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Speakers and Panels

Annie Atkinson

Annie Atkinson

VP

Reger Holdings

Dianne Bangle

Dianne Bangle

CEO

Real Estate Council of Austin

Lauren Brunner

Lauren Brunner

Founder & CEO

The Retail Strategy

Michelle Vandermeulen

Michelle Vandermeulen

Director of Commerical Interiors

S. Tipton Studio

Sania Shifferd

Sania Shifferd

Associate Principal

Arcadis

Nkiru Gelles

Nkiru Gelles

Principal

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Susan Davenport

Susan Davenport

President & CEO

Opportunity Austin

America Alva

America Alva

Associate Principal, Senior Sustainability Specialist

Page

Gayle Berkbigler

Gayle Berkbigler

Founder

eXp Commercial

Megan Frey

Megan Frey

Principal

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Reagan Wood

Reagan Wood

Founder & President

Land Dev Brokerage

Sullivan Johnston

Sullivan Johnston

SVP

Avison Young

Alison Barnwell

Alison Barnwell

SVP

SRS Real Estate Partners

Caroline King

Caroline King

VP

CBRE

Sabrina Butler

Sabrina Butler

Chief Real Estate Development Officer

Foundation Communities

Emily Mahoney

Emily Mahoney

Associate Principal

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Rachel Becker

Rachel Becker

Senior Associate

Transwestern

Dianne Bangle

CEO

Real Estate Council of Austin

Dianne Bangle is responsible for developing and executing RECA’s overall strategy and managing its day-to-day operations. As CEO, she forges alliances, establishes and maintains relationships with government officials and civic leaders, and ensures that RECA is involved in decisions surrounding Austin’s growth. Dianne Bangle oversees the administration of the organization, including its annual budget and goals. Bangle was selected to lead RECA in April 2017.

Prior to taking the reins at RECA, Bangle served as the Executive Director of Development at the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business, where she served as a key member of the Dean’s development staff, managed a team of major gift and annual giving officers, created donor and stewardship strategy and led capital campaigns and major projects. Prior to that, Bangle served for 12 years as the Executive Director of Shoes for Austin, a startup and incentive-based nonprofit organization that provided new athletic shoes to tens of thousands of deserving children at more than 40 social services agencies around Central Texas.

Born and raised in Seattle, Dianne has lived in Austin for more than 20 years. She's also a licensed attorney in both Texas and Colorado and holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington.

Lauren Brunner

Founder & CEO

The Retail Strategy

Lauren is the driving force behind The Retail Strategy, serving as its Principal Broker, CEO, and Founder since its inception in 2009. With nearly two decades of experience in retail real estate expansion, she has established herself as a trusted advisor dedicated to helping clients exceed their expansion goals. In this time, Lauren has consulted on retail expansion and site selection in every major market, as well as most of the secondary markets across the country.

Michelle Vandermeulen

Director of Commerical Interiors

S. Tipton Studio

Michelle is a native Austinite and earned her B.S. in Interior Design from Texas State University. With 20+ years of experience spanning LA, Dallas, and Austin, she’s led complex projects across Commercial, Hospitality, and Healthcare design. Michelle is known for her exceptional ability to handle complex projects, ensuring every detail meets the client’s needs and expectations. When she’s not deep in the design world, you’ll find her with family and friends and enjoying the best of Austin’s vibrant scene.

Nkiru Gelles

Principal

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Nkiru strives to promote dynamic, equitable, and sustainable public spaces with thoughtfully curated programmatic mixes, inclusive of functioning and convenient public utility, that foster positive social interaction and encourage local economic productivity necessary for thriving communities.

Nkiru grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and has been interested in the public space of cities ever since. She received her B.Arch from University College London's Bartlett School of Architecture and her M.Arch with honors from Rice University, with awards for outstanding student design work. Having lived and worked in Africa (Julies Berger), Europe (Hawkins\Brown London), Asia (10 Design), and the Americas (Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Michael Hsu Office of Architecture), Nkiru has an extensive international portfolio of work centered on the design of institutional, civic, and public spaces.

Nkiru is the current secretary for AIA Austin, served as chair of the Women in Architecture committee, and writes for Texas Architect magazine.

