Craig Coppola

MBA, CCIM, SIOR, CRE
Founding Principal

Craig is the top-producing office broker in Lee & Associates’ 45+ year history (75+ offices and over 1,100 brokers). He has 4 decades of leasing and sales experience, completing over 4,000 transactions, has been awarded NAIOP Office Broker of the Year six times, and was the 2020 recipient of the NAIOP Award of Excellence (given to one person annually). He is an award-winning author of seven books and an industry thought leader with two blogs that touch over a million people annually. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Nicholls State University and a master’s in business administration from Arizona State University.

Craig is also the Founder and CEO of CRE OneSource, Chairman of the Board for RadiusAI, and Founder/Manager of Habanero Ventures & Investment Company. Craig has written and published seven books including How to Win in Commercial Real Estate Investing, The Art of Commercial Real Estate Leasing, Chasing Excellence with Lee & Associates founder Bill Lee, and The Fantastic Life series. His blog series, LIFEies, expands on the 12 rules presented in The Fantastic Life books through weekly emails, lessons, and more. (Learn more at thefantasticlife.com)

Craig is a third-generation Arizonan. He has been married to his wife Tracy for 35 years, is a father to four remarkable children, and has five wonderful grandchildren. Craig has been a lifelong athlete with a bevy of achievements under his belt. He was drafted by and played in the Minnesota Twins Baseball organization, represented the USA and won a world championship in Tae Kwon Do, and was inducted into the Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame in 2015. In addition, Craig is a former ultra-long-distance runner, having completed over 60 marathons and longer. Today, he is an avid backpacker having hiked in over 40 countries and all 7 continents and completed such rigorous trails as the Arizona Trail (one of 11 U.S. National Scenic Trails), GR 20 in Corsica (widely considered one of the most difficult GR routes in the world), Everest Base Camp, and the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

When did you know that Commercial Real Estate would be your lifelong career?

I started in Commercial Real Estate in 1984 and by 1986 I was doing well and knew I had a knack for developing relationships. Then I became the top producer in 1987, and I knew then I could be a really good broker.

What is the most memorable (good or bad) real estate transaction you have been involved in?

While I have completed a ton of transactions, the most memorable deals have been because of the relationships I have built. Getting to know and work with fantastic clients, and then those clients become trusted and valued partners, is the best.

What piece of advice would you offer to young professionals trying to get into the business?

Work more. Successful brokers work harder than unsuccessful brokers and they do this for decades.

Where has been your favorite place to travel?

I have backpacked in over 40 countries….Favorites include Nepal, Iceland, New Zealand, Chile, California’s Sierras, and of course the Grand Canyon. I have slept inside the Grand Canyon over 250 nights over the last 30 years.

Additional Notable Information:

NAIOP Award of Excellence Recipient
25-Time Top Producer at Lee & Associates Arizona
30+ year CCIM and SIOR designation holder
ASU Sun Devil 100 10-Time Winner
Landmark Leaders Brokerage Leader of the Year
William J. Lee Lifetime Achievement Award
Commercial Executive Magazine’s Broker of the Year
Best First-Time Author, How to Win in Commercial Real Estate Investing, NAREE