This interview is part of our Milrose Employee Spotlight series. Our last interview was with John Secreti, RA, CEO, LEED AP, and today we speak with Chris Birdyshaw, who has been working as Enterprise Sales Executive for our New Jersey office since December 2019.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

Originally I'm from the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina. I went to school in Wilmington, getting a business administration degree. After 15 years, I moved to New Jersey with my wife to raise our family, as she's from the state and has family here. Now we live in West Amwell.

What is your role at Milrose and what are your responsibilities?

As Enterprise Sales Executive for New Jersey, my primary responsibilities are to manage existing accounts and drive new business in the state. I'm the primary point of contact for our largest NJ clients and I'm focused on growing those accounts, closing new deals, acquiring new customers and helping Milrose expand its footprint in the state.

What brought you to Milrose?

I have close to two decades of experience in real estate and sales, so this position was a perfect fit. Before Milrose I worked for a North Carolina-based developer of gated communities building custom homes, golf courses, marinas and coastal waterways. I also sold homes in eastern NC before the late 2000s market collapse. After that, I worked as Regional Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales for a New Jersey manufacturer.

How did your prior work prepare you to succeed with Milrose?

Extensive familiarity with real estate and the sales process is one way my previous work has prepared me for my new role. I've collaborated with architects, as well as given sales presentations to enterprise accounts. I also helped double the size of the business in five years at my prior manufacturing employer, which aligns with my main responsibilities as Enterprise Sales Executive: to generate new business and grow state operations.

What excites you most about the work?

I'm most excited to help kick growth and expansion into the next gear for Milrose's New Jersey office (which has been open for 18 years). The stage is set and I'm really inspired by the way Milrose generates leads. There are so many viable avenues for driving business, which is not what I've experienced previously. In particular, I'm looking at Jersey City, Newark, Morristown, Parsippany and Princeton as hot markets we can make an impact in.

What distinguishes Milrose in the New Jersey market?

The qualities that differentiate Milrose from the competition in New Jersey are the same qualities that distinguish the business everywhere else. No other company does specifically what Milrose can, nor can they boast the same level of expertise in delivering services for due diligence, expediting, code consulting, municipal filing and zoning analysis, among others.

What has your tenure with Milrose been like so far? What are you looking forward to?

While I only started in December 2019, I can already appreciate the great corporate culture at Milrose. In the first week I trained in the NYC office, everyone was incredibly helpful and welcoming. I also arrived just in time for the Holiday Party, which was amazing! More recently, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the New Jersey team. Everyone has been wonderful in helping me settle in and very patient while I'm learning. I see us all working very well together. In terms of what's next, I'm really looking forward to building relationships with our existing NJ client base, as well as forging new ones.

Any professional organizations or personal interests?

I'll likely be getting involved with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Professional networking is also a big focus of mine, since it's so central to the sales process. In my personal life, I'm often busy helping coach my son's various sports teams, golfing, cooking, and surfing when I can. Also, I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and at a shelter for domestic violence victims that is nearby my community.

Chris can be reached at our New Jersey office located at 26 Journal Square in Jersey City. Give him a call at 201-716‑7118 or send him an email to find out how Milrose can bring value to your next NJ project.