This Mother’s Day, ORION celebrates one of its most dynamic family teams: The Schillne Retail Team — a powerhouse trio made up of Carol Schillne and her two sons, Cole and Matt. Together, they’re redefining what it means to blend family values with business excellence in commercial real estate.

Carol brings more than 30 years of experience in retail commercial real estate. A former USC swim team captain with a degree in real estate finance, she was drawn to the industry’s competitive nature and high-stakes strategy.

“Commercial real estate really appealed to my athletic brain,” Carol says. “Like swimming, it starts out as an individual sport and becomes even more powerful when you are part of a strong team.”

That team began to form when Cole, then a senior at Grand Canyon University, interned with Carol one summer. “We had a blast going to conferences together,” she recalls. “Sharing the career I’ve loved with my son was incredibly rewarding.” That summer lit a fire, and Cole dove headfirst into CRE and never looked back.

Upon graduation, Cole teamed up with Carol to officially launch the Schillne Retail Team. A few years later, Carol’s younger son Matt joined the team after earning his business degree from GCU.

Each family member brings a distinct skill set:

• Carol leads with deep market knowledge and decades of transaction experience.
• Cole adds marketing savvy, interpersonal finesse, and a keen eye for client service.
• Matt anchors the team with data-driven insights, research, and analytics.

“There’s an extra layer of trust and drive when you’re working with family,” Matt says.

The Schillne Team represents top-tier tenants like Trader Joe’s, Xponential Fitness, and Thirsty Lion. Beyond transactions, Carol also gives back as a leader in the industry, serving on the Board of AZCREW, the Advisory Board to the Colangelo College of Business at GCU, the Executive Committee of the Retail Brokers Network Tenant Council, and speaking regularly at Phoenix Community Alliance.

“ORION feels like an extension of our family,” Cole adds. “We’re proud to be the Schillne Team, and even prouder to be part of a brokerage that values connection, collaboration, and culture.”

As ORION’s designated broker Sean Stutzman puts it: “The Schillne Retail Team embodies an extraordinary blend of relentless work ethic, professionalism, and family unity that sets them apart in the retail leasing space. Watching a mother and her two sons navigate complex deals with precision, respect, and seamless collaboration is nothing short of inspiring.”