Boston Power Women

Linda Pizzuti Henry

Managing Director
Boston Globe

Leslie Cohen

Principal & COO
Samuels & Associates

Leslie Cohen is the COO and Head of Asset Management for Samuels & Associates. She is responsible for executing the strategic vision of the firm across numerous multi-billion dollar developments in Boston and the surrounding communities. Since joining Samuels & Associates in 2002, she has successfully overseen the rise of major projects like Pierce, a 30-story luxury residence in The Fenway and Continuum, a pioneering mixed-use development in the heart of North Allston, MA. Cohen served as the President of CREW Boston (formerly NEWiRE); she is currently on the NAIOP MA Board Management Committee, and is a member of ULI. Cohen serves on the Board of Trustees and the building committee at the West End House in Allston, on the Building and Grounds Committee at Tufts University, and volunteers at the Heath School. In 2013, Cohen was selected as a Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 honoree, and in 2014 she was chosen as a recipient of Bisnow’s 2014 Top 50 women in commercial real estate award.

Linda Dorcena Forry

VP
Suffolk Construction

Brenna Jordan

Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel
CVS Health

Liz Holland

CEO
Abbell Associates

Elizabeth (Liz) Holland is the Chief Executive Officer of Abbell Associates, an eighty- year old private real estate investment, development and management company with an approximately 5.5 million/sf portfolio, comprised of shopping center, office, and enclosed mall properties. Liz is responsible for overseeing all business and legal matters, including development, financing, leasing, capital and construction projects, and investor and tenant relations. Active in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Liz served as the worldwide Chairman (2016- 17). In addition to ICSC, Liz is also a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) - Commercial & Retail Council - Blue. Liz is a Trustee of Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) and a board member of: VICI Properties, Inc. (VICI); Village Bank & Trust; and The James Campbell Company, LLC. Prior to joining Abbell, Liz was a Senior Staff Attorney with the National Bankruptcy Review Commission, a Congressional commission charged with making recommendations to amend the Bankruptcy Code. Previously, Liz was a restructuring and business reorganization attorney with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York. Prior to becoming an attorney, Liz was a fixed income portfolio manager at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in New York. Liz currently serves on the board of The Primo Center for Women & Children. She also served for many years on the boards of Lighthouse Academies; Uptown United; and 1,000 Friends of Iowa.

Judy Habib

Founder/CEO
KHJ

“Who are you being in the world…and how great are you willing to have it?” This is classic Judy. She asks the questions that get to the heart and soul of things, and listens in a way that brings out your best. Judy has built KHJ into one of Boston’s largest independently owned agencies and top women-led businesses. In addition to working with many remarkable colleagues and clients over the years, Judy serves on the board of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is a trustee for Ursuline Academy. She’s grateful for a fulfilling professional life and the ability to escape to her magical house by the sea shared with her wonderful husband and good friends…what Judy would call a both/and.

Judith Nitsch

Founding Principal
Nitsch Engineering

udy Nitsch is the founding principal of Nitsch Engineering. Her work over the past 40+ years in the civil engineering field has focused on the design and management of site development and infrastructure-related projects. A graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Judy is a Registered Professional Engineer in 11 states. She received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree from WPI in 2015, and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2010. Judy is a Peer in the U.S. General Service Administration’s Design Excellence Program. Additionally, she is in her second term as a member of the U.S. Department of State Overseas Building Operations Industry Advisory Group. Judy served on the Board of Directors of CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women) for five years and was the 2014 President of this national organization. Watch an interview with Judy about her involvement with CREW Network and its value for the industry here. She has also served as President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts and President of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE. Judy currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Boston Architectural College. In 1989, she was elected the first alumna member to WPI’s Board of Trustees; she served as Chair of the Facilities and Campus Infrastructure Committee for 16 years. Judy serves on the board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and is co-chair of its Real Estate Development Committee. She is a Trustee of Eastern Bank, a member of the ULI Boston Advisory Board, and a Fellow of ACEC, ASCE, SWE, and SMPS.

Lisa Serafin

Principal
Redgate

A founding member of Redgate, Lisa provides strategic real estate services for institutional and investor clients. Her focus is on large, complex urban development projects with specific areas of expertise in pre-development strategy, financial feasibility, infrastructure, and government relations/approvals. Lisa has successfully worked with developers and government agencies to structure public/private partnerships and mechanisms for alternative financing to enable investment and development in projects that have a substantial public component. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry and her clients include major institutions such as MITIMCo, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Massachusetts Port Authority, as well as private landowners. Prior to co-founding Redgate, Lisa was a National Director and Senior Vice President of Development at Jones Lang LaSalle where she was responsible for major project development as well as for evaluating potential real estate investments for the firm’s direct investment funds. Education Columbia University| Master of Science, Urban Planning and Economic Development Syracuse University | Bachelor of Science, Public Policy and Economics.