Susan Davenport

President & CEO

Opportunity Austin

Susan Davenport has more than 20 years of experience in economic development leadership across Texas. Her previous roles include serving as president and CEO of the Greater Brazos Partnership, chief economic development officer of the Greater Houston partnership and over a decade with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Her work has resulted in recruiting high-impact companies, strengthening workforce pipelines and building regional strategies that support long-term growth.

Her leadership spans key industries including semiconductors, aerospace & defense and life sciences, and she’s known for her ability to unite public and private sector leaders around shared goals.

America Alva

Associate Principal, Senior Sustainability Specialist

Page

America is a passionate advocate for sustainable design, shaping spaces that balance beauty, function, and environmental responsibility. Since her early work in green homebuilding, she has brought a thoughtful, client-centered approach to every project. Her expertise spans architecture, interior design, space planning, and sustainability certification, with standout roles on the Austin Energy Headquarters, Indeed Tower, and One Uptown. America stays immersed in industry shifts, always pushing for sustainability goals one elegant, efficient design at a time.

Gayle Berkbigler

Founder

eXp Commercial

A real estate maven, Gayle understands the market; through her CCIM designation, she provides a powerful set of analysis tools for investing, leasing, purchasing, or selling Commercial Real Estate. She has been delivering results at the highest level to clients, companies, and investors for more than 25 years; receiving numerous top producer awards in both real estate, sales, marketing, and the home building industry. Her extensive knowledge and experience of real estate combined with her savvy negotiation skills (acquired as an oil and gas trader/marketer) and results have driven her to be at the top of her industry. Her passion has allowed her to stay there.

Megan Frey

Principal

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Megan is responsible for leading the acquisition, entitlement, development, and sale of various retail, mixed-use, and multifamily projects for Endeavor.

Reagan Wood

Founder & President

Land Dev Brokerage

Reagan Wood, founder and president of Land Dev Brokerage in Central Texas, has established herself as a dynamic force in commercial real estate. As a former civil engineer, she brings a distinctive technical approach to land sales for development, a service that fills a vital gap in the market. Her exceptional expertise has proven invaluable, consistently saving clients from substantial losses, ranging from $500,000 to over $2,000,000 per transaction. Losses saved alone routinely pay for her commission – often many times over.

Reagan consistently delivers optimal sales prices for sellers. During the current ‘market correction,’ her sales results have matched or exceeded sales prices from the peak of the prior market cycle, which was historic for Texas. Further, no deals under contract were successfully “retraded” (buyers asking for price reductions or new terms once under contract), despite buyers attempting retrades on every sale. Her technical and market knowledge have made these outcomes possible. Separately, Reagan also represents discerning buyers who need results every time.

Reagan was inducted by her peers into the Austin Commercial Real Estate Society (ACRES), an organization comprised of the top 90 commercial real estate brokers in the 5-County Austin Metropolitan Area. (Put differently, the 99.7th percentile of the more than 27,000 real estate practitioners in the Austin Metro.)

Sullivan Johnston

SVP

Avison Young

Sullivan Johnston joined Avison Young in 2016 and is a founding member of the firm’s Land, Development, and Industrial Advisory (LDI) team. She specializes in representing a diverse range of investors, developers, owners, and corporate users in the acquisition, disposition, and strategic positioning of commercial assets and development projects across Texas and the U.S.

With a background in research, marketing, and analysis, Sullivan brings a data-driven approach and hands-on expertise to every stage of the transaction process. Her ability to align real estate solutions with her clients’ objectives has earned the trust of both institutional and private stakeholders.

While based in Austin, Sullivan maintains an active practice regionally and nationally. She and the LDI team are widely recognized for their expertise in land and development markets, with insights frequently featured in leading publications and industry news sources. Their deep understanding of development trends, market fundamentals, and capital flows positions them as trusted advisors in a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape.

