Building Trust Across Six Markets: How Property Management Drives Success in Industrial Real Estate

Senior director Bianca Curtis oversees property management operations across six key West Coast markets. With more than 20 years of experience in industrial real estate, Bianca leads her team in delivering exceptional service for Link Logistics customers in warehouse and distribution facilities throughout the region. Read on to learn how Bianca approaches industrial property management and her perspective on working with warehouse customers. 

How long have you been with Link Logistics and what are your primary responsibilities in property management?

Bianca: I've been at Link Logistics for a little over five and a half years. As a senior director, I oversee property management in six industrial real estate markets: Sacramento, the Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Denver. I focus on driving operational success with my team and ensuring consistency across our properties in each market. We want to deliver an elevated customer experience for both our internal partners in leasing and the customers who occupy Link Logistics warehouses and distribution centers.

Which types of industrial facilities do you work with most frequently?

Bianca: My team and I work exclusively with industrial warehouses in the northwest. Our industrial real estate portfolio serves third-party logistics companies, warehousing and storage operations, and some light manufacturing. 

What makes your six markets so well-suited for warehouse and distribution operations?

Bianca: Seattle, Portland and the Bay Area play an important role in the international supply chain, allowing our customers to receive and distribute goods coming in from overseas. Proximity to major ports makes these West Coast markets attractive for our logistics real estate customers. 

Can you share an example of how you and your team addressed a customer’s problem by listening and taking action? 

Bianca: During a recent visit to Salt Lake City, my team and I met with a customer who had recently expanded into an adjacent industrial space at our property and assumed certain repair and maintenance obligations. As they were getting their new distribution facility up and running, the customer identified an operational issue and reached out for support. We took the time to listen carefully, and the local property manager partnered with the customer and vendors to get the issue resolved. Even when a situation extends beyond our standard obligations, our team focuses on being responsive, proactive and willing to help make a difference for our customers for better long-term outcomes.

What do you value most about Link Logistics’ approach to industrial real estate?

Bianca: In my experience, Link Logistics is a very forward-thinking commercial real estate firm that embraces technology and innovation. A good example is Link+, our digital customer portal where customers can access their leases, submit work orders and easily communicate with us. The entire product was built in-house, which reflects the depth of expertise we have across our teams. It also shows how people across Link Logistics—even those who don’t physically touch the real estate—are always working to make things better for our customers.

What makes Link Logistics such a great place to work?

Bianca: I've been in the commercial real estate industry for more than 20 years and I can honestly say that Link Logistics truly values its employees. We've got great benefits, and even though we've gone through changes and will continue to evolve, at the end of the day we really take care of our people. I think that culture of support starts with our CEO, Luke Petherbridge, and flows down through every level of the organization. 

How have you seen the industrial real estate sector change?

Bianca: In the past several years, there's been a tremendous amount of growth driven by e-commerce. I feel very fortunate that I landed in industrial property management, because this sector has fared the best out of all commercial real estate types in recent years. As e-commerce continues to evolve, Link Logistics is embracing new technology to stay agile.

How do you like to spend your time when you're not thinking about warehouses?

Bianca: It's funny because I'm always thinking about them—even on vacation, the property manager brain never shuts off! But I love to travel and explore new places. Over the holidays, I took a trip to the British Virgin Islands and it was awesome. I already have my next trip planned for later this year to Alaska, and I'm super excited.