When Sal Zotti arrived at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), he was already involved in real estate, having obtained a residential real estate license and closed on his first property, a townhouse in Bridgewater, New Jersey. His journey took a significant turn when he founded the TCNJ Real Estate Club.
Recently graduated with a finance degree, Zotti has accepted a position at Deutsche Bank in structured credit, dealing with debt instruments backed by real estate mortgages. He attributes this opportunity to the skills and network he developed through the club and the guidance of Professor Eric Szabo. “Engaging with faculty and pushing myself to create the club really helped,” Zotti said.
Zotti’s interest in real estate stems from its tangible nature. “I like how someone can look at a dilapidated property and see value where others can’t,” he explained. The club he established offers students practical exposure through activities such as case competitions. This year’s challenge focused on an industrial property in Hamilton, New Jersey. The winning team suggested developing a subdivided shallow-bay warehouse to generate additional income.
Jeremy Neuer, a senior managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle Capital Markets and one of Zotti’s early guest speakers, played a role in designing this competition. Past participants have secured positions at firms like Morgan Properties and Newmark CRE.
Zotti’s involvement with the club also facilitated his summer internship at Deutsche Bank, which led to his current full-time offer. “Experience in a deal-based environment like real estate will serve as a strong foundation as I start my new role,” he noted.