Alison Barnwell

SVP

SRS Real Estate Partners

Alison Barnwell is a Senior Vice President at SRS Real Estate Partners in Austin, TX. With more than 19 years of brokerage experience in the Austin market, Alison has executed over 500 retail lease and sale transactions totaling approximately 4 million square feet. Specializing in tenant representation, retail leasing, land, pad site, and investment sales, Alison has built strong relationships in the brokerage and development community, enabling her to successfully execute transactions on behalf of her clients. Alison has handled the central Texas expansion programs for several national, regional, and local retailers including Bank of America, BB&T, BBVA Compass, General Nutrition Centers, Papa John's Pizza, Skechers, Sprint, and Urban Mattress. In addition, she has worked on numerous project leasing assignments in and around the Austin area. Her client list includes H-E-B Grocery Company, RREEF Management Company, Trammell Crow Company, Catellus Development Group, Christopher Commercial Investments, TIAA-CREF, Live Oak Gottesman, and Crow Family Holdings. Alison's thorough knowledge of the Austin market and transaction process enables her clients to entrust her with strategic consulting and brokerage services.

Caroline King

VP

CBRE

Caroline King is a Vice President with CBRE’s Office Occupier Advisory & Transaction Services, specializing in strategic real estate consulting and brokerage services in Austin and around the globe. As a member of the Office Occupier team, Caroline excels in advising companies on real estate portfolios and strategies, navigating complex transactions and advocating for her clients’ unique needs. She has a proven track record of negotiating transactions that align with clients’ functional, operational and fiscal goals. Caroline focuses on both Austin’s thriving startup community and established companies seeking to optimize their office space.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Caroline prides herself on being a mother, wife, avid traveler and a Texas Longhorn.

Emily Mahoney

Associate Principal

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Emily Mahoney has more than a decade of experience in site/civil engineering and land development, with a focus on sustainable design. She provides strategic oversight from early due diligence through permitting, design, and construction in a wide variety of markets, including data centers, industrial, commercial, residential, and healthcare.

Mahoney leads complex efforts related to floodplain development, stream restoration, and scour protection throughout the U.S. and internationally. She works closely with regulators and project teams to navigate permitting within sensitive waterways and flood hazard areas to confirm that projects are both compliant and environmentally responsible.

Rachel Becker

Senior Associate

Transwestern

Rachel joined Transwestern in 2022 and serves as an Associate within the firm’s Healthcare Advisory Services group. Based in Central Texas, she focuses on agency leasing for medical office and healthcare properties, while also advising local and national healthcare providers on tenant representation strategies. Rachel delivers customized real estate solutions to healthcare and life science users, developers and institutional investors, aligning their real estate needs with their long-term business objectives. Her clients include Healthcare Realty Trust, Stockdale Capital Partners, Welltower, and OGH.

Prior to joining Transwestern, Rachel served as an Analyst for Rubicon Representation, a Dallas-based commercial real estate firm, where she supported local, regional and national investment clients by providing market analysis and client relations. She also gained brokerage experience through an internship at JLL.

2024 WOMEN LEADING REAL ESTATE HONOREES

Alexandra Crawley

Alexandra Crawley

Counsel and Business Development Director

KDW

Anne Swift

Anne Swift

Principal

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Bethany Perez

Bethany Perez

Managing Director

JLL

Candiss Escobar

Candiss Escobar

Managing Director

Greystar

Carlotta McLean

Carlotta McLean

Principal

Peregrine Land Investments

Cathy Nabours

Cathy Nabours

Managing Principal

SRS Real Estate Partners

Charmane Sellers

Charmane Sellers

CEO

ALEON Properties

Jenell Moffett

Jenell Moffett

Chief Impact Officer

Downtown Austin Alliance

Jennifer Jarl McCombs

Jennifer Jarl McCombs

Partner, Director of Interiors

Urban Foundry Architecture

Jennifer Seay

Jennifer Seay

Founder & CEO

Art + Artisans

Jenny Whittemore

Jenny Whittemore

Chief Operating Officer

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Jodie Huynh, CCIM

Jodie Huynh, CCIM

Principal and Commercial Real Estate Broker

Emerald RE Partners

Jolsna Thomas

Jolsna Thomas

President-Elect

NAWIC Austin

Julia Taylor

Julia Taylor

Executive Vice President

Moore & Associates, Inc.

Julie Roberts

Julie Roberts

Principal, Owner

Thrive Interior Design

Kasi Moeskau

Kasi Moeskau

Chief Legal Officer

RPM Living

Kelli Carhart

Kelli Carhart

Executive Managing Director

CBRE

Kelsey Erwin

Kelsey Erwin

Founder & Principal

Key Project Solutions

Kendall King

Kendall King

Managing Director

HPI Tenant Advisors

Kendall Pretzer

Kendall Pretzer

Chief Executive Officer

Grace Hill

Nena Martin

Nena Martin

Principal & Interior Design Leader

DLR Group

Rhonda Jaquez

Rhonda Jaquez

Partner, Director Of Property Management

Live Oak

Shawna Sieck

Shawna Sieck

President

Legacy Lighting

Shirley Vega

Shirley Vega

Principal & VP

Pearlstone Partners

Susanne Harrington

Susanne Harrington

Principal

Asterisk Design

Taylor Green

Taylor Green

Senior Strategic Marketing Director, West Region

Stream

Tricia Voelkel

Tricia Voelkel

Managing Director

Stonelake Capital Partners

Vanessa Rabe

Vanessa Rabe

Principal, Austin Practice Leader

HOK

Whitney Williamson

Whitney Williamson

Vice President, Market Officer

Prologis

Anne Swift

Principal

Endeavor Real Estate Group

During a career that began in 2005, Anne has completed hundreds of transactions for some of the industry’s most respected institutional owners, including Clarion Partners, Lionstone, TA Associates, UBS, Shorenstein, Westmount Realty, TIER Reit, and Principal Financial Group. She is regularly recognized as a “Commercial Real Estate Heavy Hitter” by the Austin Business Journal.

Prior to joining Endeavor in 2015, Anne was a Vice President of Office Leasing at Austin-based Live Oak Gottesman.

Bethany Perez

Managing Director

JLL

Bethany is an Managing Director of Agency Leasing based in Austin, Texas. Bethany is responsible for developing landlord relationships, leasing and marketing office properties, as well as bringing in new business to the firm.

Bethany has 15 years of commercial real estate experience. She joined JLL from Aquila Commercial, where she served as Principal and was responsible for office leasing. Bethany was one of Aquila Commercial’s Top 10 Producers numerous times during her ten years with the company. Her primary responsibilities included bringing in new business, developing landlord relationships, leasing and marketing properties, as well as obtaining the most favorable terms for the landlord. She acted as the main point of contact for her clients, managing all interactions between parties.

Bethany represented over 3.7 million square feet of existing office space and planned developments in the Austin market, and completed 44 transactions totaling 347,783 square feet from 2020-2021. Bethany was one of the top three producers in 2020 and helped spearhead the shift to wellness-focused property marketing campaigns for many of her properties.

Bethany has an insider’s perspective from her experience working at a development and construction firm and serving on the Board of Directors for the Associated Builders and Contractors. She understands what makes a project viable and what it takes for a project to come to fruition.

Bethany earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Texas A&M University and graduated magna cum laude.

In 2015 Bethany was named a Globe Street, Southwest Woman of Influence and was named the #1 Heavy Hitter for Office Landlord Representation by the Austin Business Journal (ABJ). In 2020 she was recognized as a CoStar Power Broker and was a finalist for ABJ’s 2020 Profiles in Power.

Bethany is currently involved with Commercial Brokers Association of Austin (CBA) and Urban Land Institute of Austin (ULI).

Candiss Escobar

Managing Director

Greystar

Candiss Escobar is a managing director of real estate for Greystar in Austin] , Texas. Active in

the multifamily industry since 1985, she joined Greystar in 2008. Candiss oversees 75 properties which equates to 23,00 units in the Austin Market.

Her knowledge spans a variety of multifamily asset types and investment strategies, including full rehabs, repositioning communities, lease ups, new construction,

mid-rise, high-rise, and mixed-use. Candiss has expertise in several markets across the country and

specializes in assessing underperforming assets and executing improvement strategies while providing

world-class customer service for the residents and clients. She has extensive knowledge working with all

types of clients ranging from institutional owners, REIT structures, private equity, and small ownerships.

She also holds the Institute of Real Estate Management CPM® designation, as well as the CAM and CAPS

designations from the National Apartment Association. Candiss has served as a board member of the

Austin Apartment Association, and as a member of Commercial Real Estate Women. She received the

Austin Greystar Regional Property Manager of the Year award, and was awarded Austin Apartment

Association Property Supervisor of the Year as well.

Carlotta McLean

Principal

Peregrine Land Investments

Carlotta is a fifth (5th)-generation Austinite who began her land brokerage career in 1994. Her background spans a range of land transactions including residential, commercial, ranch and investment properties. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Carlotta is active in the community serving as past president of Austin Commercial Real Estate Society and on the board of the Colorado River Land Trust; she has also provided board service to Robinson Family Management, Hill Country Conservancy and the Real Estate Council of Austin. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Texas Alliance of Land Brokers, the Real Estate Council of Austin, and the Austin Board of Realtors. Carlotta’s husband, Bill McLean, is a land-use attorney. They have two sons, William and John Henry

Cathy Nabours

Managing Principal

SRS Real Estate Partners

Cathy Nabours joined SRS in 2021 as managing principal for South Central Investment Properties in the Austin office, focusing on multi-tenant investment properties in Central Texas.

Cathy has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Most recently she was with JLL via the acquisition of HFF, where she had been for five years prior. Deemed one of the most prominent real estate investment brokers in Austin, she spent 16 years with CBRE as part of the Private Capital Group where she secured financing for buyers and introduced relationships among investment groups. She has represented several prominent clients such as Baceline Investments, Braun Enterprises, Cencor, Cielo, Crow Holdings, Ironwood Real Estate, Kimco, The Kor Group, Mark IV Capital Company, Moore & Associates, NAI Investment Group, OakPoint Real Estate, SteelWave, Stratus Properties, and Stonelake.

Cathy is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of ICSC and the Urban Land Institute and served on the Board of Directors for The Real Estate Council of Austin for three years. Cathy is a founding member of The Fifty at Dell Seton Medical Center, a philanthropic and educational group advancing the future of healthcare in Central Texas via support for Dell Seton Medical Center at UT. She was recognized by Fortune & Forbes Magazine as Austin’s Amazing Women Doing Amazing Things in October 2021.

Jenell Moffett

Chief Impact Officer

Downtown Austin Alliance

Jenell Moffett is the Chief Impact Officer for the Downtown Austin Alliance. She implements tactical solutions, driving and supporting the design, development, and progression of strategic initiatives for downtown Austin; by way of communication, research, storytelling, benchmarking effective practices, and leadership. Ultimately to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and prosperity for all – in downtown, Austin.

For more than 7 years, Jenell has amplified downtown Austin’s economic, demographic, and social contexts through research, effective communication, and value-driven initiatives. She volunteers on several non-profit boards and serves as a spokesperson for various events, conferences, and panels.

Prior to her work with the Downtown Alliance, Jenell worked for the City of Austin for over 10 years. During her time there, she worked as an Engineering Associate with Austin Water Utility and a Senior Business Systems Analyst with the Office of Sustainability.

Jenell has her bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Texas at Austin, master’s in business administration from Concordia University Texas-Austin, and certification in Equitable Community Change from Cornell University.

Jenell is married to Harry; and they have four children: Genesis, Zion, Trinity, and Champion. Her favorite things to do downtown are attending a performance at Moody Center or Waterloo Greenway Amphitheatre, going to Austin Central Library, or enjoying a staycation at a downtown hotel.

Jennifer Jarl McCombs

Partner, Director of Interiors

Urban Foundry Architecture

Jennifer Jarl McCombs RID, LEED AP, TAID, IIDA is a Partner and Director of

Interiors at Urban Foundry Architecture, LLC and President of Urban Public, LLC. She

earned her degree in Interior Design from Texas State University and has 24 years of

professional experience including developing the UFA interiors studio since joining in

2013.

Jennifer believes that beauty lies in optimal function. She values the editing process as

one of the most valuable design tools. She finds her greatest source of inspiration in the

distinct objectives the client brings to the table for each project.

Urban Foundry Architecture is dedicated to our mission to make the world a better

place through great design in urban places. Our three dedicated studios –

Commercial, Multifamily, and Interiors – maintain an urban focus and work

collaboratively day-in and day-out with the philosophy of giving talented, creative people

the freedom to do what they do well.

Urban Public is UFA’s sister company that pursues similar architecture and interiors

work in the public sector. Urban Public has a symbiotic mission to make the world a

better place through great design in public places.

Jennifer is 2024’s CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Austin’s President-elect

after serving 7 years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She also

serves on CREW Network’s Multifamily Council which engages with peers at the global

level within the multifamily asset class. Jennifer is an advocate and proud member of

Texas Association for Interior Design (TAID) and International Interior Design

Association (IIDA).

Jennifer and her UFA team were the 2023 recipients of IIDA’s TX/OK TOP Design

Excellence Award for Public Services/Assembly for their ERCOT Corporate

Headquarters and Conferencing Center project. In 2023 she also received CREW

Austin’s Member to Member Award.

She is a fifth generation Austinite and

Jennifer Seay

Founder & CEO

Art + Artisans

Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of Art + Artisans. She has helped clients create meaningful, impactful spaces for the past 22 years. Jennifer is passionate about helping her clients succeed and showing them how art can be part of the strategy to achieve their vision and attract their ideal market. She believes that art creates spaces with unique identities that people love and want to visit again and again, bringing countless positive experiences that inspire and build community. Jennifer views her primary role today as Chief Relationship Builder both with clients and within her team. Jennifer has built a culture at A+A deeply rooted in delivering excellence in both client service and quality of work delivered. Developing and nurturing trust with clients, team members, artists and vendors is what has enabled Art + Artisans’ success for 22 years. Jennifer has led many large commercial projects across the country with clients who understand the importance integrating art to tell a story, convey their brand, build community, and engage people.

Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and has lived in Austin for over 30 years. She has served on the Executive Board of CREW Austin and as a Guardian Angel for the Center for Child Protection. In 2018, she was a nominee for the Austin Business Journal's Profiles in Power, a finalist for the Austin Business Journal's CEO of the Year in 2019, and a Bisnow honoree for Women Leading Austin Real Estate in 2024.

Jodie Huynh, CCIM

Principal and Commercial Real Estate Broker

Emerald RE Partners

A powerhouse commercial real estate broker who has been building meaningful relationships with clients in Austin for over a decade! She’s the go-to person for businesses looking to expand their operations and grow their wealth. Whether you’re in retail, medical, manufacturing, or restaurants, Jodie is here to help.

With over 20 years of experience in Asian business management before settling down in Austin, Jodie has a unique perspective that makes her stand out in the industry. She’s passionate about building strong relationships in the communities where she lives and works, and she’s excited about the growth that Austin has seen over the last decade.Jodie works tirelessly with her clients to help them expand to multiple locations, and ultimately purchase the buildings for their businesses. Her commercial real estate portfolio is impressive, and includes restaurant expansions, medical and professional office spaces, commercial manufacturers in warehouse investment, leasing, and distribution, and retail operations such as salons and spas.

But Jodie’s impact on the community extends far beyond her work in commercial real estate. She’s a dedicated volunteer who worked with at-risk youth, and she was the Small Business Manager of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce and still remains as active member, where she provides resources to small and medium businesses grow and thrive. Jodie is a commercial real estate broker in Texas, and she’s also heavily involved with the local chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) organization, where she got her CCIM Designation in 2021. In 2022, she started as a sponsorship chair, and in 2023, she became the board of director and power partner chair. Currently Jodie is the Treasurer for The CCIM Institute’s Central Texas Chapter for this year.

When Jodie isn’t working, she’s spending time with her husband, dogs, and investing in the Austin community where she lives. Her passion for building relationships, helping businesses grow, and making a positive impact on the community make Jodie a truly unique and inspiring person. Get in touch with her today and see how she can help take your business to the next level!

Julie Roberts

Principal, Owner

Thrive Interior Design

Julie Roberts is the Owner and Principal of Thrive Interior Design, she brings 15+ years of

diverse Interior Design expertise in Multi-Family, Commercial and High-End Residential

Design. Julie holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Baylor University and is a

registered interior designer. Julie and her team take pride in approaching every project

uniquely by first listening and understanding the needs of the project and then creating

designs that expand and enhance the visions of our clients. When not in the office Julie

is busy with her husband and 3 young children.

