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I’m a retail real estate, construction, and operations leader with 25+ years of…
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Jesse McCrink shared thisThis one really resonates with me. Physical retail has never been just about buying something. It’s meeting friends. Taking the kids out. Grabbing dinner. Wandering into a store you didn’t plan on visiting. Celebrating something. Killing a few hours and just being around people. And honestly, I think that matters even more now when so much of our lives happens behind a screen. The future of retail is creating places people actually want to be. Shopping is part of it, of course, but so are restaurants, entertainment, services, events, great common areas and those little moments you didn’t necessarily plan for. That’s also why the physical environment matters so much. The stores, the restaurants, the gathering spaces and all the work that goes into making those places feel right. After more than 25 years around retail, construction, operations and real estate, this doesn’t really feel like some brand-new idea to me. It feels like an evolution of what great retail has always done well: Bring people together. It’s a Simon Thing!Jesse McCrink shared thisSimon® introduces “It’s a Simon Thing,” a new national brand campaign celebrating the mall’s enduring place in American culture while bringing the full Simon experience together under one creative platform. Launching the campaign is a manifesto spot set to the iconic track "Sweet Disposition" by Lost Frequencies & The Temper Trap. Through a montage of everyday experiences across Simon Malls and Premium Outlets®, the video celebrates the places where people of all ages come together, explore what's new, and create lasting memories. More than a campaign, It’s a Simon Thing is a brand platform that brings Simon Malls and Premium Outlets® together under one creative identity. Designed to flex across destinations, seasons, occasions, audiences, channels, and platforms, it creates one cohesive brand story while putting the Simon name behind the experiences people love, creating deeper engagement with consumers and greater impact for retailers and brands. Discover more at: https://bit.ly/4yDB84R
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Jesse McCrink shared thisAnother exciting evolution in the retail experience. Simon Media Network creates a new way for brands to connect with high-intent consumers while they’re already out shopping, dining and experiencing our properties. This is going to be a fun customer touchpoint to watch grow!Jesse McCrink shared thisToday, Simon® introduced Simon Media Network™, a next-generation commerce media platform designed to help brands reach high-intent consumers across Simon's portfolio of more than 200 destinations. Powered by Simon's first-party consumer intelligence, Simon Media Network provides advertisers with audience insights based on real-world consumer behavior, enabling media activation and measurable business outcomes. Learn more about how Simon Media Network helps brands better understand, reach, and engage consumers: https://lnkd.in/gxWEmhdx
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Jesse McCrink reposted thisJesse McCrink reposted thisSimon® Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results. "We delivered excellent financial and operational results this quarter," said Eli Simon, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer. "Real Estate FFO per share grew 7.9% year-over-year, supported by consistent broad-based leasing demand, accelerated traffic increases, strong retailer sales growth, and the contribution from acquisitions completed over the past year. Today, we are once again increasing our guidance for full-year 2026 Real Estate FFO per share." To access the full release, click here: https://bit.ly/3U8SPu1
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Jesse McCrink shared thisSo may great Simon malls represented, which one is your favorite? SouthPark got my vote!Jesse McCrink shared thisSouthPark is a finalist for the USA Today’s Readers Choice Best Mall in 2026! 🤩 Cast your vote here:10 best malls in the US that keep shoppers coming back10 best malls in the US that keep shoppers coming back
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Jesse McCrink shared thisGen Z recognizes the importance of real, in-person experiences. Being part of the ever-evolving world of brick-and-mortar retail is incredibly rewarding. The reality is simple: businesses that fail to evolve risk becoming stagnant. In-store shopping is far from dead — it’s adapting, thriving, and continuing to create meaningful connections in a world constantly competing for our attention. From social experiences to hands-on product discovery, today’s consumers still value what physical retail uniquely provides. Don’t take just my word for it, check out this news story that aired yesterday on Fox Business.Gen Z fuels shopping mall resurgence, driving in-store retail spending | Fox Business VideoGen Z fuels shopping mall resurgence, driving in-store retail spending | Fox Business Video
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Jesse McCrink shared thisCelebrating a decade at Simon. Over these ten years, I’ve learned, led, and had the privilege to work alongside incredible teammates and tenants. Grateful for both the challenges and successes that have shaped the journey. Here’s to what’s been built and what’s still ahead. 🔨🧱👷♂️
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Jesse McCrink posted thisAs the year wraps up, I’ve been spending some time reflecting, not just on work, but on life and family. One thing that really stood out this year was watching my two boys in their early 20s quietly do better than I did at the same age and I couldn’t be more proud! They’ve saved more. They’re disciplined. They’ve embraced taking chances and stepping outside their comfort zones. They’re working, learning, and staying focused on the long game with some incredible goals in mind. That didn’t happen by accident. It’s been a powerful reminder that real progress — whether in careers, finances, leadership, or family — rarely shows up loudly. It’s built steadily through habits, humility, consistency… and being genuine along the way. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had this year, the people I get to work alongside, and the reminder that stewardship matters — of our time, our talents, and the responsibilities we’re entrusted with. As we head into a new year, I’m choosing to stay grounded in faith, focused on serving well, and committed to building things that last. 2026 - let’s go!