Katie Lapp

EVP
Harvard University

As Executive Vice President, Katie Lapp serves as Harvard University’s Chief Administrative, Business and Operating Officer and oversees all aspects of the University’s financial, administrative, human resources, campus services, planning and project management, development in Allston, health services, information technology and diversity functions. Katie works closely with Harvard’s senior leadership team to ensure that Harvard’s financial, capital, and operational resources are optimally deployed in support of Harvard’s mission. Enhancing the responsiveness of Central Administration to the needs of Harvard’s faculties, Schools, and other units; Improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and coordination of existing financial and administrative functions and practices across the University, both within central administration and within Schools; Leading the development and improvement of financial and administrative capacity in new areas that cross School boundaries or traditional administrative units; Achieving a more integrated approach to the challenges presented by new ventures in science, Allston, and other areas that will call for more collaboration across traditional boundaries. Prior to this appointment, Katie Lapp served as Executive Vice President for Business Operations for the University of California; as Executive Director and CEO for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and as a distinguished attorney serving as New York State Director of Criminal Justice and Commissioner of the Criminal Justice Services Department and previously as New York City’s Criminal Justice Director. She received her B.A. in history from Fairfield University and her Law Degree from Hofstra University.

Lisa Nickerson

Founder & Principal
NICKERSON

Lisa Nickerson, winner of the 2016 PRISM Award for Marketing Professional of the Year, is the true definition of an entrepreneurial businesswoman. Having earned The Nashua Telegraph’s 91 Progress’ Entrepreneur of the Year at 17 years old, Lisa is now the CEO and founder of Nickerson PR, an award-winning full-service communications agency that offers an integrated blend of public relations, social media, digital content, creative services, and events expertise. In June of 2018, Lisa was featured on Chronicle as Greater Boston’s Real Estate Expert. A multiple-industry award winner, Lisa is a well-respected, sought-after speaker and moderator, and a devotee of professional and community service. She is an active member of ULI | New England’s Advisory Board, ULI Women Leadership Institute Co-Chair and Communications Chair, American Marketing Association, Board Member & VP of Sponsorship, Boston Women in Media & Entertainment Board Member, former SIOR New England Board Member & Communications Chair, and a member of NAIOP and CREW. Lisa received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College in Marketing and Finance. She maintains her Massachusetts Real Estate License and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration at Babson College. Lisa received her Real Estate Certificate from Boston University. She resides in Wayland, MA, and is a proud mother of three outstanding teenagers – her two sons are highly decorated Eagle Scouts and her daughter is a competitive gymnast.

Liz Berthelette

Director of Research
NAI Hunneman

As the Director of Research, Liz is responsible for providing reliable data including available space surveys and market trend analysis. Liz authors all of NAI Hunneman’s quarterly market reports as well as white papers and blog posts on relevant trends and happenings in the greater Boston Real Estate market. Additionally utilizing GIS software Liz creates custom maps, demographic reports and drive-time analyses for local and national clients as part of NAI Hunneman’s real estate analysis. Prior to joining NAI Hunneman, Liz served as Assistant Director of Market Strategy & Research at Colliers International. She was also a real estate economist with PPR, a CoStar company, for six years, focusing on the space markets in several major metros in the Southeast, Texas, and Pacific Northwest regions. Liz holds a degrees in Economics, Geography and Global Studies from Assumption College.

