DMV Women Leading Real Estate Awards & Happy Hour

Amy Marsden holds the position of Senior Area Director for Industrial Asset Services at The RMR Group, (NASDAQ: RMR). She is responsible for overseeing approximately 54 million square feet of industrial properties throughout the United States. In her capacity, Amy leads a team of professionals committed to ensuring operational excellence in the realm of property and asset management. This includes strategizing to meet client investment goals. With two decades of experience, she has managed upwards of 20 million square feet of commercial properties, and her career spans roles at prominent firms such as JLL, Cushman Wakefield | Thalhimer, AECOM, and CBRE. Recognized for her leadership excellence, Amy also actively contributes to industry organizations such as IREM, BOMA, CREW, ULI, and NAIOP.

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!)

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.

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 eleven years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Melissa is a passionate and driven leader who strives to create value for both tenants and owners. She has a proven track record of leasing over 1.2 million square feet of office space, and successfully closing over 460 deals. This year, she was named Co-Star Power Broker for the Baltimore Markets in both Q1 and Q2. Melissa has closed over 70K RSF of new deals at BECO Towers in Owings Mills, in a market that has a commercial vacancy rate of 27%. As the Regional Director of Leasing at BECO Management, she oversees the leasing and marketing strategy for the Maryland portfolio and several assets in Northern Virginia. She is committed to delivering exceptional service, fostering long-term relationships, and enhancing the BECO brand in the market. 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 is also a leader in the community, as a newly inducted board member for the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce and a candidate for the 2024 Maryland Visionaries of the Year campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Melissa would argue her most important role is being a mom and raising her two little girls, who are already effective negotiators.

Ms. Salerno is a Senior Vice President 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.