Houston Women Leading Real Estate

An architectural graduate of the University of Southern California, Jill spent the majority of her career in healthcare facility planning, the final 22 years at Texas Children’s Hospital guiding the development of over $2B of work and adding over 5M square feet. Jill is a licensed architect in Texas and California and holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Karen Mooney is the Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction department at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Her team manages strategic facilities planning for the organization as well as the implementation of the capital construction program. Karen graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Construction Management and received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler. Karen is a certified coach by the International Coach Federation and a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. While at MD Anderson she has been awarded “Best Boss” and has been a two-time finalist for the institutional mentoring award.

Yvonne Nagy is the Managing Principal of HDR’s Houston studio. She has multi-level experience as a project architect, project manager, and managing principals focused within the health industry. With more than 20 years of experience, she has managed numerous complex healthcare projects ranging from new replacement facilities to multi-phased renovations. As Managing Principal/PIC, she provides overall leadership and direction to commit the necessary resources of the firm to successfully complete healthcare projects on time and budget.

Dr. Verena Kallhoff serves as Sr. Director, Global Life Sciences at the Greater Houston Partnership. She works together with local, state, national, and international players to spur and support the growth and development of the greater Houston region’s life sciences ecosystem and assists companies looking to relocate or expand in the region. Verena first moved to Houston in 2003 to attend Baylor College of Medicine, graduating in 2008 and subsequently obtained an MBA from University of Houston – Clear Lake. Verena has held positions with Harris Health System as Quality Assurance Analyst, and Houston Methodist Research Institute, where she began as Administrative Fellow and later served as the Innovative Managing Director of CyBHOR, an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center sponsored by the National Science Foundation. In 2017, Verena relocated to Austin joining the innovation initiative at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin where she developed and led programs to build an innovation ecosystem. Organizing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Verena is a founding member of TEXGHS, the Texas Global Health Security Consortium and was instrumental in developing and implementing business strategies for the consortium’s activity. Verena also served as the VP for Omics and Precision Medicine at Equideum Health, a health tech startup, where she developed partnerships with research organizations and built networks to accelerate omics-related research to enable authentic, personalized precision medicine.

Monique serves as the Executive Director for the venture capital firm Portal Innovations in Houston; where their mission is to provide crafted capital to enable life sciences innovators to build their companies where they live. Monique has more than 15 years of experience in supporting the growth of research scientists and clinicians committed to developing translational life-saving therapeutics into the clinic. She served as a technical sales consultant for Miltenyi Biotec for ten years where she strategically developed and progressed pipelines pertinent to organizational and revenue growth targets primarily in the immuno-oncology therapeutic market in the Texas Medical Center. Prior to joining Portal, Monique was the regional sales manager for Sartorius Stedim North America in the Bioprocessing Solutions division where she established and led a team of dynamic account managers across the Central US.

Lauren Amber Prestenbach, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, EDAC, IIDA, is an award-winning commercial & healthcare interior design whose sharply honed skills stem from her experience on the vendor/client side and her extensive training and continuing education as registered interior designer over the past 20 years. Her innate design talent is complemented by her professional leadership as a highly committed and driven advocate for professional certification for her discipline. Lauren Amber’s impressive skill set, businesslike approach and leadership foster a client-centric working style. She is fully engaged with clients from the initial meeting, to research/information gathering, code compliancy, design, materials selection, and finally to installation. Lauren Amber creates designs that are functional, aesthetic, sustainable and sensitive to clients’ bottom lines. As a Registered Interior Designer, LEED Accredited Professional and a Center for Healthcare Design’s Evidence Based Interior Designer (EDAC), Lauren Amber has worked with Healthcare clients such as Kelsey-Seybold, Memorial Hermann, and UTMB. She was named to ENR’s 2021 National Top 20 Under 40 and she also is affiliated with CoreNet, IIDA, NAIOP, and the National Council for Interior Design Certification.