Barbara Schmitt

Director
Dain Torpy

Barbara joined the firm as a shareholder in September, 2015. Barbara’s practice focuses on leasing, representing major landlords in their offce portfolios in Boston and Washington, DC and major tenants in their leasing of space nationwide. Barbara’s clients include Beacon Capital Partners, Boston Properties, MetLife, Oxford, and Russell Reynolds Associates. Barbara is particularly skilled at negotiating large leases with technology companies, law firms, and financial services companies, each of which presents its own unique challenges. Due in part to her extensive teaching experience (including as faculty at Georgetown University’s Masters in Professional Real Estate Program), Barbara excels at translating complex concepts into examples that are clear and easy to understand. This makes her a particularly effective negotiator who is able to build a bridge of understanding between the two or more sides of a deal. Barbara combines a deep knowledge of the law with its practical application in the real world. Her clients count on her to solve difficult commercial leasing challenges, but they also rely on her to anticipate and avoid those problems in the first place. Before joining Dain Torpy, Barbara was a director for more than twenty years at Goulston & Storrs PC where she oversaw a team of office leasing lawyers and paralegals. Barbara has been named one of the top lawyers in New England in the Real Estate Category since 2013 by Super Lawyers, a joint publication of Boston Magazine and Law & Politics. The Super Lawyers comprise the top 5% of lawyers in the state.

Erin Harvey

Senior Leasing & Marketing Manager
NB Development

As the Senior Leasing and Marketing Manager for NB Development Group, Erin Harvey coordinates the leasing and marketing for the Company’s real estate portfolio. Erin is responsible for managing Broker relations, lease analysis and execution, retail build-outs, property tours, marketing strategy, and is involved in the acquisition of new properties. Erin has leased over 30,000sf of retail in the first phase of a multi-phase strategy and has been involved in recent office/lab transactions totaling over 725,000sf. Erin has a broad range of experience working in Boston’s commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining NB Development Group in 2011, Erin held positions at Columbia Group Realty Advisors, The Chiofaro Company and Paradigm Properties. Erin graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Economics and played on the Varsity Basketball team for 4 years. Erin is a member of the Urban Land Institute including the ULI Development Council, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Commercial Real Estate Women Boston and the Real Estate Finance Association.

Jennie Friend

Managing Director
Morgan Stanley

Jennie Pries Friend is an Executive Director of Morgan Stanley. Ms. Friend joined Morgan Stanley in 2001, where she is an officer in the firm’s real estate investing practice in New York. Ms. Friend currently oversees 5MM sf (~$4B) of Class A office and retail assets and has primary responsibility for the ongoing oversight and redevelopment of several regional malls. Ms. Friend leads Morgan Stanley’s investment activity in the Greater Boston market, executing ~$1B of acquisitions. She manages the platform’s long term investments in One Post Office Square and Rowes Wharf and has led the core fund’s expansion into the life science market, marked by its acquisitions of 200 Cambridge Park Drive and 733 Concord Avenue in Alewife. Prior to her role in the investing business, Ms. Friend was a real estate consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in its Financial Advisory Services group providing clients with transactional support and servicing distressed portfolios. Ms. Friend completed her Bachelor of Science at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sue Hawkes

Managing Director
The Collaborative Companies

Sue Hawkes served as the Senior Vice President for the Codman Company in Boston for 13 years before joining The Collaborative Companies as Partner and Managing Director in 1997, acquiring TCC and Velocity Marketing in 2008. The Collaborative Companies was acquired by Realogy/NRT in 2016. Ms. Hawkes is a recognized leader in the new construction industry and consults throughout the country. Active in the building industry, she served on the National Association of Home Builders Executive Committee (NAHB), as Chairman of the New England Builders Conference, and as Trustee of both the Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) and the National Sales and Marketing Council, the latter of which she has chaired. Ms. Hawkes has also served as President of the Builders Association of Greater Boston. TCC has been involved in culminating over $7 billion in residential sales transactions and represents most of the region’s premier developers including: Samuels & Associates, National Development, New England Development, The Davis Companies, The Related Companies, Federal Realty, Boston Properties, Lendlease, Nordbloom, Corcoran Co and WS Development, among others. Her extensive construction background and diverse marketing expertise has made her insight invaluable to ground up developments, both urban and suburban mixed use. TCC has established itself as Greater Boston’s foremost leader in market research, design development and project positioning for Master Planned Communities under Ms. Hawkes’ tutelage. Ms. Hawkes was awarded the NAHB “Bill Molster Award” for industry excellence, the highest honor awarded by the NAHB. She was honored by her alma mater, St. Lawrence University, as recipient of the Alumnae Leadership Award and currently serves on the Board of Directors for both Cushing Academy and the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, ME.

