Mary Sullivan retiring

Mary Sullivan, by far the most successful woman commercial real estate broker in Denver’s history, is retiring.

Sullivan, a top investment broker at the Denver office of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P., sold more than $10 billion in offices, retail and other investment properties during her 35 years in the business.

Indeed, that kind of dollar volume, as an individual and a member of a team, makes her one of the top commercial real estate brokers in Denver’s history, among men, too.

During the weekend, she sent this message to her clients, which included many national movers and shakers in the industry: “After 35 years in Commercial Brokerage I have decided it is time to begin a new and exciting chapter of my life.

 “I want to personally thank you for being a part of and contributing to my success in commercial real estate. I have thoroughly enjoyed the friendships and deep relationships that have brought richness to me personally and professionally. You made these 35 years so very rewarding. Thank you for your support and having entrusted me with your business throughout the years.

“Over the past six years I have thoroughly enjoyed being partners with John Jugl and am grateful to the amazing support team we have had the privilege to work with. I also feel fortunate to have made HFF my last stop along the way.

 “If you find yourself in Colorado and want to fish, ski, hike, bike or snow shoe please reach out.”

In an interview on Sunday, she said the $10 billion in career sales is a “conservative esitimate.”

Indeed, in 2007, she was part of a team at CB Richard Ellis (now CBRE), which sold five downtown Denver office buildings, including the Tabor Center, for $770 million.

That transaction remains as the single largest commercial real estate transaction in Colorado.

Indeed, that year the team at CBRE sold $1.6 billion in properties.

“Sullivan began her career in 1981 at Coldwell Banker Commercial (now CBRE).

During her career, she also worked at Trammell Crow, Cushman Realty, Cushman & Wakefield, back to CBRE, and Jones Lang LaSalle, ending her career at HFF, where she worked with partner John Jugl.

She plans to officially retire when she and Jugl lose the sale of the Cascades, a 348,760-square-foot office building at 6300 S. Syracuse Way in Centennial.

That deal is scheduled to close by the end of October.

Earlier this year, she and Jugl sold Clayton Lane in Cherry Creek for $170 million. That marked the second time that Sullivan had sold the Cherry Creek North gateway site, which includes a Whole Foods.

They also sold Panorama Corporate Place along the southeast corner for $190 million earlier this year.

“That was the second time I sold Panorama,” Sullivan said.

“I also once sold a 21-property portfolio in 12 states for about a quarter of a billion dollars,” she said.

Sullivan and her late husband, the beloved Sherman Miller, first started talking about retiring after their daughter Ralsey, had finished her freshmen year in college.

That deadline has passed, but her timetable changed after Miller died after a long battle with prostate cancer. Mr. Miller was the executive director for the Real Estate Center at the Leeds School in Boulder when he died. Thousands of people packed his funeral.

“When Sherman passed away in April 2015, everyone said don’t do anything for a year, so I thought I would retire in April 2016,” Sullivan said.

Yet, being extremely busy, there never seemed to be a good time to call it quits.

She started to slow down after the 1-year anniversary of her husband’s

Sullivan went to work at CBRE at a time when there were few women in the commercial real estate industry.

At the time, sexism was fairly common.

“I can’t tell you how many times I would come from a beach vacation and guys would ask to see my tan line,” said Sullivan, who would respond with a quick retort.

When she first began her career, making cold calls, men around her would take bets on how long she would survive in the industry.

“The best revenge is that I buried all of them,” as far as longevity and success, she said.

As a trailblazer, she hopes part of her legacy is that she will serve as a role model to other women.

“I really hope part of my legacy that I have left behind is you can maintain your femininity and do your business in an honest and straightforward way and have integrity in this business,” she

 “Having been a very successful woman in what is still a male-dominated business, I hope will be an inspiration and beacon of hope for other women,” Sullivan said.

She said she doesn’t know why more women don’t choose commercial real estate as a career.

“I think women can be so successful in this business,” Sullivan said.

“One of the reasons I got into this business back in 1981, was that it was very difficult to break into the corporate world. You needed a mentor and the mentor was always a man. I figured if I was only paid a commission and I worked on big dollar deals, you would be rewarded for your efforts and no one could hold you back.”

She is looking forward to the next chapter of her life.

“I loved the commercial real estate industry, but there are other things in life I am passionate about, like getting on my road bike, fishing, skiing, hiking and

Her only regret is that she won’t be spending her retirement with Sherman.

“Sherman and I were such a great team in life and love,” Sullivan said.

“I just wish Sherman was at my side.”