DMV Women Leading Real Estate Awards & Happy Hour

Genevieve Hanson has spent 20 years overseeing real estate transactions and assets valued over $6 Billion and has more than 10 years’ experience as a strategy and operations consultant. Genevieve is the CEO and Founder of H & H Realty Group focused on leveraging real estate consulting and multi-family development to generate social and environmental impacts. Prior to H & H, Genevieve was a Partner at Ernst & Young, LLP, providing real estate strategy and transaction services to the Dept of Commerce, Veterans Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force, HUD, City of Baltimore and University of Pittsburgh. As an Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Genevieve led real estate policy, asset management, leasing supply chain operations and sustainability program. While at U.S. General Services Administration and the DC Government Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development, Genevieve managed the strategy, solicitation process and deal structure for multiple acquisitions and dispositions for properties up to 110-acres. Genevieve has served in Leadership positions with several Trade Associations including Commercial Real Estate for Women DC; Urban Land Institute; African American Real Estate Professionals; and Federal Real Property Association. Genevieve earned a B.A. in International Relations from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Anna Shaffer is a Managing Director in JLL’s Washington, DC office where her focus includes representation of government contractors, healthcare providers, technology companies, associations and non-profits. Anna’s history has included both ownership and tenant representation work, in traditional and medical office buildings, as well as flex/industrial product. Ms. Shaffer joined JLL’s Mid-Atlantic team in 2019 following six years with Savills Studley’s Tenant only Commercial Advisory team as well six years representing Washington, DC landlords as part of CBRE’s agency team. Ms. Shaffer received a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech in 2003 and is co-chairperson of the school’s Real Estate Industry Advisory Board and a member of the Pamplin Advisory Committee where she advises undergraduate students on different careers in real estate and helps place students for summer internships. Ms. Shaffer speaks frequently at university sponsored conferences and board meetings focused on education and career preparation for new graduates entering the commercial real estate workforce. She is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Washington, DC., Virginia and Maryland.

Dee Singletary serves as Vice President of Marketing at Rappaport, where she leads the company’s marketing and public relations strategy and oversees the promotion of its corporate brand. She also manages a team responsible for marketing Rappaport’s portfolio of more than 76 shopping centers and ground-floor retail in approximately 115 mixed-use properties located primarily throughout the mid-Atlantic region. With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate marketing, Dee has worked at firms such as Peterson Companies and JBG Rosenfeld Retail (now JBG Smith). Her expertise spans strategic marketing, brand management, and portfolio marketing. Dee is actively involved in professional trade associations, serving as the Mid-Atlantic Program Advisory Chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). She has also held several leadership positions within the Northern Virginia Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), where she serves as President. Dee earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science in Marketing Management from the University of Maryland, University College.

As Principal and Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Washington, D.C. office, Kim leads teams of architects, designers, and planners in delivering outstanding results to clients across a spectrum of industries. The convergence of Kim’s design and business thinking provides a unique perspective and leadership style, and delivers outcomes that align a client’s vision, operations, and work environment. Kim’s portfolio spans decades of experience in the commercial, hospitality, and workplace sectors, providing a broad understanding of the distinctive business challenges facing multiple industries. Kim is a recent graduate of Leadership Greater Washington’s Signature Program Class of 2024 and a frequent panelist at industry events and conferences discussing the future of the workplace. She received her bachelor’s in interior design from Virginia Tech and her MBA from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business.

LaVonne is principal and owner of Torrence Law, a commercial real estate transaction focused law firm founded in 2009. LaVonne’s practice focuses on representing landlords in negotiating retail, office, and flex space leases. In addition, she has extensive experience representing regional tenants in negotiations with national developers and landlords and routinely represents investors and owner occupants in small parcel purchase and sale transactions. LaVonne is passionate about working with landlords and owners to protect real estate holdings and profits, and she finds it equally important to educate tenants on responsibilities associated with entering a commercial lease. To that end, LaVonne was a contributor on the ICSC Connect Virtual Business Series panel on Essential Site Selection Tips for Small Businesses, and she contributed to the Montgomery County, Maryland, Office of Legislative Oversight’s Memorandum Report 2024-9, which examines the legal landscape of commercial lease laws in Maryland. LaVonne volunteers on the Board of Directors of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. and chairs the Incentives Review Committee, and she also volunteers on the Executive Committee for Women in Retail Real Estate (WIRRE). In the 10 years prior to founding Torrence Law, LaVonne was on a team of lease negotiators for an international retail development and management company and an attorney at a mid-size commercial real estate law firm.