Chrystal Kornegay

CEO
MassHousing

Chrystal Kornegay currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of MassHousing which lends over $1 billion annually to produce and preserve affordable rental housing and create homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income borrowers. Under Chrystal’s leadership, MassHousing launched a highly successful Down Payment Assistance program; secured over $80 million to expand its Workforce Housing initiative; and developed a nationally recognized program for homeownership production in communities of color. Before joining MassHousing, Chrystal served as the Baker-Polito Administration’s Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development where she successfully advocated to increase state capital dollars for affordable housing by almost 18%; partnered to increase rental subsidies for low income families by 42%; and collaborated to dramatically reduce the number of homeless families in motels. Prior to her work as Undersecretary, Chrystal was President and Chief Executive Officer at Urban Edge, one of New England’s largest community development corporations. She is credited with leading the organization’s financial transformation, resulting in a $3 million increase in the Agency’s net asset position. Chrystal serves on the boards of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, the National Housing Trust and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Advisory Committee. Chrystal holds a Master’s in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. from Hunter College.

Sara Taylor

Principal
BLACKLINE Retail Group

Jennifer Francis

President/COO
Senior Housing Properties Trust

Ms. Francis has been our President and Chief Operating Officer since 2018. Ms. Francis is Senior Vice President of The RMR Group LLC and is also responsible for asset management and leasing activities at all RMR managed properties. Prior to joining RMR in 2006, Ms. Francis was a Partner at CBRE/NE Partners, where she performed brokerage and corporate advisory services for a number of large corporate clients on their national commercial real estate portfolios. Previously, Ms. Francis was a Vice President at The Gunwyn Company where she was responsible for the asset management of a portfolio of commercial, retail and residential assets. Ms. Francis has over 30 years of experience working in the commercial real estate industry. She is on the Executive Board of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and a member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW).

Nancy McCafferty

Senior Relationship Manager
Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Nancy McCafferty joined MHP’s staff in 2003 as a loan officer, in 2008 she was promoted to senior loan officer and in 2015 to senior relationship manager. As senior relationship manager, she is responsible for the strategic oversight of new and existing client relationships, identifying/analyzing financing opportunities that meet client business objectives, and maintaining detailed knowledge of MHP’s financing programs. Prior to joining MHP Nancy specialized in the underwriting, acquisition and management of affordable multifamily properties participating in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Nancy’s career began in the late 1980’s in commercial real estate where she held both property management and development positions at Trammell Crow Company, Spaulding & Slye (known today as Jones Lang LaSalle) and Winthrop Financial Company. Nancy earned a bachelor's degree in business finance at UMass-Lowell and received certification as a real property administrator at Bentley College. She currently serves on the boards of Fidelity House and Human Services and Local Initiative Support Corporation. In the past, she has served on the board of the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development as well as CREW Boston (previously known as New England Women in Real Estate) and has chaired several committees within each organization.

Karen Hurd

SVP
SVN International Corp

Karen Hurd serves as Senior Vice President for National Franchise Sales and Development. She identifies, initiates and creates new business opportunities for the SVN® organization, and contributes to brand development and growth nationally. She plays a key role in managing the continued expansion of franchise ownership. Previously a Vice President for the Investment Services team at Grubb & Ellis’ Boston office, Karen worked in the Private Capital Markets Group creating and executing acquisition and disposition strategies for a wide range of commercial real estate clients across the United States. Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis, Karen was an Assistant Vice President at Compass Exchange Advisors, LLC, a subsidiary of Independent Bank Corp, where she provided consultation services for institutional, corporate, and high net worth clients involved in Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. Karen has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and financial services, and has been actively involved in transactions totaling in excess of $550 million. Karen is an active member and speaker on sales and networking with New England Women in Real Estate (NEWiRE) and a recent board member of The Entrepreneurship Institute. She is also an active member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Karen is a recent member of the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Karen holds her real estate license in Massachusetts and is currently pursuing her CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Manager) designation. Karen attended Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Karen is also an active committee member for The One Hundred, an annual fundraiser sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, celebrating one hundred individuals and groups throughout the world helping to advance the fight against cancer.

