Michael Pink of IIC Tells Us About the Best Way to Utilize Real Estate Brokerage Services

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

Michael Pink: We remain healthy, so far, and working.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded IIC. 

Michael Pink: I founded MAP Real Estate, Inc., in 1986. We are a commercial real estate firm providing consulting and brokerage services exclusively to corporate office tenants. We are the fiduciary of small and mid-sized tax-exempt and taxable enterprises, particularly those with a social mission.

How does IIC innovate? 

Michael Pink: We established the nonprofit social enterprise, Investing In Communities® (IIC),

to scale client-directed/broker-funded philanthropy. IIC has, thus far, distributed $650K+ to charities that have been chosen by other people. IIC empowers consumers, both individuals, and corporations, to choose any licensed agent to represent them in the purchase or sale of a property or the lease of commercial space, and to choose a charity or school anywhere in the US to receive a significant portion of their lucky agent’s commission. Agent generosity plays no part in the IIC fundraising equation. For example, the buyer or seller of a $300,000 home can give through IIC $1,300 for free.

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping? 

Michael Pink: It’s enormously challenging because the idea of using office space is not comfortable!

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned? 

Michael Pink: We are making rational decisions and are learning how to navigate this new world!

How do you deal with stress and anxiety? How do you project yourself and IIC in the future? 

Michael Pink: We are avid gardeners, and we take frequent long walks, and we phone with friends & family, watch TV and read.

Who are your competitors? 

Michael Pink: Our competitors are very numerous brokerage companies and brokers. 

How do you plan to stay in the game? 

Michael Pink: We are, it still seems, the only mission-driven office tenant-rep firm in Metro Chicago. Doing business, doing goodism is the only way we know how to do business. And it’s the only way we want to do business! 

Your final thoughts?

Michael Pink: We wish everyone good luck, good health, and optimism! Optimism, finally, seems to be natural.

Your website?

www.iiconline.org