Julia Broder is a Senior Director at Convene, a global hospitality company that designs and manages meeting, event, and flexible workspace. She leads the team responsible for selling WorkPlace, Convene’s premium flex office solution that encompasses two offerings: private WorkSuites for teams of 10 or more, and Membership, which offers access to communal workspaces and is great for individuals or small teams. Based in Washington D.C., Julia manages sales for the local Convene Hamilton Square, oversees sales efforts across New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and is actively involved in pursuing expansion opportunities for the WorkPlace product. Under her leadership, occupancy for Convene WorkPlace has grown to exceed the industry standard. Prior to joining Convene, she supported a top brokerage team at Colliers in New York, and has also worked in Broadway producing. She recently moved back to her native Washington D.C. after living in New York City for 12 years.

Ella Cooper is a Vice President in JLL’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents law firms, professional service firms, and technology companies. She is a member of JLL’s Law Firm Group (“LFG”), which specializes in global portfolio representation of the AMLAW 100. Since 2010, the LFG has conducted over 300 lease transactions across six continents. Ella has been involved in a vast array of real estate advisory services for her clients, including headquarters relocations, new site selection, asset acquisitions and dispositions, multi-location consolidations and lease restructures. Additionally, Ella serves on the board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Washington, D.C. Chapter, and is a founding member of the WINNERS Lacrosse Junior Board.

Elizabeth Cossel, WELL AP, LFA, LEED Green Associate, is a highly skilled project manager at GCS-SIGAL, with over six years of experience in the construction industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and civil engineering from the Catholic University of America, and a master’s degree in real estate development with a concentration in finance from Georgetown University. At GCS-SIGAL, Elizabeth has led and contributed to over $158M of high-profile projects, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Headquarters in New Carrolton, The Terrell (Short Term Family Housing), and the recently completed Dorothy Height I. Elementary School Modernization and Expansion. Her work spans a range of impactful sectors where her ability to manage complex projects has consistently delivered successful results. Elizabeth's dedication to creating sustainable, community-centered spaces, combined with her technical expertise and leadership, continues to drive her influence within the real estate and construction industries.

Kristin Niver is Real Estate and Tax Credits Counsel at the law firm Thompson Coburn LLP. Kristin has spent her entire career focused on affordable housing and community development, both as a real estate and finance attorney and formerly as an urban planner with a specialization in affordable housing finance and policy. Kristin has a decade of legal experience representing banks, debt funds, investors, syndicators and CDEs, as well as borrowers, developers and owners, in all types of real estate development and financing transactions, with a specific focus on public-private partnerships and transactions utilizing LIHTC and New Markets Tax Credit syndications. Kristin holds a law degree from U.C.L.A. School of Law, where she was the Levine Distinguished Fellow in Affordable Housing with U.C.L.A.’s Ziman Center for Real Estate and a member of the Epstein Program in Public Interest Law & Policy. She also holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University where she focused on affordable housing policy and the housing choice voucher program. Kristin is admitted to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia, and she has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate in 2023 and 2024. Kristin is the chair of the Affordable Housing Committee for the American Bar Association, and a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Steering Committee of ULI Washington.

Harper is a retail leasing broker who specializes in landlord and tenant representation throughout the greater Washington, DC and Baltimore region. As a proud Baltimore native, Harper started her career with H&R Retail as an intern in 2019 after earning her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. With over five years of experience, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to execute for her clients, executing on over 100 transactions with a consideration of $247M. Harper oversees market strategies for retailers such as Visual Comfort & Co, TileBar and Tesla. She has also played a key role in some of the DMV’s most exciting development projects including Regency Centers Westbard Square, Kimco’s Kentlands Market Square, Tishman Speyer’s Crossing and Brookfield’s Halley Rise. Her expertise and strong merchandising strategies have been instrumental in the success of these projects. Harper is deeply committed to leadership and making a difference in the real estate industry. She was recently appointed chair of the Women of ChainLinks program, where she leads a national group of 200 women through networking events, quarterly calls, and motivational speaker sessions. She was also chosen as the DC broker for Kinetic, a network of dynamic young real estate professionals representing America's fastest-growing markets. In addition, Harper leads Green Group, a local retail broker organization that meets quarterly. She also volunteers with Mid-Atlantic ICSC, this year as part of the Retailer Runway committee and the prior year assisting with the Women’s networking panel. She is a member of the DC Real Estate Group and Pipeline DC, a women’s commercial real estate organization. For Harper, leadership and community involvement are not just part of her job—they're her passion.

