Lee Berner brings his practical, real-world approach to identify and solve legal problems related to real estate, working with clients to meet their strategic and financing needs. And he does so in a variety of ways, such as buying and selling real estate, borrowing money secured by real estate, and advising companies, often in well-publicized, high-profile transactions. You'll usually find Lee working on issues involving all types of real estate, including shopping centers, apartment buildings, office buildings, and senior housing facilities. Lee has worked at Hogan Lovells (and its predecessor, Hogan & Hartson) for more than 30 years. During that time, he has witnessed numerous ups and downs in the real estate markets and has become particularly adept at helping clients take advantage of the good cycles – and prepare for the bad ones. Lee also enjoys supporting the firm's pro bono clients with their real estate needs, such as helping nonprofit clients generate funds from their real estate to further their worthwhile pursuits.

Mr. Otteni holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate from the Kenan- Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. He joined Boston Properties in 2000 upon his graduation from KFBS, and has since taken on increasingly complex roles in the development of the company’s projects. As a Senior Vice President in the Development department in Washington, DC, Pete has direct responsibility for all aspects of development, acquisition and disposition projects throughout the greater DC region, including acquisition/land acquisition, financing, entitlement, design, construction, and leasing. Since joining Boston Properties, Mr. Otteni has managed or been directly involved with over 4.5 million square feet of completed or in process development.

Tim Steffan joined Comstock Holding Companies®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) (“Comstock” or “Company”) in early 2018 as Executive Vice President of Asset Management, Leasing & Development. Mr. Steffan is responsible for management of the asset management, leasing, and development operations of the Company. As a member of Comstock’s Executive Management Committee, Mr. Steffan has played a key role in the development and execution of Comstock’s strategic plan and the recent reshaping of its management team in support of the 2018 transformation of Comstock’s operations from for-sale homebuilding to commercial real estate development, asset management, and real estate related service provider. While leading by example, Mr. Steffan’s results oriented management style inspires teamwork, creativity, integrity, and a collaborative work environment.

Victor is a managing director in Deloitte’s Human Capital practice, focused on helping organizations reimagine their people strategies and HR capabilities to deliver business results, enhance talent experience, and anticipate and embrace future workforce challenges. He serves as Deloitte’s Human Capital consulting leader for the Industrial Products & Construction sector. In his more than 23 years as a management consultant, he has designed and implemented programs that include talent strategy, acquisition, and development; HR technology strategy and deployment; global shared services and outsourcing; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and workforce analytics. Victor has served clients in the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, and has worked in multiple industries, including energy, aerospace, financial services, telecom, healthcare, consumer products, retail, and real estate. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Government from Harvard College, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). For over 15 years, he has led pro bono consulting projects for non-profits across the country. He and his wife live in Washington, DC.

Jeff Black joined L.F. Jennings in 2010 as the Vice President and Director of the Corporate Interiors Division. Jeff was tasked with the creation and management of what has grown into robust department capable of providing full-service preconstruction and construction services to L.F. Jennings’ clients with a reputation for quality work and client service. Jeff brought on board the knowledge and experience gathered over 20 years working as an owner/developer and as a construction manager in the metro Washington Area for major real estate companies. His proficiency with upper management oversight of departments, divisions, and companies and his extensive experience optimizing operations and project management through outstanding executive-level management, technical knowledge, and relationship building have resulted in an award winning, vibrant, and growing interiors department which has delivered over 5M square feet of built environments in the last 10 years. Jeff has helped developers, architects, and general contractors navigate the rapidly changing trends in technology, security, and design of corporate interiors for over 30 years, maximizing clients budgets through collaboration, proactive management and practical guidance. An innovative and results-driven leader, Jeff ensures that his clients and teams have the resources and support to turn over projects that deliver on the commitment to quality and service for which L.F. Jennings is known.

Katie focuses on leasing as well as maintaining broker and tenant relationships at Meridian. She has over 15 years of experience in commercial real estate, including leasing and market research. Prior to joining Meridian, Katie was a vice president with Boston Properties, where she oversaw the company’s Reston Town Center portfolio totaling more than three million square feet and completed over 115 transactions with a diverse mix of tenants including tech companies, law firms, government contractors, and Fortune 100 companies. She began her career with Lincoln Property Company, where she focused on research and brokerage in Washington, DC. Katie received her B.S. in management from Georgetown University.

Owen oversees the day-to-day operations of Blake Real Estate and its nine affiliated companies and divisions. Additionally, he oversees Blake’s real estate portfolio of approximately 2.5 million square feet, valued at approximately $1.2 billion. Owen previously served as Executive Vice President wherein he assisted in overseeing Blake’s operations and directly ran the leasing department where he consummated leasing, sales and financing transactions in excess of $1 billion. He is also a member of Blake’s Executive Committee. Owen has been a guest speaker for companies such as Constellation Energy and CoStar Group on a range of topics including career growth, management and the commercial real estate market. He has been recognized with many prestigious awards in his industry such as the 2014 Leasing Transaction of the Year by CREBA, Top 35 under 35 Real Estate Professional in 2011 and 2013 by BISNOW, and Multi-Million Dollar Club Life Member by CREBA. Owen is a member of the following organizations: The Economic Club of Washington, DC; American MENSA; Metropolitan Washington MENSA; and, Lifetime Member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. Owen is a Board Member of the American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region. In addition, Owen is the Co-Founder and was the Co-Chair of the Junior Council supporting Children’s National Health System. The Junior Council was founded in 2010 and has since raised more than $1 million. Owen was the co-chair of the Junior Council from 2010-2012 and has remained active since. In his spare time, Owen enjoys basketball, golf, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Jennifer Burns oversees the property management, information technology, and marketing divisions, leading the operations for the firm’s 5 million square foot office portfolio— including engineering, construction management, parking, and property accounting. Jennifer manages the execution of Monday Properties’ capital improvement projects and is involved throughout the process, from design and space conceptualization to renovation and construction management, tenant improvement, and project delivery. She also plays a crucial role in performing due diligence for the firm’s acquisitions. In addition to managing significant capital improvement projects, Jennifer provides executive level oversight on the implementation of the firm’s critically important wellness certifications and initiatives, including Fitwel, LEED, and Energy Star. She spearheaded unique partnerships with industry leaders, like Kastle Systems and HqO, to launch meaningful proptech solutions across the office portfolio, which supports the firm’s overall mission and positively contributes to the tenant experience. Jennifer was recognized in 2020 as Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 for determining proactive COVID-19 safety policies and procedures for Monday Properties’ tenants and employees. Jennifer was named to GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum’s 2023 Women of Influence List in recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership in the real estate industry. Most recently, Jennifer was honored as one of 25 “Women Who Mean Business” for 2024 by the Washing Business Journal. Prior to joining Monday Properties, Jennifer was a property manager at CB Richard Ellis, managing day-to-day operations of a 1 million square foot portfolio in Rosslyn. Earlier in her career, she was a Community Manager at Archstone-Smith managing several multifamily units in Fairfax and Arlington, Virginia. Jennifer has a bachelor’s in government and international politics, with a minor in conflict resolution from George Mason University. Serving as both a member and chairperson, Jennifer is involved in numerous industry associations including IREM Chapter 77 and AOBA committees.

Lynda Ellis is the owner and CEO of Capitol Concierge, the nation’s first provider of commercial, corporate and residential concierge services. As an entrepreneur, she has a track record of growing companies and taking them to the next level by integrating technology to enhance the individual service experience. Loyal to her entrepreneurial spirit, in 2018, Lynda successfully launched three companies—Capitol Concierge England, LTD, Capitol Concierge Ireland, LTD and The Rowe Agency (TRA), a staffing company. Additionally, through a partnership with Generali Global Assistance, she expanded Capitol Concierge’s business base in the international market. Today, Capitol Concierge serves more than one million people in some of the world’s most prestigious properties and companies. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ellis developed her entrepreneurial spirit at an early age. While a student at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, she started her first business, a customized gift company, which she eventually sold to Neiman Marcus. Prior to purchasing Capitol Concierge, she spent 25 years in the computer-based education and training industry and was co-owner of a successful instructional technology company that was eventually sold to a Viacom company. Ellis’ passion for giving back goes back to the early age of 12, visiting hospitals wherever she has lived and continues to this day. She is an active member of the community and leads corporate efforts with her civic involvement including chairing the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle National Capital Region Chapter; serving on the board of directors for the National Capital Region of the American Red Cross and the National Crime Prevention Council; and serving on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, where she also is a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Advance Committee. Ellis’ recent accomplishments include being named the inaugural award winner of AOBA’s David H. Hillman Maverick Award; being named to The Daily Record’s 2020 Most Admired CEOs and 2018 Maryland’s Top 100 Women lists; receiving the 2017 Moxie Award for boldness in business; and the 2016 Profiles in Success Award. In addition, Capitol Concierge was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2018 Class of Family-Owned Businesses. Lynda is a sought-after mentor and has been a part of the Washington Business Journal Mentor Monday since its beginning.

Ernest (“Ernie”) Drew Jarvis is a recognized leader with exceptional knowledge of, and relationships in, the region’s commercial real estate and business communities. Combining unique roles in management, tenant representation, and asset ownership responsibilities, he has the depth of experience to craft the very best real estate strategies. Ernie has had senior leadership roles in two publicly traded commercial real estate companies, including having served as CBRE’s Washington, D.C. Market Leader, one of CBRE’s largest offices. During his tenure, Ernie managed over 60 brokerage professionals and over 10 different specialty groups. Prior to his leadership role, Ernie represented the real estate interests of a diverse group of clients, ranging from the American Red Cross, Fannie Mae Foundation, and Radio One’s national headquarters, just to name a few. Most recently, Ernie collaborated with First Potomac Realty Trust’s (NYSE: FPO) leadership team to create and implement a strategy for expanding its Washington, D.C. office portfolio. The company hit that goal. Additionally, Ernie created D.C. regional leasing goals and achieved an over 90% leased office portfolio. Ernie also played an integral role in the successful renovation of 440 1st Street, N.W. As a fifth generation Washingtonian, Ernie has worked diligently to become part of the fabric of the community. He has been cited in a number of periodicals including the Washington Post, the Washington Business Journal, Globe St., Bisnow, and other industry periodicals. Ernie has taken an active role in the business community and has served in leadership positions in a number of prominent organizations. In addition to this service, Ernie was named to Washington Business Journal‘s “Power 100”– the most influential regional business leaders. Ernie is a graduate of Southeastern University.

With an unparalleled understanding of complex real estate transactions, Lou Christopher has led some of the Washington, DC market area’s most significant real estate assignments on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, large law firms and other leading enterprises. He provides many of these organizations with national and international representation and has conducted transactions in more than 80 markets. As a 35-year industry veteran, Lou is known as a trusted advisor who delivers meaningful and measurable results. As a market leader, Lou’s work is distinguished by an exhaustive approach focused on how the real estate solution should support his clients’ strategic business goals. His market knowledge, financial expertise, proficiency in negotiating construction related issues and wide transactional experience continue to deliver superior outcomes. All told, Lou has completed over 47 transactions in excess of 75,000 square feet. He is honored to have worked with a wide variety of exceptional clients including: Accenture, The AES Corporation, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, American Chemistry Council, CEB, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., McKesson Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Nestle USA, Strategic Education Inc., Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Westat and Wiley Rein LLP. Serving as Vice Chairman, Lou is a leader within CBRE and serves on the Executive Committee of the firm’s National Law Firm Group and most recently as Chairman of the firm’s Americas Producers Advisory Board. He is also consistently recognized by industry organizations for his market leadership.

Elizabeth Cooper has over 30 years of real estate experience as a top sales producer for over 20 years at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), and prior to that, as a real estate attorney for 10 years at Covington & Burling in Washington, DC. In addition to her real estate practice at Covington, she was one of the lawyers tapped to handle all real estate related matters for the firm. As Vice Chairman of JLL, she has negotiated more than 50 million square feet of office space around the globe, generating approximately $100,000,000 in revenue. She has dedicated her free time to mentoring the next generation of leaders in the industry; in particular, women. At JLL, she is the co-executive sponsor for the Women’s Business Network and sits on the Diversity and Inclusion Council. Since 2017, Elizabeth has co-chaired JLL’s Mentor Protégé program. This national program fosters cross industry and cross market collaboration to develop the next generation of leaders in the firm. Additionally, Elizabeth is the immediate past president of Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association (CREBA) and continues as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. She is on the Board of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington, DC.

With a trailblazing career over three decades, Mindy stands out as a prominent figure in the world of commercial real estate. Her exceptional leadership at Cresa is defined by a relentless dedication to client advocacy, innovative practices, and women’s empowerment within the industry. Mindy began her career in 1986, mastering the art of crafting occupier-centric office space at an architecture firm. Her pivot to real estate advisory in 1999 marked the beginning of a significant tenure as a voice and defender of occupier interests. Joining the leadership team at Cresa’s Washington, DC, office in 2012 as Managing Principal, Mindy demonstrated her pioneering vision by founding the Nonprofit Practice Group, which she now co-leads, furthering her commitment to service-oriented and purposeful work. Mindy’s strategic leadership came to the forefront during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic as she steered Cresa’s internal Remote Work Task Force. Under her guidance, Cresa created a new service line, Remote Advisory Services —a testament to her foresight, adaptability, and resilience. This initiative addressed the immediate crisis and set a precedent for enduring workplace solutions. Mindy’s 37-year career is marked by her service to leading nonprofits and associations across the United States and internationally, earning her a reputation as a trusted partner and advocate. Her expertise is further evidenced by her stewardship of the annual Nonprofit Benchmarking Survey. This instrumental tool captures insights into nonprofit workplaces’ evolving nature, helping organizations navigate complex and rapidly changing work environments. As a reflection of her commitment to sustainability, Mindy holds lifetime accreditation from the US Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Her influence extends beyond professional achievements, as Mindy is deeply involved in the broader nonprofit and CRE communities. She served as board chair of the Finance and Administration Roundtable and currently chairs the Finance and Business Operations Council for ASAE. Her affiliations extend to the Commercial Real Estate Brokers Association of Washington, DC, the Realtors Multi-Million Dollar Leasing Club, and the alum associations of the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, her alma maters where she received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science, respectively. Mindy also left her mark in the digital realm as co-creator and co-host of “The Amazing Space” podcast, delving into the intricate dynamics of real estate with some of the nation’s most prominent nonprofit leaders. Additionally, Mindy’s executive acumen earned her a seat as the first female on Cresa’s Board of Directors for the 2018/2019 term and recognition as a Chairman’s Award recipient, solidifying her status as a top producer within the company. Furthermore, her impact is magnified by her role as a mentor and convener, serving as a champion of client partnership and the advancement of women in the industry.

Gary Stein joined Savills (formerly Studley) in 1992, and again in 2012, with his focus set on providing expert counsel to major nonprofits, law firms, trade associations and corporations. He’s represented such esteemed clients as Davis Polk & Wardwell, the American Society for Microbiology, Goodwin Procter, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, National Democratic Institute, Hollingsworth LLP, and Beveridge & Diamond PC. Gary leads a veteran team featuring Savills expert Jon Glass and many others. As a proud representative of his clients, Gary has negotiated over 600 leases totaling more than 15 million square feet. His many years spent in the Washington DC area have provided him with extensive knowledge of the region, reaching through its entire domain. His background in real estate law, combined with his substantial experience in commercial real estate, make Gary the perfect representative of any company that occupies office space. Awards, Achievements and Activities Gary is consistently one of the top producers in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Additionally, in the Washington DC area, he has officiated high school basketball for the past 30 years and serves the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials as part of the executive committee. As a dedicated philanthropic donator and real estate broker, Gary is an active member of the B’nai Israel Congregation.

As Co-Founder & Principal of D|Watts Construction, David is responsible for executive oversight of all business operations, including overseeing corporate and financial operations, and ensuring client satisfaction. David co-founded D|WATTS after spending over a decade with some of the largest GC’s in the DMV area. He and his team focus on high-end, complex projects, approaching their work with a boutique, client-oriented dedication and the polish of a billion dollar company. Over his career, David has had the opportunity to build the offices for law firms such as DLA Piper, Morrison Foerster, Greenberg Traurig, McGuire Woods and many others, as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies. He has been recognized by the WBJ and ENR as a top 40 under 40 professional but David is most proud of his awards for his volunteer efforts with JDRF and Make A Wish.