We make CRE careers possible for more people

Get to know the “who” and “why” behind Rapport CRE

Blue downward arrow pointing straight down.

From closing deals, to opening doors.

I went from helping companies find their space to helping students find their place. What started as a career became a calling to serve CRE students.

Transforming strangers into sponsors.

numbers into names.

connections into careers.

Transforming strangers into sponsors. numbers into names. connections into careers.

Arlen Hooks delivering a presentation to students, pointing toward a screen while sharing his career journey in Commercial Real Estate.
Digital signature that says "Arlen Hooks" in blue text.

CRE relationships are intentional, not transactional.

my story is proof.

As a 2022 Notre Dame graduate, I spent my freshman and sophomore years with aspirations of becoming a lawyer, my junior year realizing there’s more to real estate than HGTV, and my senior year meeting with 60 professionals in 6 weeks. As a result, I secured a brokerage internship and a full-time return offer from JLL, the second-largest commercial real estate firm in the world.

Group photo of Arlen Hooks and students interested in Commercial Real Estate outside a university innovation room.

Real estate runs on rapport.

After 2.5 years managing multimillion-dollar real estate portfolios, my definition of success began to shift. I noticed that the conversations I looked forward to most weren’t with Fortune 500 clients, but with college students pursuing careers in CRE. I knew I had to explore this passion and find a way to maximize my impact.

Arlen Hooks with a diverse group of students in a classroom setting after listening to the presentation about breaking into Commercial Real Estate..

It is better to serve than to be served.

So, I turned down a promotion, visited 55 college real estate clubs, and ultimately left JLL to launch Rapport CRE—a nonprofit that equips and connects students with the CRE professionals they aspire to become.

I believe commercial real estate has the power to transform lives and communities for generations to come. I’m humbled by the opportunity to faithfully serve, support, and pray for the next generation of CRE leaders.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.“ — Ephesians 3:20

The logo representing Rapport CRE, which has question marks inside the lowercase "p" letters

Why the question marks?

The two question marks in our logo reflect the essence of building rapport: listen more than you speak. In this relationship-driven industry, we teach students to lead with thoughtful questions—not just polished answers.

Questions → Conversations → Relationships → Opportunities

How can I help?

Whether you’re a student committed to commercial real estate or a professional who enjoys connecting with the next generation, visit the Program page to see how you can get involved.