VICTORIA WALLACE Victoria Wallace joins the interior design studio in the DC office bringing with her 16 years of experience in hospitality-focused and multi-family design and restaurants. She has a passion for creating unique, meaningful spaces that bring people together. She’s a thoughtful leader with keen attention to detail and a knack for collaborating with clients and consultants to create fully integrated and highly successful project results. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture, Victoria believes in a holistic approach to design that incorporates all aspects of the built environment, blending style and function seamlessly. Her design approach is based on the belief that every project has a character that is just waiting to be brought to life through the design process. Ever curious and a lifelong learner, she finds inspiration from nature, cultural traditions, historic precedent, and an astute awareness of design and market trends.

Sophie Van Pelt is a Retail Broker with Cushman & Wakefield’s Washington, D.C. office. She has cultivated a unique international background in retail tenant representation, food & beverage, and behavioral economics in Beijing, Hong Kong, and the US. Sophie worked in Asia from 2014-2020, spending four years in Beijing and two years in Hong Kong. While in Beijing, she joined local Chinese Retail Management firm, Red City Properties, to assist with retail leasing and operations for their 400,000-sf flagship project, The Sanlitun Topwin Center. While with Red City, she travelled throughout mainland China and South Korea to consult and execute strategic leasing functions for partner shopping mall operators. She used her food and beverage operational experience to drive leasing and functional development for several food markets and assisted with the retail leasing for Chongli Ski Resort, one of the host venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. While in Asia, Sophie used her experience and market knowledge to focus on introducing international brands to the Chinese market (and vice versa) through creative positioning, consulting, and real estate strategy. In 2020, Sophie moved to Washington D.C. with Streetsense, a global creative collective who specializes in place-making strategy and design. While in D.C., she became an active member of the ULI Mentorship Program which focuses on providing support for real estate professionals in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Sophie, a native New Jerseyan, currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. with her dogs, Behr and Luna.

Samantha Giunta joined BlackChamber Group as the Chief Financial Officer in October 2019 – a month prior to inception of its first private real estate fund. As a new fund manager to the market, BlackChamber has raised close to $1 billion in less than five years from well-respected institutional investors to capitalize the development of build-to-suit data center campuses in Northern Virginia that are wholly leased to the largest hyperscale cloud service providers. BlackChamber is a vertically integrated developer and SEC registered investment advisor with approximately $1.3 billion assets under management as of the end of 2023. In its short tenure, BlackChamber has acquired approximately 370 acres of Northern Virgina land with the capacity to develop approximately 9.2 million square feet of data centers. Prior to joining BlackChamber, she was the controller at ASB Real Estate Investments, a division of ASB Capital Management located in Bethesda, MD, an established real estate investment management firm with $8.1 billion in assets under management from over 340 private institutional clients. In that role, she was the controller of a core open-end fund, a separate account owned by a union affiliated pension fund, and a value-add, closed-end fund. Cumulatively, those vehicles owned 190 assets with 15.7 million rentable square feet across multiple product types – office, multifamily, retail, and industrial. Before transitioning into private equity, Ms. Giunta began her career as an external auditor at Deloitte. Ms. Giunta is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional (inactive) and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi.

Jeanette Ko joined JLL’s DC agency leasing team in 2021 with a focus on Landlord representation in the Washington, D.C. office market. Jeanette is currently involved in the marketing and leasing of approximately 19 million square feet of office space on behalf of third-party owners. Jeanette specializes in marketing and leasing to provide the highest level of service to clients who own and operate commercial buildings throughout the Washington D.C and Northern Virginia real estate market. Through her highly organized, results-driven approach, Jeanette has established a record of consistent and efficient marketing and leasing success. Experience Jeanette began her real estate career as a Brokerage Associate at Transwestern in 2011. Prior to joining JLL, Jeanette was a Director at Cushman & Wakefield’s Tysons Corner office.

After more than 28 years in the industry, Christine has never considered what she does as “work”. “I do my best to listen to my clients and then to strategically show them the best products to meet their needs for design, budget and timeline.” Her experience at Washington Workplace includes some interesting and eclectic jobs, including work on sets for the films GI Jane, and Contact, design work for the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, and the Marine Corp Museum. Christine spends her spare time with her four boys, husband, extended family, and friends rafting up at Dobbins Island, near her home in Pasadena, Maryland or skiing at Seven Springs.

Nadia O’Dea serves as the Senior Director of Corporate Real Estate at CoStar Group, where she leads the strategic planning and development of the company’s 750,000 square foot campus expansion in Richmond. In her role, she oversees leasing and construction management across the company’s extensive portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and operational efficiency. Since joining CoStar Group in 2005, she has managed 2 million square feet of space and has been instrumental in driving national expansion initiatives. Her recent accomplishments include the successful acquisition of significant properties such as 600 Tredegar Street, 501 S 5th Street, and 901 Semmes Ave. in Richmond, as well as collaboration on the acquisition of 1201 Wilson Blvd in Arlington, VA. With a background in retail leasing and construction management, Ms. Nadia also co-owned a disaster restoration company in Maryland, further enhancing her leadership and operational expertise. She holds a degree in Business from George Mason University.

Eglae Recchia is SVP, Chief Product Officer at Berkadia. In this role, Ms. Recchia is responsible for driving the strategy, vision, and experience of Berkadia’s internal and external-facing digital products. Ms. Recchia leads and oversees the product, design, and financial model teams, in addition to co-managing BeEngaged Powered by Berkadia, an accelerator program for startups that are destined to redefine the commercial real estate space. By leveraging her deep understanding of the commercial real estate industry and its technological landscape, Ms. Recchia has successfully guided the development and implementation of digital solutions that address the evolving needs of Berkadia’s clients and stakeholders. Ms. Recchia joined Berkadia from Goldman Sachs where she served as the Global Head of Digital Products for the Investment Banking Division. There, she led IBD digital products and strategic information. She was responsible for long-term digital functional roadmaps that brought efficiencies, automations, and growth to the global investment bank. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Ms. Recchia was at Freddie Mac, where she served as Chief Product Owner of Customer Management Tools, and led the restructuring, vision, strategic alignment, and execution of a unified customer engagement platform in Single Family. Ms. Recchia serves as a leader on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Steering Committee at Berkadia, ensuring that Berkadia continues to bring diversity of thought to everything Berkadia does. She’s passionate about building an environment where everyone feels safe and welcome to bring their whole self to work. Additionally, she’s part of the Educational Council for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she speaks regularly with prospective students to offer insights and advice. Ms. Recchia has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami, double majoring in Philosophy and Advertising. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. Ms. Recchia resides in Virginia with her husband, two kids, and two dogs. She loves sports and traveling.

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.

Karen Cherry joined Prologis in July of 2021, stepping into the Vice President, Leasing Officer role where she is responsible for leading the leasing efforts of a 12 million square foot portfolio in Maryland. Immediately prior to joining Prologis, she was the Vice President of Office Leasing for The Howard Hughes Corporation. Ms. Cherry has over 24 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, including brokerage positions with Cushman & Wakefield, Lee & Associates and Trammell Crow Company. In 2023, Ms. Cherry was inducted into the Circle of Excellence after being named to The Daily Record’s prestigious Top 100 Women in Maryland list for the third time. In 2021, The Daily Record named her as an Influential Marylander, and in 2020 The Daily Record recognized her in the Excellence in Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate Agent category. Ms. Cherry is a member of the NAIOP Board of Directors and Chair of the Membership Committee. Active in community service, Ms. Cherry was the first runner up for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2023 Visionary of the Year after raising more than $158,000 and now serves as Co-Chair of the Visionary of the Year committee. She also supports several local non-profit organizations including Blossoms of Hope and Camp Attaway. Ms. Cherry is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Howard County. She is a graduate of Elizabethtown College where she majored in Business Administration with a double concentration in Marketing and Management. She resides in Fulton, MD with her husband Stephen and their three children.

Yalda Ghamarian Howell is a Senior Director of Investment Sales in the DC Metro office and is a part of Berkadia Institutional Solutions for the Mid-Atlantic region. Since she joined Berkadia in June of 2022, Yalda has completed over $6 billion in investment sales encompassing approximately 20,000 units. She specializes in the marketing, underwriting, and execution of multifamily sales transactions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Previously, Yalda was the Senior Vice President of CBRE’s Multifamily Investment Sales. She assisted in the disposition of nearly 500 apartment communities with an aggregate value exceeding $25.8 billion. Yalda joined CBRE in September of 2012 as a part of the prestigious Wheel Program, a rotational program that allowed exposure to various service lines, which provided her with a unique perspective on integrated service offerings. Prior to CBRE, Yalda worked at Kettler Inc. where she focused on property management, marketing and development verticals. Yalda earned a B.S. in Management and Housing from Virginia Tech and a M.S. in Real Estate from John Hopkins University.

Kaitlyn Rausse serves as Carr Properties’ Senior Vice President of Leasing. She has over 15 years’ experience in the commercial real estate industry, primarily focused on the leasing and asset management of office buildings. She utilizes her comprehensive market knowledge and expertise to navigate, structure, and negotiate leasing transactions throughout a diverse portfolio. She is on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association (CREBA), where she is currently serving as President. She is an active member of various industry organizations including Northern Virginia NAIOP and CREW DC, as well as a 2013 graduate of the young professionals program, Leadership Arlington. Mrs. Rausse graduated with a B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and earned her M.S. in Real Estate Development and Infrastructure from the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University.

Abby is the co-founder of Pedal Retail Advisors, a disruptive commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm for mom-and-pops, startups, and indie businesses of all stripes. Founded in 2020, Pedal was founded on a refusal to accept the status quo of independent and start-up retailers getting chewed up and spit out by the commercial real estate system. Instead, Abby and her team are riveted by the belief that independent retailers deserve every advantage the big guys get. In order to create superior outcomes for Pedal Retailers, commercial real estate outsiders by definition, Abby and her team have had to innovate, creating two proprietary programs that supplement traditional brokerage with education, business plan consulting and coaching. Pedal also consults for existing retailers on highly consequential but non-transactional lease issues – an area where it had otherwise been difficult for retailers without in-house real estate expertise to solicit quality guidance. In addition, the company offers exit planning for established retailers and provides train-the-trainer resources to BIDs, Main Streets and other civic organizations that support retailers. Pedal offers brokerage services in DC, MD, VA and NC. Prior to founding Pedal with co-founder Sheila Laderberg Tarasiuk, Abby started her career with Lisa Stoddard at CBRE representing landlords and tenants of all sizes, including high-profile assignments such as Boston Properties' Reston Town Center. CBRE was an unparalleled place to start a career in retail leasing -- in addition to the strength and mentorship of her local team, Abby was involved in the powerful national network as well as the company's cutting-edge research and consumer analytics. In addition, Abby served as Director of Real Estate for local favorite Compass Coffee. Abby is a Wellesley, MA native (go Raiders!) and holds a BA from Georgetown University (Hoya Saxa!)

Amy oversees the property management of approximately 54 million square feet of industrial assets across the United States. In her role as Senior Director at The RMR Group, she directs a nationwide team of dedicated professionals, focused on providing operational excellence in property management and asset services, including evaluation of client/owner investment strategies. Amy has managed over 20 MSF of commercial properties in her 20 years of experience in property management, including working in third-party property management for JLL, Cushman Wakefield | Thalhimer, AECOM, and CBRE. Amy has been routinely recognized for high-quality leadership awards within her organizations, and is an active member of IREM, BOMA, CREW, ULI, and NAOIP. Furthermore, she collaborates closely with RMR’s Energy & Sustainability Team to support its pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This year, she led her colleagues in achieving BOMA 360 Performance Designations for 28 industrial properties, partnering with national tenants to advance their mutual environmental, social and governance goals. In addition, Amy is leading her Industrial Team in implementing RMR’s on-site solar energy strategy.

Nicole is a senior managing director in Savills Washington, DC, office, representing office tenants globally with a deep expertise in the Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland markets. Nicole specializes in solving the real estate needs of corporations, law firms, AEC firms, associations, nonprofit organizations and tech firms. To date, she has executed more than 5 million square feet of lease transactions for an impressive roster of prestigious clients including Hogan Lovells, The Bozzuto Group, Mitsubishi Electric, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the DC Bar, the American Hospital Association and the American Alliance of Museums. At Savills, Nicole offers her clients full-service commercial real estate services including lease, purchase, sale, and build-to-suit negotiations and analysis, as well as overall strategic planning. Her financial background and strong analytical skills are valuable for clients looking to integrate detailed financial analysis and forecasting into strategic real estate planning initiatives. In addition, as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), Nicole is able to assist her clients with making informed sustainable real estate decisions.

With over twelve years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Melissa is a passionate and driven leader who prides herself on building strong relationships, delivering exceptional service, and creating value for both tenants and owners. She has a proven track record of leasing over 1.5 million square feet of office and flex space, and successfully closing over 500 deals. In her last role as the Regional Director of Leasing at BECO Management, she oversaw the leasing and marketing strategy for their Maryland portfolio and several assets in Northern Virginia. In 2023 she was named Co-Star Power Broker for the Baltimore Markets in both Q1 and Q2. She also was an honoree for the DMV Bisnow Women Leaders in Real Estate under the Deal Maker of the year category. Melissa is a leader in the community, as she recently earned the title of The 2024 Maryland Visionary of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She was the top fundraiser for the Mid-Atlantic region by leading a team during the ten week fundraising competition. Her efforts raised $106K and supported two mission portfolios going to break through research. In 2025, she is co-chairing The Visionary of the Year campaign looking to grow and expand the reach of LLS. Melissa is very grateful for the long list of women mentors, colleagues, and friends who have advocated and supported her throughout her career and is passionate about utilizing her talents to create new opportunities for women and inspire them to use their own talents for impact. Melissa holds a BA from The University of South Carolina and earned her Master's from Georgetown's School of Professional Studies in Real Estate. Melissa would argue her most important role is being a mom and raising her two little girls, who are already effective negotiators.

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.

As a business strategist, author, and speaker, Jessica Miller is on a mission to rethink commercial real estate processes, redefine and realign how commercial real estate brokers are compensated and reimagine what is possible for clients. As the founder and CEO of Rock Spring Real Estate Solutions, Jessica works with organizations to reframe their commercial real estate portfolios, optimize inclusive workforces, and overcome workplace challenges by developing solutions with immediate impact. Jessica is a commercial real estate portfolio advisor with over 22 years at large public and private full service real estate firms, including most recently serving as Managing Director and East Coast DEI Advisory Program Regional Director at Cushman & Wakefield. She is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Virginia and Washington, DC and has leased over 10 million SF of commercial real estate leases and sales. Jessica is the co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating and has appeared as a guest in numerous media outlets including MSNBC’s Economy Watch, ABC NOW, CNN, CNN-FN, NPR, PBS and Bloomberg News. Her recent awards and accomplishments include: 2023 Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business 2023 BISNOW DMV CRE Female Innovator of the Year CoreNet Mid-Atlantic 2022 Partner of the Year Master of Science Degree in Real Estate and Development from Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Finance through the Honors Program at Virginia Tech Past East Coast Regional Director of Cushman & Wakefield’s DE&I Advisory Board Past National Chairperson of the Women’s Brokerage Initiatives Committee C&W WIN Women Who Inspire 2022 CREI Top 100 LinkedIn Influencer 2020-2023 CHIEF Executive Member, CHIEF’s mission is to elevate women in business 

Ms. Salerno is a Managing Director responsible for global capital raising at Artemis. Ms. Salerno has 10 years of investment management experience building and strengthening relationships with institutional as well as high net worth investors and consultants. Ms. Salerno joined Artemis in September 2013 and is based in metropolitan Washington, DC. Prior to joining Artemis, Ms. Salerno worked at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC and the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy. Ms. Salerno holds a BS in Political Science from Clemson University and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Ms. Salerno sits on the International Affinity Group of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and participates in the following associations where Artemis holds membership: Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), International Real Estate Inc. (IREI), Asian Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles (ANREV), and the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles (INREV).

Stacy Plotkin Silber is a land use attorney who helps residential and commercial developers, national retailers, senior and affordable housing providers, and property owners navigate zoning approvals in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. One client refers to her as “Madame Ambassador” because of her firm but respectful way of advocating for her clients and building coalitions. Stacy focuses on urban redevelopment near transit, and she helps developers with residential, mixed-use, office, and retail projects. In addition, she secures approvals for her clients seeking to build or expand on existing or redeveloped sites. Stacy is passionate about expanding affordable housing in the Region. She is engaged in representing clients to that end, while also serving as prior Board Chair of an affordable housing developer. She has been an adjunct professor for more than 20 years at The George Washington University Law School where she teaches a land use course. Stacy is involved in many pro-bono and professional associations, including serving on the Board of Directors for NAIOP DC/MD (where she is Chair of the Advocacy and Leadership Committees). She currently serves as a juror for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing’s Annual Housing Awards and as a Trustee for the National Center for Children and Families. Prior to joining Lerch Early, Stacy was a partner at an international law firm.