Mary Doyle

Managing Director
Cushman & Wakefield

Ms. Doyle is the Managing Director for Cushman & Wakefield’s New England Region Asset Services Group. She has responsibility for asset, property, and facility management of 60 commercial and corporate facility properties totaling over 17 million square feet. A 30-year veteran of the Boston real estate industry, Ms. Doyle’s experience includes property management, policy and procedure development and implementation, business and marketing plan development, contract negotiation, project management, feasibility studies and asset valuation. Beginning her career with R.M. Bradley as Executive Assistant to the President of the Bradley Real Estate Trust in 1984, she quickly advanced through the management division to become a senior property manager with responsibilities for two first class office parks. In 1994, Ms. Doyle was recruited by MS Management Services to establish and direct their Boston Regional Office. As Regional Manager, she had responsibilities for the MetLife REI Boston portfolio, including 15 suburban buildings and a first class tower, totaling over 2,000,000 square feet of commercial office space. During her tenure as manager, the properties won several prestigious awards, including two BOMA Regional Building of the Year awards. Ms. Doyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the College of the Holy Cross. In 2002, she received the prestigious BOMI RPA designation. As an active member of BOMA, she has served on the Board of Directors and several subcommittees. A member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Fort Point Channel, since 2002, she currently serves as Treasurer/Clerk on the Executive Board. Banker and Tradesman recognized Mary as a 2016 Woman of FIRE, an award bestowed on talented, ambitious, innovative and philanthropic women who are achieving excellence and making a difference in traditionally male dominated industries.

Catherine Carlock

Real Estate Editor
Boston Business Journal

Kimberly Sherman Stamler

President
Related Beal

Kimberly Sherman Stamler is the President of Related Beal where she is responsible for the overall management of the firm. Ms. Sherman Stamler leads the company in its pursuit of new development and deal opportunities, and in all financing activities across the Boston business units. In her previous roles at Related Beal and Related, Ms. Sherman Stamler worked with the Related Beal platform on various transactions across all asset classes including The Beverly, Boston’s largest affordable and workforce housing development in 25 years, the Quinzani Bakery site acquisition in the South End and the execution and management several Related Fund Management developments including The Arlington in the Back Bay. Other recent projects in Boston include Lovejoy Wharf, home to residences on Lovejoy Wharf and the new headquarters for Converse, Inc., and the redevelopment of Congress Square in downtown Boston, which was previously Fidelity's headquarters. Throughout her career, Ms. Sherman Stamler has been responsible for more than $5 billion of development in virtually every sector of the real estate industry—acquisitions, financing, and development, with oversight on leasing, marketing, operations and sales. Ms. Sherman Stamler joined Related Companies in 1999 and was previously responsible for overseeing Related’s residential operating portfolio and the retail within this portfolio. Ms. Sherman Stamler worked on the expansion of Related into Chicago and was the development executive on The Clarendon and One Back Bay in Boston, beginning her work on that project in 2003. In partnership with Hudson Companies, Ms. Sherman Stamler has been responsible for the development of five buildings and retail at Riverwalk on Roosevelt Island in New York City as well as for the evolution of this 19 acre site to a community, adding new park space, and local and national retailers. Ms. Sherman Stamler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in Urban Studies. Ms. Sherman Stamler sits on the boards of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston and the Boston Municipal Research Bureau. She is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Regional Real Estate Development Leadership Council. Ms. Sherman Stamler also sits on the board of Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW). Previously, she was a PENCIL partner with the New York City public schools, and a David Rockefeller fellow through the Partnership for New York City. Ms. Sherman Stamler is a member of the Sam Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School of the University of Pennslyvania. Most recently, Ms. Sherman Stamler was recongnized as a 2017 Power 50 Newsmaker by the Boston Business Journal.

Barbara Oddo

Vice President
Lincoln Property Company

Barbara joined Lincoln Property Company in 2007, with more than 20 years experience in management services. Beginning her career at The Codman Company in the 1980’s, Barbara’s responsibilities included commercial, industrial and residential portfolios. In the early 2000’s, Barbara joined Equity Office Property where she worked in the suburban office market, overseeing Class A space in the Burlington/128 area. At Lincoln Property Company, Barbara is responsible for oversight of more than 600,000 sf of office and retail space – including Lincoln’s developments at Two Financial Center, a 220,000 sf Class A tower located in the Financial District, and the worldwide headquarters of LogMeIn, Inc., located in two brick and beam renovated buildings in Boston’s Seaport/Innovation district. Daily oversight of TI work, budgets, financial reporting, building staff, leasing and tenant coordination are but a few of Barbara’s responsibilities for her portfolio. A resident of Winchester, MA, Barbara is a graduate of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of CREW Boston; is an active committee member of BOMA Boston; NAIOP Property Management Steering Committee and Winchester Hospital Foundation – in addition to a number of civic organizations in her town and Boston.