Elena’s area of expertise is in the healthcare and senior housing sectors of real estate. She also has experience in corporate office, life science, retail, land transactions and investment sales. Her clients include physicians, multispecialty groups, hospitals, developers, senior housing operators and owners in addition to private investors. Prior to joining Colliers in 2014, Elena was a Senior Healthcare Real Estate Advisor with Coldwell Banker Commercial Healthcare Services Group. Elena’s past career as a cancer research scientist with the world’s best cancer centers and research institutions has led her to choose her core areas of specialization. Being actively involved with the healthcare industry through the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), helps her to stay updated with the needs of this industry and to better serve her clients. The most rewarding part of her job is developing relationships with clients and gaining their trust and confidence as their real estate advisor. In regards to real estate transactions, what she enjoy most of all is research, analysis and negotiations.

Lisa Bovermann specializes in providing healthcare and life sciences real estate solutions to healthcare institutions, CRO’s, clinical investors, developers, and healthcare providers. As Senior Vice President within the Gulf Coast region, Lisa brings 17 years of commercial real estate experience dedicated to healthcare and life sciences. Specializing in both tenant and landlord advisory services, she provides a diverse and complete spectrum of transaction management services offering real estate transaction management, analytics and consulting for life sciences companies, healthcare institutions, physician groups, specialty groups, behavioral health operators, and public & private healthcare real estate investors. For her corporate life science clients, Lisa implements real estate and facilities strategies centered around growth planning, facility compliance and controls. Her vast expertise allows her to apply a complete understanding to any opportunity, resulting in optimal outcomes for clients she represents in the marketplace.

Joan is a very experienced designer who has led the planning and design of many complex projects, including academic, corporate, healthcare, multi-family and government facilities. She is highly skilled in developing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for complicated building programs using comprehensive understanding of the client’s goals and objectives. Joan believes in a holistic approach to building design, paying close attention to the interior building program components while balancing the regional and contextual issues of the building architecture.

Architect, and Medical Planner, Julie Holder received her Master's in Architecture from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University. Throughout her life, she found joy in the details, organization, and creating more efficient spaces. This joy, coupled with her desire to give back to the community and her studies on how architecture can positively affect patients' health through evidence-based design, led her to a career in health-focused architecture. Julie is driven by each project's challenge and strives to create a space that meets not only the Owner’s goals but aids in the clinician's daily work schedule while enhancing the patient’s experience. Her emphasis on clear communication and transparency ensures that all options are explored. You can find Julie running marathons in her spare time and playing with her dog, Brinkley.

Kristen Kupperman, Vice President of Design, Construction, and Facilities at Texas Medical Center (TMC). With a 15-year track record in construction, Kristen has worked in major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Iowa City, San Diego, and Houston. As VP of design, construction, and facilities for TMC, Kristen recently completed TMC Helix Park—a groundbreaking 37-acre campus that redefines collaborative research spaces. This innovative project features shared and proprietary research centers, multidisciplinary labs, and a distinctive double-helix green space accessible to the public. Drawing upon a wealth of experience, Kristen has honed their skills in project management by directly engaging with employees, clients, subcontractors, vendors, and the medical community. Kristen’s approach involves creating synergies among diverse stakeholders, ensuring that projects not only meet the highest standards but also contribute positively to the surrounding community. Kristen’s expertise extends beyond the realms of traditional construction, as they bring a unique blend of creativity and practicality to every project. Their commitment to sustainable and inclusive design is evident in the transformative impact of TMC Helix Park, reflecting Kristen's dedication to creating spaces that harmonize with both the scientific and social aspects of the medical community. As Vice President of Design, Construction, and Facilities, Kristen continues to drive TMC towards new horizons, combining a rich background in construction with a passion for pushing boundaries in healthcare facility development. Their journey from major metropolises to the heart of Texas exemplifies a career devoted to shaping the future of healthcare infrastructure.