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Jesse McCrink reposted thisLooks great. Appreciate the partnership Marc Huberman Odyssey Retail Advisors .Jesse McCrink reposted thisQUAY is now open at SouthPark in Charlotte, NC just in time for the Holidays! Congrats to the Quay team Kim Gray Katherine Cousins on another great looking store. Appreciate the continued partnership with Simon Property Group and Zachary Beloff Nash Morris Odyssey Retail Advisors
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Jesse McCrink reposted thisJesse McCrink reposted thisSimon® has acquired Phillips Place™, a premier property in Charlotte’s SouthPark district. Featuring 25+ specialty retailers and restaurants along with a hotel and multifamily residences, Phillips Place is a vibrant, community destination. We are thrilled to welcome Phillips Place to our portfolio and remain committed to preserving its exceptional experience. Phillips Place perfectly complements our other properties in greater Charlotte, including the renowned SouthPark™. Over time, we look forward to further enhancing Phillips Place through thoughtful merchandising, continued investment, and by delivering a distinctive, upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment destination for the community. Learn more: https://prn.to/4o2AW9K
Jesse McCrink commented on a post
1d
Don’t bring up a problem without also bringing a potential solution.
The solution doesn’t have to be perfect but bring an idea, a recommendation, or a path forward.
Anybody can point out what’s wrong. The real value is helping figure out what we do next!
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Jesse McCrink reacted on thisJesse McCrink reacted on thisCrenshaw has long been a place where sport, culture, creativity and entrepreneurship come together. Last weekend, we were proud to open The Crenshaw Rec by Foot Locker, a space designed to celebrate that legacy. Developed alongside local leaders and in partnership with Nike Inc, the new retail concept reimagines the role retail can play in a community, bringing together exclusive product, year-round programming and spaces designed for connection. Thank you to the community leaders, creators, artists, entrepreneurs and partners who helped bring this vision to life. The Crenshaw Rec was built with the community, for the community, and we're just getting started. #FootLocker
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Jesse McCrink liked thisJesse McCrink liked thisToday marks my last day at Northwestern Mutual - take two :), and I’m leaving with a tremendous sense of gratitude. I’m incredibly thankful for the colleagues, mentors, and friends who have supported me, challenged me, and helped me grow along the way. The relationships we built and the experiences we shared have made a lasting impact on me, both professionally and personally. I’m proud of what we accomplished together and grateful for every opportunity I had to learn, lead, and contribute. Thank you to everyone who made this chapter so meaningful. As I look ahead to what’s next, I’ll carry these lessons and connections with me. I wish my Northwestern Mutual colleagues continued success, and I hope our paths cross again. #NorthwesternMutual
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Jesse McCrink liked thisJesse McCrink liked thisWe’re continuing to invest in the growth of Simon Media Network and are hiring a Vice President, Business Development. This leader will focus on expanding relationships with non-endemic advertisers and accelerating growth across Simon Media Network and Simon’s broader media ecosystem. If you have deep advertiser and agency relationships and a track record of opening new markets and driving growth, view the role and apply here: https://lnkd.in/g-8_iSG7Vice President, Business Development-Simon Media & ExperiencesVice President, Business Development-Simon Media & Experiences
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Jesse McCrink liked thisJesse McCrink liked thisI’m incredibly excited and humbled to share that I’ve been promoted to Area Operations Director for the Vacaville Premium Outlets and Napa Premium Outlets with Simon Property Group! This opportunity is especially meaningful to me because of the journey that brought me here. I’ve been with Simon for 12 years, starting my career as a janitor and working my way through Senior Maintenance, Operations Supervisor, and ultimately Operations Director at Midland Park Mall. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some incredible leaders, work alongside amazing teams, take on challenging projects, and grow both professionally and personally. Every position and every challenge has helped prepare me for this next chapter. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has supported, challenged, and believed in me throughout this journey. I’m looking forward to bringing everything I’ve learned to my new role in California, continuing to grow, and helping lead two great properties and their teams.12 years in the making. One more chapter begins. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey. I’m excited for what’s ahead!#SimonPropertyGroup #Promotion #CareerGrowth #Operations #Leadership #RetailRealEstate #NewChapter
