Lee Small, Managing Director of National Commercial Services at MBL Title, joined the firm five years ago and has been in the national title business for eight years. Lee has been a member of The Real Estate Council (TREC) since 2016 and has been heavily involved in the Public Policy committee. He was in the Associate Leadership Council (ALC) Class of 2020 and has served on the TREC Executive Committee as the ALC Representative. He is the 2024 Membership Chair.
How would you convince someone unsure about joining TREC to become a member?
TREC has something for everyone. It’s not hard to convince people the value of membership because of all we’re doing in the community and at City Hall, building our leaders of the future all while creating the best networking in the commercial real estate space. I think people are overwhelmed with all the avenues to get involved in at TREC and that can hold them back from finding one or two committees to focus their time and energy around. It’s my committee’s job to help people find what they’re passionate about and then point them in the right direction.
As the Membership Chair, what do you and your committee do?
Our main focus is renewing memberships and bringing new members into the fold. I think the most important thing we do is educating people about TREC and getting them plugged in. Whether they want to get involved with our philanthropic efforts through TREC Community Investors or want help advancing their careers through ALC or Public Policy/PAC, we’re here to inform people about all the good things that TREC has to offer.
If a friend was visiting Dallas for the first time, where would you take them? What would you do? Where would you go to eat?
I wanted a well-rounded itinerary showcasing Dallas’ culture and amazing food. So, for a friend visiting, I would start the day at LDU Coffee, which is the best coffee shop in town and maybe the best latte I’ve ever had. Then, we’d go to the Dallas Arboretum. It’s so beautiful and one of the best places in the city. For lunch, I would either choose Deli News or Doce Mesas on Mckinney. In the afternoon, either a round of golf or a Dallas Stars game if they’re in town. I’d top off the day with drinks at The Old Monk and dinner at Shoyo. It’s a busy day, but it’s a good one!
How has being a member of TREC shaped your career? How has it changed how you view the commercial real estate industry?
There’s no doubt that being a member of TREC has helped advance my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the organization. I really threw myself into TREC when I got into the title space. The whole organization, and especially ALC, has helped me get to know so many people in the industry and continue to educate myself about commercial real estate. I’ve also learned how important the industry’s voice is in the public sphere. We need to continue advocating for ourselves at City Hall and in Austin to make sure our industry has a seat at the table when key decisions are made.
To learn more about getting plugged in and finding your passion within TREC, check out our Committees. To join TREC and learn more about membership opportunities, see our Membership Benefits. Please contact TREC Senior Director Jennifer Schmiel with any questions or to learn more about TREC.
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