From Student to Broker: How the SIOR Spring Conference Shaped Chris Beard’s Career

Chris Beard attended the 2025 SIOR Spring Conference in Las Vegas as a junior at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business. He left with a clear answer to a question he’d been asking himself for years: what does a career in commercial real estate actually look like, and is it the right one for him?

Thanks to support from the SIOR Foundation, Chris got to find out firsthand. Today he’s an Associate Broker with Park Commercial Real Estate in Charlotte, focusing on office and medical office properties across North and South Carolina.

Here’s what that experience taught him, in his own words.

Learning From the Room, Not Just the Sessions

At the time of the conference, Chris was interning with Colliers in Columbia, South Carolina. The most valuable part of attending, he says, wasn’t any single session. It was the chance to speak with and learn from accomplished commercial real estate professionals from around the world.

Watching brokers from different markets, different asset classes, and different countries openly share ideas with one another reinforced two lessons that have stayed with him since.

• Commercial real estate is a relationship-driven business.
• No matter how much experience someone has, there’s always something new to learn.

A Mentor Who Led by Example

One person who left a lasting impression on Chris was David Lockwood, SIOR the then Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Colliers South Carolina and currently SIOR’s Chief Executive Officer.

Despite his accomplishments and standing in the industry, David was approachable, generous with his time, and genuinely interested in helping both students and fellow professionals. For Chris, watching someone at that level continue to invest in relationships and personal growth reinforced the kind of professional he hopes to become.

What Success Actually Looks Like

Chris also spent time with David Hagan, SIOR, who had already become a mentor to him before the conference. David’s guidance extended beyond commercial real estate into leadership, character, and life in general.

Spending time with him in person reinforced what Chris already admired: a genuine care for people that comes through in every interaction, whether David was talking with a student or reconnecting with a longtime colleague.

That consistency taught Chris something he now carries into his own career: success in this industry isn’t measured only by transactions or accomplishments. It’s measured by how you treat people.

Confirming the Path Forward

The conference didn’t just confirm that commercial real estate was the right career for Chris. It sparked a specific interest in office real estate and gave him a much clearer picture of the career paths available within the industry, along with the importance of building a strong network and staying curious.

Since graduating from the Moore School in May, Chris has joined Park Commercial Real Estate in Charlotte as an Associate Broker. He’s starting his career under the mentorship of two SIOR designees, Chandler Knox, SIOR, and Charlie Swanson, SIOR.

Why This Matters to the SIOR Foundation

Chris’s story is one example of what the SIOR Foundation’s investment in students makes possible. His attendance at the conference came at a pivotal point in his college career and gave him access to relationships, mentors, and clarity that shaped his professional direction.

In Chris’s own words: “I hope that one day I’ll be in a position to pay that generosity forward and help future students the way so many SIOR members invested in me.”

Support the Next Generation of Commercial Real Estate Professionals

Stories like Chris’s are possible because of donors who believe in investing in students early. Learn more about supporting the SIOR Foundation.