SF Commercial Property Conversations

In this eye-opening conversation, Bruce Bean welcomes Ariel Isokav, founder of Abbastar, to discuss the powerful world of life settlements. Ariel reveals how his firm helps seniors turn life insurance policies they no longer need into real cash—and how savvy investors are tapping into this lesser-known market to build diversified, secure portfolios.
Ariel explains the basics of life settlements, the difference between viatical and life settlements, and how both sellers and investors benefit from this growing space. If you're a commercial real estate investor looking for alternative, stable investment opportunities—or if you own a life insurance policy you no longer need—this episode is packed with value.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

From the fast-paced world of tech investment banking to publishing socially conscious children's books, Rana DiOrio has done it all—and she’s not done yet. In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Rana to explore her bold moves across industries and the life lessons that came with each pivot.
What You'll Hear:
How Rana jumped from securities law into tech investment banking at the height of the dot-com boom
The story behind launching Little Pickle Press and its acquisition by Sourcebooks
Why she’s now building a purpose-driven Web3 platform and investing in laundromats
Her thoughts on the economy, commercial real estate, and the evolving tech landscape
A look into her children’s book series, including the latest title greenlit for 2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, host Bruce Bean sits down with Ken Turton, the founder of Turton Commercial Real Estate, to explore how he carved out a specialized niche in the heart of Sacramento's commercial property market. Ken shares his journey from corporate middle management to becoming a key player in urban redevelopment, starting with leasing Class A properties and eventually shaping Sacramento’s cityscape through innovative ground-up development and adaptive reuse projects.
Ken offers deep insights into how surplus public land is turned into thriving community spaces and reveals how his firm has become the go-to for municipalities across Northern California looking to revitalize their downtowns. The conversation also tackles post-COVID occupancy challenges, the future of experiential urban retail, and the long-term implications of rising interest rates and inflation on commercial real estate.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we’re joined by John Friedrich, whose journey spans from gold mining in South America to building tech startups in Venice Beach and now financing large-scale housing projects across the U.S. at LFB Ventures.
John shares his incredible path—from working with his father in the junior mining space, to launching a news-reading alarm clock app, to reshaping neighborhoods with real estate development. He breaks down how tech, geopolitics, and housing trends influenced his career shifts and what he’s seeing in today’s lending landscape.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

What happens when a Silicon Valley engineer brings her tech expertise to the world of real estate investing? In this episode, Bruce sits down with Lilit Yenokyan, a former big tech engineer turned real estate entrepreneur, to explore how data-driven tools and AI can reshape the way investors evaluate small multi-unit properties.
Lilit shares her journey from Armenia to America, and from engineering roles at companies like Meta and Netflix to launching Investra, a platform that simplifies real estate investment analysis for both investors and realtors. You’ll learn how Lilit is addressing a gap in the market between residential and large commercial properties by focusing on small multi-unit investments—like duplexes and triplexes—using smart software that puts numbers first.
Whether you're an investor looking to break into real estate, a tech enthusiast, or a realtor ready to better serve your investor clients, this episode is packed with insights.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Michael Hatfield, a RE/MAX real estate professional with a unique background in aviation. Michael shares how his years as a Delta airline pilot shaped his disciplined, client-first approach to real estate — and how Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles help him build better outcomes for buyers and sellers alike.
From operating large supermarkets to flying jets, Michael’s journey into real estate was anything but conventional. He explains how human factors in aviation can directly inform a real estate team’s ability to communicate, make decisions, and deliver results. We also get his expert take on Bay Area market trends, how buyers should think about interest rates today, and why he believes the next great buying opportunity may be right now.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce sits down with San Francisco native and commercial broker Daniella Devine, whose story weaves together public service, entrepreneurship, and real estate. From sweeping warehouse floors as a child in her family’s flooring business to becoming a leader in commercial property investment, Daniella shares how her experience in emergency management and her roots in small business shaped her unique perspective in the commercial real estate world.
Listeners will hear how she transitioned from a government career in disaster management to owning and managing commercial properties, including a thriving car wash business with a dream operator scenario. Daniella shares her observations on the San Francisco market, her optimism for its recovery, and her strategy around value-add properties and retail leasing.
Whether you’re a new investor, a Bay Area local, or curious about real estate resilience, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

What does it take to scale from a single 8-unit building to over 200 units in a competitive market like the East Bay? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Cameron Corwin, an Oakland-born real estate investor and the driving force behind OakRidge Partners’ rapid expansion in the region.
Cameron shares his journey from a consulting career at Deloitte to becoming a broker and eventually transitioning into a full-time investor. Learn how he leveraged podcasts, partnerships, and local market knowledge to grow his portfolio. He talks about the value of strategic debt, buying at the right basis, and why now might be the best time to invest in the East Bay.
Cameron also gives his perspective on the real estate climate in Oakland, the role of city leadership, and where he sees the market heading in 2026. It’s a candid and insightful conversation about resilience, timing, and real estate fundamentals.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce Bean sits down with Todd Sulzinger, a seasoned corporate finance executive and real estate investor, to talk about what it takes to build solid financial foundations for growing companies.
Todd shares how his journey started with a degree from San Jose State and a lucky break into the tech world. Over the years, he’s worked across various industries—including defense tech, medical devices, and business intelligence—offering deep expertise in budgeting, financial planning, and strategic growth. He also talks candidly about his venture into real estate syndication and why he still believes in real estate as a powerful wealth-building tool.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest
 

In this episode, Bruce Bean talks with Dusty Lloyd, founder and leader at Promise Home Loans, about how an engineer’s mindset and a passion for service helped him build success in the mortgage world. From overcoming a near-death experience to scaling a 50-person loan team, Dusty shares how he transitioned from tech into mortgage brokerage—and how that shift allowed him to better serve clients and loan officers alike.
Dusty discusses current mortgage rate trends, how independent brokers are disrupting the traditional big-lender model, and why now might be the time for homeowners and buyers to make their move. You’ll also hear Dusty’s take on what’s holding people back in today’s market and how Promise Home Loans is growing by offering loan officers better tools, pricing, and support.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest