--- title: "SIOR's Legacy Series: 2 Generations of the O'Brien family" description: Explore the key trends reshaping commercial real estate in 2026, focusing on local factors, infrastructure readiness, and the impact of data centers on market dynamics. image: https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/iStock-1184736057_office%20buildings%20cropped.jpg --- - [Who We Are](https://www.sior.com/whoweare) - [Chapters](https://www.sior.com/chapter) - [Partners & Supporters](https://www.sior.com/partners) - [SIOR Foundation](https://foundation.sior.com/) - [Contact](https://www.sior.com/contact-us) - [MySIOR](https://my.sior.com/home) - [Search](Javascript:void(0);) - [Find an SIOR](https://sior.com//find-an-sior) - [Become an SIOR](https://sior.com//become-an-sior/become) - [Education & Insights](https://sior.com//education-and-insights) - [Events](https://sior.com//conferences) - [Transactions & Data](https://sior.com//transactions) - [Current Members](https://sior.com//current-members) - [Who We Are](https://www.sior.com/whoweare) - [Chapters](https://www.sior.com/chapter) - [Partners & Supporters](https://www.sior.com/partners) - [SIOR Foundation](https://foundation.sior.com/) - [Contact](https://www.sior.com/contact-us) - [MySIOR](https://my.sior.com/home) - [Search](Javascript:void(0);) - [Find an SIOR](https://sior.com//find-an-sior) - [Become an SIOR](https://sior.com//become-an-sior/become) - [Education & Insights](https://sior.com//education-and-insights) - [Events](https://sior.com//conferences) - [Transactions & Data](https://sior.com//transactions) - [Current Members](https://sior.com//current-members) # SIOR Pulse Blog In This Section ### Education & Insights - [Overview](https://sior.com/education-and-insights) - [Education](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/education) - [Insights](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights) - [Latest News](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/latest-news) - [SIOR Report](https://www.sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/magazine/sior-report) - [SIOR Pulse Blog](https://blog.sior.com/) - [Thought Leadership Series](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/thought-leadership-series) - [SIOR Weekly Newsletter](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/sior-weekly) - Writing Opportunities [Return to SIOR Pulse Blog](https://blog.sior.com) Share: [envelope](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.sior.com/siors-legacy-series-the-obrien-family%20&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.sior.com/siors-legacy-series-the-obrien-family) [twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.sior.com/siors-legacy-series-the-obrien-family&text=SIOR's%20Legacy%20Series:%202%20Generations%20of%20the%20O'Brien%20family) [facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.sior.com/siors-legacy-series-the-obrien-family) [linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.sior.com/siors-legacy-series-the-obrien-family) SIOR HQ 09/28/2026 # SIOR's Legacy Series: 2 Generations of the O'Brien family ![](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/iStock-1184736057_office%20buildings%20cropped.jpg) Categories: [Business Services & Best Practices](https://blog.sior.com/tag/business-services-best-practices) [Management & Ownership](https://blog.sior.com/tag/management-ownership) [Leadership](https://blog.sior.com/tag/leadership) What starts as one member’s SIOR journey can become a legacy that spans generations. Through SIOR's Legacy Series, we’ll spotlight the families who share a connection to SIOR and explore how membership, mentorship, and professional excellence have been passed down through the years. In this edition, William and Michael O'Brien, SIOR, wrote about their experiences, advice, and their father, Michael C. O'Brien, SIOR.  Hear from [William O'Brien SIOR](https://sior.com/viewprofile?PersonID=14940) (SIOR since 1997): 1. What is something that your father/brother had mentioned to you about SIOR that made you want to become a part of the organization? When I first entered the business, I would tag along to monthly meetings at The Yale Club, next to Grand Central and it was apparent, SIOR membership was not something any run of the mill agent or broker would be able to achieve, it became my goal to get the designation and I was able to achieve it in 1997 after 8 years in the business and at the age of 31, I was very proud of this, as it was relayed to me that I was one of the youngest designees The Downstate Chapter of NY ever had join their ranks. 2. How has being part of the SIOR community supported your growth and success? Being an independent firm, we did not have access to the same level of training of the “Big Houses”, so when I started engaging with other SIORs and doing educational programs, I found best practices that only the best in class aspire to. 3. What is your favorite memory that you have shared with your father/brother at an SIOR Event? Dallas in 2002 was a lot of fun, my old partner Davon Peters was admitted to membership, and I got to take Michael Boyd from Kilkenny, Ireland to the Texas State Fair, my brother on a long horn bull was pretty cool too. In addition, riding my bike with a crew of SIORs from Seattle to Portland in 2019, over 200 miles in 2 days is a huge memory for me and also riding from Dublin to Kilkenny was such a great way to see the land and the people of Ireland. Snowboarding in Chamonix was a unique and wonderful event, with Matthew and all the other European and North American members that joined us, I make most of the conferences and have indelible memories of so many places and friends I have made over the years, going back to the intro classes, all of which cemented my love for SIOR and my fellow designees.  