Sarah Lemke

SVP
New England Development

Sarah Lemke, Esq. manages all aspects of the development of new real estate projects, from conceptual design through construction completion. Ms. Lemke draws on her expertise in the acquisition, financing, permitting, and leasing of mixed-use and commercial real estate projects across the Northeast in overseeing consultant teams, managing the design and entitlement processes, and project budget. She is currently focused on managing the redevelopment of CambridgeSide from an urban, retail center into a mixed-use center with 1,000,000 square feet of new first-class lab/office space, retail/restaurant, and residential uses. Prior to joining New England Development, Sarah was a partner at the law firm of Hinckley Allen and began her career as an attorney at Goulston & Storrs. She is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Middlebury College where she studied Sociology and French and played field hockey, winning the NCAA Division 3 National Championship during her sophomore year. Ms. Lemke is a seven-year member of the Medfield (MA) Planning Board, a Member of NAIOP and CREW, and a Middlebury College Alumni Interviewer.

Julie Zelermyer Perlman

Development Manager
Bozzuto Development Company

Mrs. Julie Perlman is a Development Manager in the Boston office of Bozzuto Development, overseeing the predevelopment of several large-scale mixed-use developments in Greater Boston. One such project is the redevelopment of the North Quincy MBTA Station site, a proposed mixed-use development consisting of 610 apartments, 50,000 GSF of retail, and 1,600 parking spaces, slated for a 2018 construction start. Prior to joining Bozzuto, Mrs. Perlman worked at Samuels & Associates, overseeing the ground-up development of new mixed-use developments in Boston. Specifically, she was the Development Manager for Continuum, a 325-unit apartment building with 40,000 GSF of ground floor retail, and a below-grade parking garage adjacent to Harvard Stadium in Allston. Additionally, she oversaw the overall development of and domestic and overseas condo marketing effort for Pierce Boston, a 30-story, mixed-use rental and for-sale residential tower in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. Mrs. Perlman’s depth of professional experience ranges from development deals and strategic advisory projects at Redgate Real Estate Advisors in Boston, as well as expertise on private institutional and residential projects as an architectural draftsperson at Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects. Having graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and earning a Masters of Design Studies in Real Estate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, she is active in Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board and Vassar College Alumni Admissions Program. Mrs. Perlman is also a member of CREW Boston and Urban Land Institute.

Pamela McKinney

Director
Byrne McKinney & Associates, Inc

Pamela S. McKinney, MAI, CRE is the Director of Pinnacle’s Valuation Services group. Based in Boston, Ms. McKinney oversees the firm’s highly respected hospitality appraisal practice, which includes the preparation of valuations for a wide range of client needs including investment portfolio reporting, loan collateral evaluations, foreclosure and bankruptcy actions, development and renovation funding analyses, tax abatements and assessments, eminent domain proceedings and acquisition/disposition due diligence. Ms. McKinney holds the MAI designation of the Appraisal Institute, the CRE designation of the Society of Real Estate Counselors, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. With over 35 years of experience in the field of real estate valuation and development counseling, she is a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, holding active licenses in over 20 states and has qualified as an expert witness in the Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk County courts in Massachusetts as well as the Massachusetts Land Court, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal bankruptcy and tax courts. She also lectures widely on the topics of real estate finance, valuation and development for graduate level courses – most recently at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University. In addition to her role at the Pinnacle Advisory Group, Ms. McKinney is the president and principal of Byrne McKinney & Associates, Inc., a nationally recognized real estate counseling and general practice commercial valuation firm with offices in Boston.

Whitney Gallivan

Managing Director and Partner
Boston Realty Advisors

Whitney Gallivan joined Boston Realty Advisors in 2015 as a Managing Director and Partner of the Retail Division. With over 13 years of experience in retail leasing, development, and investment sales, Whitney brings an extensive and unique skill set to the platform. Whitney has been at the forefront of retail evolution in Boston with recent success as the exclusive, on-site leasing consultant for the redevelopment of The Shops at Prudential Center, the largest mixed-use real estate complex in New England. Gallivan successfully secured high-profile tenants including, but not limited to, Under Armour, Tesla, Madewell, Shinola and Warby Parker. Gallivan was then retained by Jamestown Properties, one of the most innovative retail developers in the US, as the exclusive retail consultant for the Newbury Collection: 28 mixed-use properties encompassing over 220,000 square feet of street-level retail in Boston’s Back Bay.

