – You obviously love your job. Get more specific with me, what do you enjoy the most out of everything you do?
SC - I’ve always been drawn to real estate since I’m a homebody and never had a space that felt like “home”. I think my desire for a home and career of assisting people find their homes, or improving them, is what I enjoy the most about my career.
KI – Here are some different and fun questions for ya, do you have a philosophy in life?
SC – I like that question. I would have to say hard work and a good attitude is my philosophy in life. I believe those two things will get you places. I strive to stay positive in everything I do.
KI – What inspires you?
SC – I am inspired by a lot of things, but I would say my bosses inspire me. Suzanne is a major inspiration to me. She wears many hats in her business and is such a go-getter; she is creative, talented, and smart. Because of those attributes she exudes, it inspires me to be a master of my own domain as well. Also, my other boss, Lisa Caruccio, is another inspiration. She too is marvelously creative. These two women make me want to be better every day, and I feel lucky to work around them.
KI – Suzanne and Lisa are two amazing and different people. It must be such a treat to work so closely with both of them. Tell me about that?
SC – They play to all my talent levels and pull me in different directions. I see myself as a left-brain person, so I like how Lisa is more of a right-brain thinker and really pulls me in that direction. Suzanne is a nice mix of both left and right brain. Both help me see creatively to open my perspective which I wouldn’t do naturally myself. I stay in the box and they both pull me out of said box. And, it’s not that they must work hard to pull me out, in fact when I see them in action, their modeling allows me to say to myself “I never thought about it that way, and I can do that, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
KI – How does your experience in the more creative aspects of your jobs help within your tasks on the Rêve Development side?
SC - That creative thinking is very helpful in property development. We are limited to a structure and timeline, but one must use creative resources to accomplish tasks efficiently and thoughtfully. There are many teams working together, so it takes that creative mind to problem solve.
KI – Now time for the lighting round. Within five seconds or less, after each word please tell me what your mind’s eye sees.
Lady Gaga – oh, creative for sure.
Mt. Rushmore - Never been, never seen it
Pasta – I love pasta!
Rubix Cube – I can complete one
Clogs – I own a pair
KI – Will end with one of Suzanne’s usual questions, what is your favorite architectural moment?
SC - The University of Oregon’s campus Architecture inspires me by connecting components of technology with nature, especially the Jaqua Center for Student Athletes and Matt Knight Arena.