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The Origins of Zinati Realty

Zinati Realty has been operating as a commercial real estate brokerage in Ottawa, Ontario since July 2016. Over the years we have earned a reputation as one of Ottawa’s leading brokerages for commercial real estate. How have we been able to achieve our success? Read more to learn about how Zinati Realty came to be formed and our journey of growth, success, and achievements.  

It all began with john

John Zinati boasts over 20 years of experience in real estate, beginning at age 16. His career initially focused on sales and customer service, honing his interpersonal skills. At 25, he transitioned to a property management role, gaining valuable insights into the local commercial real estate market.

By 27, John was recruited by a local real estate firm for commercial leasing and sales, igniting his ambition to become a commercial Realtor. He sought membership in the Ottawa Real Estate Board to build credibility, gain industry experience, and access professional education in commercial real estate.

John Zinati, environmental headshot, leaning against large statue holding sunglasses in his hands

Branching out on his own

In 2016, John decided to break away from his current real estate firm and launch his own brokerage. Despite his passion for commercial real estate, he faced long hours, minimal support, a lack of mentorship, and limited growth opportunities. He envisioned establishing a brokerage that prioritized a robust work-life balance, where both he and his team could work hard during the week and enjoy quality time with loved ones on evenings and weekends.

Recognizing a critical industry gap, John observed that commercial landlords were often underserved, while tenant representative brokers sometimes pushed down returns through competitive tactics. This led him to position Zinati Realty as a “landlord listing firm” with deep local market expertise. The firm actively nurtures strong relationships with tenant rep brokers to protect the interests of landlords. The platform he developed empowers every landlord to prominently showcase their available spaces.

Recruiting for growth

After spending some time working independently, John started expanding his brokerage and recruiting additional team members. In his search for new members, he prioritized individuals who shared his ideals and principles on how a business should be operated – those who valued transparency, and teamwork and were highly knowledgeable in their respective fields. It was crucial that they contribute to fostering the company culture that John aspired to establish. 

On March 26th, 2018 John added Tanya Wolfgram to the team as a sales and leasing representative. Tanya brought the experience of working as an account manager for the Ottawa Red Blacks, the Ottawa Fury, and the Ottawa 67’s, and a positive and energetic personality that makes her easy to connect with. 

In October 2019, Melissa Gaboury joined the team, starting her career as the office coordinator. Her strong work ethic and exceptional organizational skills have allowed her to grow in her role and transition to acting as our leasing coordinator. 

finding and nurturing talent

We’ve experienced remarkable growth, welcoming a diverse array of talents into our team. Our quest for individuals who resonate with the Zinati Realty vision has brought in a mix of seasoned experts and fresh perspectives. In 2022, Kylene Gillies joined us as a dynamic sales and leasing representative, drawing on her rich life experiences to offer clients a distinctive viewpoint and vision. Her global upbringing equips her with a profound understanding of diverse cultures, enabling her to connect with people from all walks of life.

As our team expanded, so did our marketing efforts. Initially, we outsourced this function to various companies. Recognizing the potential for a more robust marketing strategy, we made the strategic decision to bring it in-house. In April 2023, we welcomed Anna Wolfe to our ranks as our digital marketing and social media specialist. With her extensive background in marketing and social media strategy, Anna introduced a broad spectrum of professional digital marketing services, including graphic design, photography, videography, and motion graphics.

VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

Zinati Realty is continuing on our to grow, consistently welcoming fresh talent to enhance our array of commercial real estate services for clients.

Our goal is to maintain our position as the frontrunner in the Ottawa Commercial Real Estate market. We’re committed to embracing innovative ideas and inventive approaches to serve our clients even better. By identifying untapped opportunities within the industry, we’re strategically expanding our service offerings, setting the pace and pioneering new standards in the field. 

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Partner with Our Team

Our team is dedicated to serving you with top-tier commercial real estate services. The success of our clients is important to us and we will always work hard to provide you with innovative ideas to solve your commercial real estate needs. Our team is constantly growing and working to expand their skills, knowledge, and expertise within the Ottawa Commercial Real Estate market. 

Trust Zinati Realty

Partner with us and and experience the benefits of a team led by teamwork, expertise, relationships and transparency. Fill in the form below and one of our team members will get back to you as quickly as possible, so we can start the process of finding you the perfect commercial property in Ottawa.

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