Kristin Blount

EVP
Colliers International

With a 20+ year career in the real estate industry as a downtown leasing advisor, I think of myself as an “urbanphile”; one that loves the city and all that it offers. I enjoy nothing more than learning, working, and staying apprised of the ever-evolving Boston urban landscape and helping my clients navigate that landscape with skill and creativity. I have a strong appreciation for the relationships I have formed and continue to develop with my clients along the way. My drive, optimism and loyalty are defining qualities in a business that I find to be more an art than a science, requiring judgment and patience. My clients have achieved tremendous success with my assistance. While I had early exposure with my parents running their own small real estate business, I began my personal real estate journey as an intern with Meredith & Grew – now Colliers International – and was subsequently offered a position in property management to commence immediately upon graduation from Boston College. In property management, I oversaw more than 50 properties and developed a strong understanding of the inner-workings of large urban buildings and portfolios. This experience gave me a thirst for more real estate knowledge and led me to a graduate program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where I earned a Masters of Science in Real Estate. Post-graduation, I returned to Meredith & Grew, transitioning to the brokerage advisory side of the business where I have remained ever since. I revel in the fast-paced and challenging nature of the real estate industry and enjoy dissecting a client’s business, allowing me to help them solve problems and improve overall business strategy over time. Beyond my professional life, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, yoga, golf, traveling, reading, and devoting my time to several charitable organizations. Such organizations have greatly impacted me, both personally as well as professionally, especially when I have been able to offer meaningful real estate expertise that ultimately contributes to their overall success.

Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D.

President
Biomedical Growth Strategies

Andrea Simpson

Vice President
Federal Realty Investment Trust

Andrea (Andi) Simpson was most recently the Vice President, Marketing for Federal Realty Investment Trust where she oversaw marketing across the East Coast for the Trust's core and mixed-use portfolios, redevelopment and new development project and aligned the marketing discipline across the East Coast to maximize efficiencies, costs, and talent. Additionally, Andi was the Trust’s day-to-day corporate communications media liaison, responsible for corporate and property-related crisis communications. Ms. Simpson joined the Trust in 2011 as a Director of Marketing focused primarily on the development and opening of Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. In 2015 Andi’s role was expanded to oversee marketing at Bethesda Row, Pike & Rose, Linden Square and the Miami portfolio. Ms. Simpson is a graduate of Regis College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Communications. She has been an active member of CREW, on its Mentor Committee, is a board member of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and is a CMD and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute.

Susan Leff

Principal
Susan W. Leff Associates

Sara Cassidy

Director
AEW

Sara Cassidy is an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management – Real Estate Americas. Sara is an acquisition officer and is responsible for the origination and structuring of real estate investment transactions in the Northeast. Her role focuses on acquiring core, value-add and opportunistic office, residential, retail and industrial real estate. Sara has worked in the metro New York market and currently focuses on Boston and the New England region. Sara has been involved with the origination and structuring of over $3.5 billion of transactions in all product types on behalf of institutional investors.

Lisa Killaby

Principal
Perkins+Will

As a nationally recognized expert in workplace design with over 30 years of experience, Lisa is a Principal and the Director of Workplace Strategy for Perkins+Will. She leverages her real estate planning and workplace strategies expertise to develop transformational workspaces for corporate clients such as IBM, Adobe and Fidelity. Lisa also consults with academic clients including Yale, MIT, Northeastern, Cornell and the University of Miami to craft planning solutions that advance organizational and institutional goals. With a holistic approach, Lisa provides her clients with critical thinking about optimizing real estate and planning for the future. Passionate about what’s next in workplace strategy and design, she is actively involved with organizations looking to enhance the workplace experience. Lisa currently sits on the Board of CoreNet New England and participates on both the Program Committee and the University Initiative.

Heather Boujoulian

Managing Director, CIO
Berkshire Residential

Ms. Boujoulian joined Berkshire in 2012, bringing extensive multifamily development experience after serving as Vice President at Criterion Development Partners where she oversaw all aspects of multi-family development in New England from 2004-2012. Prior to Criterion Development Partners, Ms. Boujoulian worked for JPI from 1999-2004, holding several different positions during her tenure for both the construction and development divisions of the company. Collectively, she has managed design development and feasibility of more than 4,000 luxury apartment units throughout New England. Ms. Boujoulian holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Roger Williams University, where she continues to be actively involved in the Alumni Executive Council and the Construction Management Professional Advisory Board. Following undergraduate studies, Ms. Boujoulian attended the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where she received a Master in Urban Planning degree.

