Meet Jaimee Keene

What is your role at Avison Young?

Vice President, Investment Sales.

How did you get into commercial real estate?

I started in the appraisal industry. I'm a MAI and seasoned appraiser with 17 years of commercial appraisal and management experience. I transitioned into the brokerage side of the business in 2018, focused on sales of investment real estate.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and why?

Diane Butler. Diane was the CEO who took a chance on me and my team when Grubb & Ellis filed for bankruptcy. At the time I was the Managing Director at Grubb for the Landauer Valuation division. When our doors closed in Denver and my staff would have all been out of jobs, I started calling on other national appraisal firms who did not have a presence in Denver. Within a few days of our initial phone call, she hopped on a plane to Denver, we met for a very long lunch at DIA, and within a week my entire team had offer letters and we were able to move over as a team to BBG. I continued to build the BBG office in Denver, and she empowered me to open another successful office in Phoenix. Her belief in me and her leadership made it possible for me to grow professionally, and I'm forever grateful for the opportunity she provided me and my team.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Invest in yourself. No one can ever take your education away from you.

How has Avison Young supported you as a woman in business?

This past year Kiana Akina and I were both nominated as Women of Influence by CREW Denver. It was such an incredible honor to have most of the Principals show up for the evening awards event, and it really made an impact on other brokers in attendance. I had so many people comment on how great it was that our leadership team showed up to support us. No other brokerage team had their leadership attend in full force like Avison Young. It showed me that our Principals care, and they are there to celebrate all of our accomplishments. We are a team.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I've competed in three (3) Half-Ironman events as our team's relay cyclist, and I've raced as an amateur at the Vail GoPro Mountain Games cross country mountain bike race. I'm training for my second Vail GoPro race this year (and I'm hoping for a podium finish).