The hard work and dedication of our members forms the bedrock of The Real Estate Council’s efforts to catalyze community investment in Dallas, influence public policy, propel careers, and develop the commercial real estate leaders of tomorrow.
Each month, we are spotlighting TREC members who have made significant volunteer contributions to our community investment initiatives and continue to push the limits of what our organization and its partners can accomplish for our city.
This month, we are proud to recognize Blake Bell of Balfour Beatty Construction and Max Schwartzstein of Providential Realty Partners!
Blake Bell, Balfour Beatty Construction
Blake recently began volunteering with TREC Community Investors and serves as project manager on a project to renovate the auditorium at the K.B. Polk Center for Academically Talented and Gifted alongside the nonprofit United to Learn. “It has been a great experience. I’ve enjoyed getting to meet new people and help United to Learn’s vision for the campus become a reality,” he says. “Working in the construction industry has equipped us with a unique set of abilities and it is really rewarding to be able to use those to help our community.” The project includes the removal and new installation of seating and carpeting, an extension of the stage, updating other finishes, and updating the technology within the space. Blake is responsible for managing the budget, creating the site logistics plan, contracting trade partners, sequencing the work, assisting with material selections, and coordinating between TREC and the other project partners. A Young Guns member, Blake joined TREC at the behest of Elias Bahar, Balfour Beatty’s Director of Business Development and a longtime TREC member and volunteer.
Max Schwartzstein, Providential Realty Partners
A member of the Associate Leadership Council Class of 2021, Max serves as co-project manager with Estrella Carter of Granite Properties on the annual ALC class project. The ALC class is working with Cornerstone Baptist Church to build a commissary kitchen in the same shopping center on South Boulevard that houses the Cornerstone Community Laundromat and Southpoint Community Market in the latest Dallas Catalyst Project effort to promote entrepreneurship and food security within the Forest District. “TREC Community Investors has provided a way for me to lend my professional skills to the community, which leverages the impact that my volunteer time has on the organizations that TREC serves,” he says. “I have also enjoyed working with other highly motivated, accomplished, and skilled TREC members.” Max first began volunteering with TREC Community Investors on the laundromat project in 2019 and, in 2020, served on the Professional Services Committee. He has also volunteered as part of the MLK Clean Team Initiative and provided pro-bono commercial real estate consulting services to multiple non-profit organizations.
TREC Community Investors Member Spotlight: September 2021