Carolyn Sidor

Managing Principal
Cushman & Wakefield

Carolyn Sidor is the Managing Principal of Cushman & Wakefield’s New England offices. She is responsible for all business operations and leads a team of more than 180 professionals in Boston, Hartford, CT and Manchester, NH who develop creative and holistic real estate solutions for the firm’s investor and occupier clients across the region. In addition, she works with other leaders to shape the region's growth strategies and recruiting efforts throughout the services lines, which include tenant advisory, agency leasing, capital markets, asset services, project & development services, valuation & advisory services, and senior housing Previously, she led Cushman & Wakefield’s Americas’ Specialty Practice Groups and initiatives for business development by partnering with internal professionals to define, implement and execute strategies by specialty. Her efforts fostered engagement, community and collaboration within a large-scale business. Prior to that, she led Cassidy Turley’s national brokerage operations and practice groups and served as business lead for CRM initiatives. Her 30-year career includes leadership positions locally, regionally and nationally with both commercial real estate services firms and industry organizations. Prior to joining Cassidy Turley, she served as President | Operations, USA at Colliers International, where she led the integration of Colliers USA and FirstService Real Estate Advisors and oversaw operations, human resources, marketing, events and service excellence functions for the company’s 4,500 employees. Prior to that she was Executive Vice President, Operations for Colliers International | USA, an affiliation of 90 member firms where she managed all business and financial affairs and delivery of services including multi-city referrals, national investment sales and retail service lines, specialty practice groups and national conferences. Before joining Colliers, Carolyn was a Partner and Managing Director of Business Development at CB Richard Ellis/ New England and Managing Director of Marketing and Client Services at Insignia/ESG. Earlier in her career, she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and Executive Director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Boston. She is a member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, National Association of Industrial & Office Parks, and CREW Boston.

Reesa Fischer

COO
NAIOP

Reesa is Senior Vice President at NAIOP Massachusetts, the commercial real estate development association. Prior to her role at NAIOP, Reesa was a Vice President at Doerr Associates, a marketing and communications firm in Winchester, MA, focusing primarily on the real estate industry. She was responsible for business development and strategic account management. Reesa’s previous roles include vice president of product and brand development for a multifamily developer, regional vice president of a new home marketing and sales company, and vice president of marketing and development for an educational non-profit now owned by National Geographic. Reesa brings her 25+ years of success building businesses through creating new business models, increasing brand awareness, and implementing cost-effective marketing/outreach campaigns to the Building Impact Board of Directors. The consummate networker, Reesa is helping Building Impact build robust relationships with new real estate and community partners.

Deborah Horwitz

Director
Goulston & Storrs

Commercial real estate, acquisition/disposition, development and permitting lead the list of experience that Debbie Horwitz offers clients. Debbie represents developers and owners of all types of real estate projects involving complicated structuring, development and finance issues. Chambers USA reports that "she makes difficult problems seem straightforward and resolves them with ease.” Debbie is a Director and Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate group. She formerly served as Co-Chair of the firm's Multifamily industry group and on the firm's Executive Committee.

Sara Myerson

Managing Director, Acquisitions
MSquared

Sara Myerson serves as Vice President for Suffolk Ventures. She joined Suffolk Ventures in March 2019 and brings a strong background in real estate, finance and policy, along with expertise in neighborhood redevelopment and public private partnerships. Prior to her work at Suffolk Ventures, Ms. Myerson served as the Director of Planning at the Boston Planning and Development Agency, where she oversaw the agency’s work related to planning, urban design and zoning. She began her career at Goldman Sachs, where she spent time in the Urban Investment Group and the Investment Banking Division. Sara holds a Master in Urban Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College.

Wendy Goldstein Pierce

Founder
Goldstein Pierce

As Principal at Goldstein Pierce Public Relations, Wendy Goldstein Pierce is a highly respected communications professional, well-known for providing clients with seasoned counsel and expertise that have consistently achieved impressive results. Wendy has a wealth of agency and corporate experience in the areas of real estate, retail, hospitality, food, beauty and fashion. For her real estate clients, she is able to forge a blend of corporate savvy with a depth in consumer brand building. She has worked independently and with local agencies to represent some of the city’s most respected developers from permitting to delivery and lease-up, including Federal Realty Investment Trust, Samuels & Associates, Cronin Development, Lendlease and Hudson Group.. Wendy began her career at a Boston-based agency where she represented the Copley Place complex for JMB/Urban. Wendy is actively involved in a number of area charities such as the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the JCCs of Greater Boston. She is also a member of the Executive Committee for NAIOP Massachusetts. Wendy is a graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut.