1. Women’s Business Center
Success Story Case
Lynn Drake, President of Compass Commer-
cial is certain of what her “true north” is for
business. It is to exclusively represent tenants
and buyers of commercial real estate and not
landlords. Lynn Drake has a reputation built
on twenty years of commercial real estate
experience. Thus far in her career, Lynn has
successfully completed over 2,000 real estate
transactions ranging from small business
tenant leases to the sale and purchase of in-
dustrial complexes.
Lynn understands the value of profession-
al development and makes sure to sharpen
her skills each year. Her favorite and most
impactful training is the Women’s Business
Center’s Leadership Institute for Women.
This one-day executive education program
provides women business owners with the
leadership skills to navigate a successful busi-
ness in the 21st Century. As markets continue
to evolve and change, to remain competitive,
a woman business owner must develop and
implement a strategy to guide them through
the changing dynamics of an increasing com-
petitive market.
Drake learned how to work with big com-
panies and how to answer their request for
proposals. She usually focused in on small
business owners as clients, but began to re-
alize that she was holding herself back from
bigger deals. Lynn was highly influenced by
presenter, Michelle Kantor, an attorney who
shared tips and suggestions on how to create
contract teaming and joint venture agree-
ments. Kantor stress that if you are going to
team with another company, make sure you
get the right cut of the deal.
Drake has attended the last four Leader-
ship Institute for Women and she credits
her training in landing her biggest contract,
which is with the real estate division of the
State of Michigan.
“Had I not gone to the Leadership Institute for
Women, there would be no way of winning
the State of Michigan contract, says Drake.” I
can count on quality speakers and relevant
subjects from the Women Business Center at
the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council.
Lynn Drake, President of
Compass Commercial
33109 Schoolcraft, Livonia, MI 48150 • 734-677-1400 • www.greatlakeswbc.org