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Jesse McCrink reacted on thisJesse McCrink reacted on thisOne of the greatest compliments a leader can receive is discovering that the team no longer needs them in the way it once did. Earlier in my career, I probably would have viewed being indispensable as a sign of success. Being the person everyone came to for answers. Making the difficult decisions. Solving the problems. Knowing what needed to happen next. It can feel like leadership. But experience has taught me something different. If everything stops when the leader leaves the room, have we really developed a team — or have we created dependency? Leadership, for me, has increasingly become about creating capability in others. Giving people enough guidance to succeed, but enough space to think for themselves. Allowing someone to make a decision differently from the way you would have made it. Giving people opportunities that stretch them. Creating a safe enough environment for someone to say, “I dont agree.” And sometimes resisting the temptation to step in and fix something simply because you know you could do it faster. That last one isnt always easy. Developing people requires patience. It requires trust. And it requires accepting that someone else's way doesn't have to be your way to be the right way. Over the years, Ive watched people grow from needing reassurance on decisions to confidently making them. Ive seen people find their voice. Ive seen people take on challenges they initially werent sure they were ready for. And Ive learned that watching someone else succeed can be every bit as rewarding as achieving something yourself. Perhaps that's one of the shifts that happens as we mature as leaders. Success becomes less about proving what we can do and more about creating the conditions for others to discover what they can do. I still believe strongly in accountability, high standards and performance. Developing people doesn't mean lowering the bar. Sometimes it means doing exactly the opposite: Setting the bar high — and then helping people believe they are capable of reaching it. Because ultimately, I don't believe our job as leaders is to make ourselves indispensable. It's to build people who are confident and capable enough that we don't need to be. That's not losing your value as a leader. That's multiplying it.
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Jesse McCrink reacted on thisJesse McCrink reacted on thisHaving access to people smarter than you is a blessing, not a threat. One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is believing they have to be the smartest person in the room. I used to think leadership meant having the answers. Experience has taught me something very different. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having enough confidence in yourself to surround yourself with people who may have answers you don’t. People who see things differently. People who know things you don’t know. People who are better than you in areas where you’re still growing. And then having the humility to listen to them. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented people throughout my career. Some were better operators than me. Some understood the numbers better. Some were better communicators. Some saw talent differently. Some could walk into a problem and recognize something I completely missed. That never made me less valuable as a leader. It made us better as a team. The danger begins when insecurity enters leadership. When a leader starts feeling threatened by talented people, they stop developing them. They stop asking for opinions. They begin protecting territory instead of building capability. Eventually, the smartest people in the room learn to stop talking. And that’s a terrible loss for any organization. I want people around me who challenge my thinking. I want someone willing to say, “Steve, have you thought about it this way?” I want people who bring something to the table that I can’t. Because my responsibility isn’t to prove I’m the smartest person in the room. My responsibility is to help get the best out of the people in the room. That’s one of the reasons I love coaching and developing people so much. There is something pretty special about watching someone you’ve invested in become better than you at something. That’s not a leadership failure. That’s the goal. So when someone on your team knows more than you, don’t compete with them. Learn from them. Give them the microphone. Ask another question. Put them in positions where their strengths matter. And when they succeed, celebrate the heck out of them. Secure leaders don’t need to be the smartest person in every room. They just need to be wise enough to recognize the talent that’s already there — and humble enough to let it shine. Don’t build a team that needs you to have every answer. Build a team capable of finding better answers together. Love people. Lift people. Teach people. Steve Darcey Author, Leadership with Standards and Heart Author, The Leader They Remember Available on Amazon and Kindle #Leadership #ServantLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #TeamDevelopment #GrowthMindset #LeadWithHeart #SDarcey
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Jesse McCrink liked thisJesse McCrink liked this"This is the problem" I've heard those words in countless meetings in my career, which is followed by ten minutes of everyone agreeing on how big the problem is. Spotting problems is easy. Anyone can do it. Thinking up a solution is the next level. Fewer people get there. The rare level is the person who executes. From the book Traction, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) bible, the core problem solving process is: Identify. Discuss. SOLVE! Most people stop at step one. Plenty stop at step two. In real estate, deals die not because of problems, but lack of problem solving. Be problem solver.
Experience & Education
Licenses & Certifications
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NC Real Estate Provisional Broker
North Carolina Real Estate Commission
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