Marissa is a Director of Facilities and Construction Projects at Houston Methodist Hospital since 2016. In this role, she oversees master planning efforts as well as design, construction and activation of large and small capital improvement projects for Houston Methodist’s Sugar Land, Clear Lake and Cypress Campuses. Focused on the healthcare sector for essentially her entire career, Marissa consistently pursuits her mission to build innovative environments that nurture healing for patients, visitors and staff alike. Her capability to bridge the various clinical programs, institutional levels and geographic settings reflect her ability to uniquely respond to the needs of each community. Marissa obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Panama, and her Master’s Degree in Construction Management from Texas A&M University, College Station. She is a licensed Architect in the State of Texas, a Certified Construction Manager, a Certified Energy Manager, and a LEED Accredited Professional. Prior to joining Houston Methodist Hospital, Marissa’s career included assignments with ExxonMobil in the Woodlands Campus, and Jacobs in the Metropolitan Houston area. In her spare time, Marissa enjoys watching her kids play sports, home improvement projects, long walks, and the occasional round of golf.

Just 3 weeks into her courses at The University of Oklahoman (OU), Lynnsee realized that a degree in Architecture wasn’t for her - she switched to Construction Science and never looked back. After graduating, Lynnsee started working for JE Dunn and is now in her 12th year, currently a Senior Project Manager. She has been instrumental in the success of many different types of projects including, the highly publicized Oklahoma State Capitol Building, a major design-build historical exterior renovation, commercial office buildings, aviation projects, and currently the MD Anderson Gimbel Restack project. Lynnsee holds a national leadership position with one of the ERG’s at JE Dunn - (BUiLD) Blacks United in Learning and Development, helping to oversee the engagement, development, recruitment and advancement of the ERG’s members and allies. She has sat on the JE Dunn Talent Advisory Board, as a Campus Recruiting Lead at her alma mater The University of Oklahoma and actively participates in recruiting from Prairie View A&M University. She is also a Process Owner on JE Dunn’s Knowledge Management team which promotes an integrates approaches to identifying, capturing, evaluating, retrieving, and sharing information to enhance company performance through its People, Processes and Technology. Lynnsee is the great great-niece of Ernest Boyd McGowen, the first African American District Council Member elected in Houston and her great great-aunt by marriage, is Barbara Jordan, the first African woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. As proud as Lynnsee is of her prestigious family ties, she and husband, Kyle, consider their daughters Nora and Noél the real stars of the family.

Current responsibilities Madeline is an Associate broker on the Healthcare & Life Sciences team focusing on Agency Leasing and Tenant Representation in Houston, TX. She has an extensive level of experience in marketing and commercial leasing including but not limited to prospecting, tours, proposals, space planning, lease documentation and negotiation. In her 8 years in the industry, Madeline has strategically utilized her marketing background to raise leasing momentum on previous high rise institutional assets. Experience Before joining JLL, Madeline worked on behalf of institutional owners leasing at 5555 San Felipe, 700 Louisiana, 888 Westheimer and 3201 Allen Parkway totaling approximately 2.6M RSF. She led leasing presentations to brokerage firms and reached out to brokers through prospective tenant promotional marketing, resulting in leads and proposals. On behalf of JLL, one cold call to a prospective ENT practice, resulted in a new client account with over 80 clinics across three states. She understands the value of aligning with her clients to assist them in their strategic growth. Education Madeline received her B.A. from Baylor University, and her M.A. from University of the Incarnate Word. Affiliations and Community Involvement Women in Healthcare – Houston Chapter member ACHE - Southeast Texas Chapter Houston CREMM – former Business Development Director ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) - committee member NAIOP Developing Leader’s - member Central Houston, Inc. Baylor Professionals Network of Houston - committee member Rodeo Houston – Mutton Bustin’ committee member (14 years) During her free time she enjoys trips to the ranch in west Texas, fly fishing in Park City and clay shooting at Greater Houston with her husband Joe.

