Philadelphia Business Journal's 40 Under 40: Class of 2021
40 Under 40: David Frankel, D2 Organization
By Lisa Dukart – Associate Editor, Philadelphia Business Journal
David Frankel
Chief operating officer, D2 Organization
Age: 38
In David Frankel’s four years with the D2 Organization, the East Norriton real estate firm has sold over 700 residential lots. Specializing in development, investment and transaction advisory, under Frankel the company has also acquired or developed some 1,000 acres, plus 80,000 square feet of commercial office space. Meeting increased demand, 5 million square feet of industrial warehouse and logistics space is in development. Frankel also helped grow D2 Capital Advisors, which completed over $360 million in transactions and $155 million during the pandemic.
First job: Pumpernick’s Deli in North Wales.
What daily routines or practices do you use to stay on track? I manage a lot of timelines and critical dates, so I keep a lot of lists. It’s a basic step but it’s essential for how I operate. I always take 10 to 15 minutes every morning to review my calendar and my to-do list for the day. We also have writable wall surfaces all over our office space which we use constantly for updating project task lists. At the end of the day I review the lists again and flag items and emails for follow-up the next day.
Before my 40th birthday, I’d like to: Restore my 1997 Jeep Wrangler. It was the first car I ever owned. I had it in high school and college. It’s not currently driving, but I have plans to fix it up and maybe one day my kids will drive it.
Something I adopted during quarantine and will continue doing: Going on nature walks/hikes with my family.
The best advice I’ve ever received: “If you want to be successful, you have to jump.” This Steve Harvey quote was sent to me by someone at a time I was making a major career decision as a reminder that you need to take risks. It might not always work out, but if you play it safe, you’re denying yourself the opportunity for the reward that comes with taking the risk.
The biggest change I’ve seen in my industry has been: The growth of e-commerce and the move from brick-and-mortar retail to industrial real estate. It’s a huge change in the real estate industry brought on by a paradigm shift in the way people buy things.
My proudest accomplishment is: My cousin and I ran the New York marathon in 2017 in memory of my aunt who passed away the year before from ovarian cancer. The training wasn’t easy, but crossing the finish line in Manhattan is a feeling I’ll never forget.