The NAR National Commercial Awards program honors members who received an award or recognition for their exceptional service and contributions to their local/state REALTOR® association, one of NAR’s affiliated Institutes, Societies or Councils, the commercial real estate industry, or their community.
Nominated by: Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS®
Connie Howard is with U.S. Properties Real Estate Services in New London, Conn., where she primarily works with developers and investors on sales and leasing. Described as a skilled negotiator and dealmaker, Howard sees her strength as matching buyers and sellers. A graduate of Stanford University in Political Science and International Relations, Howard is conversant in Spanish, French and German. She is also an award-winning singer/songwriter and performs regularly in her area.
Q: Real estate is not your first career. What brought you to the industry?
After graduating from Stamford, I worked at UBS Securities in New York City as an equity research analyst. I decided to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter and moved to Nashville. While I had some success, I missed the Northeast. Also, I wanted a more challenging and financially secure career, so I joined my mom’s brokerage firm.
Q: What from your work in securities helped you in real estate?
Equity research involves analyzing P&L spreadsheets and valuing companies, and both skills apply to commercial brokerage. Also, equity research is very client-driven and calls for rapport and strong communication with clients—just like in real estate.
Q: Do you use your language skills?
Yes, mostly Spanish. I have several clients who don’t speak English, and because our website lists my language capabilities, our office occasionally gets calls from clients seeking a bilingual broker.
Q: You still perform music professionally. How do you balance that with real estate?
While I was always more interested in commercial brokerage than residential, the schedule is definitely a better fit for my music career, since there aren’t many nighttime showings for commercial listings. I perform several times a month at a local resort. It’s really wonderful to have a steady gig. I also occasionally play with a trio that has been recording new music.
Q: What is happening in your market that makes your job exciting?
Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics that builds submarines, opened an engineering and design facility in New London in 2010. They announced plans to hire 3,500 people in 2025, but they recently upped that figure to 8,000! That has fueled so much growth and demand. I recently sold a building that had sat vacant for 20 years. Developers are coming in from New York and Boston to repurpose vacant buildings for residential and mixed-use. I’m hearing from clients who had no plans to sell, but see this as a real seller’s market. All this new energy and new money have been fantastic for the whole eastern shoreline.
Q: What advice would you offer to someone new to commercial brokerage?
Based on my experience, I would say to start with an established company, find a mentor and learn the business from the ground up. Also, surround yourself with great people. Look at who’s doing the deals you’d like to do and reach out, invite them for coffee. It makes me feel good when someone does that with me.
Contact Connie Howard at chowardusp@gmail.com