As Gensler’s South Central Sciences Practice Area Leader, Rebekah utilizes her more than 15 years of experience to create innovative spaces in the science and technology fields. Having touched more than 4.2 million square feet of laboratory real estate in her work, Rebekah is an expert in navigating the intricacies involved with designing labs for both institutional and private organizations, including high-tech environments, CGMP clean rooms and large biopharmaceutical headquarters. Rebekah actively incorporates new ideas and strategies into her clients’ projects and is involved in the process from early schematic design to post occupancy. A firm believer in collaborative design, Rebekah has been successful in delivering technically complicated projects in an efficient manner while taking purposeful actions to facilitate the involvement of all team members. As a leader in the industry, Rebekah was recognized as a 2021 Bisnow Houston Power Women Rising Star and is often called upon to speak at life science conferences, webinars, and events. In her free time, Rebekah dedicates herself to furthering Gensler’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and she has also served as an ACE mentor and has chaired various positions for AIA Houston.

Brandy Bellow Spinks along with Nelson Udstuen and Scott Carter lead the Healthcare Services Group for the CBRE Houston office. The team is solely dedicated to medical assets providing a complete spectrum of commercial real estate transaction management services including landlord representation, tenant representation and investment sales services for hospital systems, physician groups, specialty groups, post-acute operators, behavioral health operators, and public & private healthcare real estate investors. Over the past 12 years, Brandy has completed more than 800 transactions on behalf of clients such as HCP, Inc., Memorial Hermann Health System, Investcorp/Griffin, Norvin Partners and Universal Health Realty Income Trust to name a few. These transactions total over 1.5 Billion in revenue. Brandy has completed numerous large transactions on the Landlord and/or Tenant side with the following institutions - Methodist, Memorial Hermann Health System, Hospital Corporation of America, CHI St. Luke’s Health, Texas Children’s Hospital, MD Anderson and UTMB. Brandy is a consistent top producer for the firm, and is recognized within the company and community as a leader in the Healthcare sector. Her knowledge and work ethic set her apart.

Ashley has been a leader on the Transwestern Healthcare Advisory services group since 2012. Serving as Senior Vice President, she is responsible for leasing over 2.1 million square feet of a medical office building portfolio in the greater Houston area. Her portfolio includes properties in The Medical Center, Downtown, the Heights, Museum District, Upper Kirby, Bellaire, Cy-Fair, Clearlake, Pearland, Friendswood, Sugar Land, Wharton, and the Westchase area. Her deep roots in the Houston medical community allows her the opportunity to execute direct deals with some of Houston?s largest healthcare providers. Ashley is an innovator in marketing and several of her creative ideas have become national marketing standards within Transwestern. She also specializes in Tenant Representation for hospitals, healthcare groups, and individual physicians leveraging her vast knowledge of medical real estate to accommodate the specific needs of her clients. Ashley joined Transwestern in 2012 with six years of prior healthcare and office leasing experience.

As Managing Director of the Houston studio, Diana provides strategic, executive, and financial leadership while supporting excellence in design. She has over 25 years of experience working with academic medical center and community hospital clients and an extensive background in the design, planning, and delivery of healthcare projects. She brings a special interest in Lean planning and evidence-based design to her work, paired with a commitment to improving the healthcare environment for caregivers, patients, and families. As Principal and Healthcare market sector leader for the Houston practice, Diana has planned projects for all healthcare market sectors, including academic medical centers, community hospitals, and regional health delivery systems. Her experience includes all aspects of project delivery, from conceptual planning and programming to project management and contract documentation.

Morgan M. Atkinson is a Strategic Accounts Manager at Altus Group, bringing over a decade of experience in business development, client service management, and account executive roles within the commercial real estate and engineering industries. With a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, she has honed her expertise in managing complex client portfolios and fostering collaborative relationships to drive long-term success. At Altus Group, Morgan took on the role of Business Development Manager before transitioning to her current strategic accounts role. Here, she leverages her extensive industry knowledge to develop tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of her clients in commercial real estate. Known for her ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive business growth, she works closely with internal teams to deliver on client expectations, ensuring that each engagement brings measurable results. In addition to her professional achievements, Morgan has a strong commitment to mentorship, guiding new account managers in navigating client relationships and building their strategic thinking skills. Her focus on leadership, combined with a deep understanding of the commercial real estate landscape, makes her an invaluable asset to Altus Group and its clients.