4. The commercial real estate industry has changed tremendously since your father joined in 1964. What do you think he would say is the biggest change, and what shifts were the most impactful to him? Well that’s an understatement, I remember leases and contracts being faxed and my father would talk about hand delivering leases and contracts and parking at a meter in front of the Chrysler building, digitation of the transaction might baffle him today and the pricing even as he got older and stayed in touch but retired, he would just shake his head, the amount of development in BKLYN would be daunting, if he could see it today, he used to joke about people asking what air rights were worth in BKLYN, well by the time he was retiring, development rights were a real thing.   5. What legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation of brokers? Transparency in transactions and supreme accountability.    6. How have the values passed down through your family influenced your career and leadership style?  My grandfather was a CRE and MAI, my dad was both of those and an SIOR, they conveyed to me professionalism and the highest ethical standards in all of their dealings, I have done business with people that did business with my father and grandfather and no one ever had a bad thing to say about either of them, they set the bar high…    7. Was there a defining moment when you realized you wanted to continue the family's legacy? I remember being a little overwhelmed early on and then getting to an upper floor of a building and seeing the vast expanse of BKLYN and realizing the market was huge and that I would find my niche, I doubled down and all of my expectations have been far exceeded by reality, what I would have settle for is so much less then I have achieved. Hear from [Michael O'Brien, SIOR](https://sior.com/viewprofile?PersonID=11829) (SIOR since 1993): 1. How has SIOR shaped you as a broker?  SIOR has increased my professionalism, experience in the industry, and my ability to read people and understand what they need. SIOR is a network of brokers from all over the world, and they are my network, and I know I can trust them because of the affiliation.     2. The commercial real estate industry has changed tremendously since your father joined in 1964. What do you think he would say is the biggest change, and what shifts were the most impactful to him? He would probably say that it is faster and slower at the same time. Faster because of the new technology and slower because too many people can access that technology and make comments about it. Additionally, when making a deal, my dad would just shake their hand to be done, now there is more to it.      3. What legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation of brokers? That I love the organization. I am grateful for my career, my 30+ year longstanding membership with SIOR, which has led me to achieve Legacy Status, and the networking opportunities that have led me to have many deals all over the country.     4. Do you have any advice for someone who is just starting their SIOR journey? Be patient. Real Estate transactions have to be done through a process, and if you cut corners, you won’t succeed.     5. Were you excited when William decided to become an SIOR and follow in your & your father's footsteps? Of course, since my dad and I were SIORs it was great for him to join as well.     6. SIORs are the most capable and experienced industrial and office brokerage practitioners in any market. How does it feel knowing you, your father, and your brother are all SIORs and continue to uphold the standard as the best of the best in the industry? Reassuring, we are the best of the best.     7. What is your favorite memory that you have shared with your father/brother at an SIOR Event? My favorite memory was the off-road jeep event in Scottsdale, Arizona at an SIOR conference. We had fun driving around on the rocks and seeing all the sights together. Also, at a conference in New Orleans, I joined a group of fellow SIOR’s for a great fishing trip. Many of them are still my contacts today. I also liked my first networking event, which was a chapter meeting where I met other members and shared our connection of real estate. Now I have been to about 18-20 conferences, easily.   ### Do you have another SIOR in your family? If you have a family member who is or was also an SIOR, we would love to hear from you! [Fill out the form here](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SIORGenerationalLegacy). ![SIOR HQ](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cropped-standard-mark-only.jpg) ### [SIOR HQ](https://blog.sior.com/author/sior-hq) The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR) represents the world’s elite in industrial and office brokerage. SIORs are held to the highest standard by completing thorough requirements and adhering to the SIOR Code of Ethics. SIOR is more than a designation, it’s a symbol of excellence. SIORs value the power that comes with building relationships and sharing ideas that are on the leading edge of the industry. They are the most knowledgeable, experienced, ethical, and successful commercial real estate brokerage specialists. For more information, visit [sior.com](http://www.sior.com) [media@sior.com](mailto:media@sior.com) ### YOU MAY ALSO LIKE ### [Think Globally. Develop Locally.](https://blog.sior.com/think-globally-develop-locally) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/think-globally-develop-locally) ### [SIOR's Legacy Series: 3 Generations of the DeVaney family](https://blog.sior.com/sior-legacy-series) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/sior-legacy-series) ### [Future-Proof Ready: Practical Applications of AI for Business Growth and Operational Efficiency](https://blog.sior.com/future-proof-ready-practical-applications-of-ai) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/future-proof-ready-practical-applications-of-ai) ![subscribe weekly](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/SIOR_September2019/images/subscribe-mobile-new.38f24a48.png) ## SUBSCRIBE TO SIOR WEEKLY! **Personalized. Targeted. Relevant.** Using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), SIOR Weekly is a customized aggregation of CRE industry news most relevant to you, delivered right to your inbox. The more you read, the more targeted the content is to your personal and professional interests. 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