Kelli Carhart

Executive Managing Director

CBRE

Kelli leads CBRE’s multifamily platform nationally that combines investment sales, financing and investment banking services into a single, fully integrated service delivering advisory solutions. As the Executive Managing Director, she focuses on the national multifamily growth strategy alongside a team of five regional leaders. Ms. Carhart has more than 20 years of multifamily experience. CBRE was the intermediary for more than $95 billion in multifamily engagements in the U.S. last year and has been the number one firm for investment sales activity in the sector since 2001.

Ms. Carhart joined CBRE in January 2021 and was most recently Head of Multifamily Debt Production. Prior to joining the firm, she spent 17 years at Freddie Mac where she served as Vice President of Multifamily Production and Sales, overseeing over $30 billion of annual volume across 26 states. She was instrumental in establishing relationships, building the brand and building culture in a time of tremendous growth at Freddie Mac.

Kelli holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Real Estate & Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is based in Austin, Texas.

Kendall Pretzer

Chief Executive Officer

Grace Hill

Kendall Pretzer is the Chief Executive Officer at Grace Hill. Kendall joined the team in 2018 after Grace Hill purchased her company, The Strategic Solution, joining policies and procedures with training. Prior to being appointed Grace Hill’s CEO in May 2021, Kendall served as Chief Operating Officer overseeing Account Management, Customer Success, and People Success.

Kendall has worked in both multifamily and commercial real estate for over 30 years and was recently named a GlobeSt. Woman of Influence and a Top 25 Woman Leader by Calibre One. She has worked with Trammell Crow Residential, Gables Residential, R&B Commercial Management, and Security Capital/Archstone companies serving in many roles: vice president of training and marketing, senior regional manager, financial analyst, project manager and assistant director of business development. She holds a BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University and is a 2015 NAA Lyceum graduate. She’s an avid tennis and pickleball player, has been married to her husband Fred for 33 years, and has two children, Allison and Ben.

Nena Martin

Principal & Interior Design Leader

DLR Group

As an Interior Design Leader at DLR Group, Nena Martin guides teams and collaborates with clients by creating transformative spaces through our integrated design process. By aligning with clients, she works hand-in-hand to deliver environments that are shaped by their policies, work patterns, and culture. Her passion for design goes beyond planning and aesthetics; she strives to make a positive impact on society, fostering sustainability and promoting holistic wellbeing.

Rhonda Jaquez

Partner, Director Of Property Management

Live Oak

Rhonda Jaquez, CPM®, serves as Partner, Director of Property Managment for the Austin and San Antonio offices of Live Oak. Rhonda oversees a staff of 25 property managers and maintenance personnel responsible for day-to-day operations for 140+ industrial, office, and retail properties totaling more than 8 million square feet. Rhonda is also responsible for administration and implementation of new business operations, development, and construction management for the division.

Rhonda began her career in commercial real estate with Trammell Crow Company in 1985, where she served as Vice President of Asset Services. During her 22-year tenure with Trammell Crow Company, Rhonda was involved in all aspects of commercial property management, facility management, construction management, and leasing. In 2007, shortly after the acquisition of Trammell Crow Company by CB Richard Ellis, Rhonda and her property management team, along with the industrial leasing team, merged with Live Oak Development and The Gottesman Company to form Live Oak-Gottesman.

Shirley Vega

Principal & VP

Pearlstone Partners

With nearly two decades of experience in commercial real estate, Shirley Vega has established herself as a leader in the field. Starting her career at Lee Properties in 2000, she honed her skills in property management before transitioning to residential construction as Operations Manager at Lee Construction. Her adept management of design, construction, and sales teams led to the successful completion of numerous projects in the Austin Area. Joining Lee Development & Construction in 2010, Shirley continued to excel, overseeing diverse projects ranging from mixed-use developments to residential endeavors. In 2018, she assumed the role of Vice President of Operations at Pearlstone Partners, where her talent and experience drive the seamless execution of projects. Promoted to Principal in 2022, Shirley remains dedicated to excellence while balancing her career with her roles as a mother and wife. Her commitment to excellence and expertise make her a standout figure in commercial real estate.

Taylor Green

Senior Strategic Marketing Director, West Region

Stream

Taylor Green serves as Stream’s Senior Strategic Marketing Director for the West Region markets, including Austin, Denver, Phoenix, and Southern California, while also working closely with Stream’s Investment Management platform in the positioning of assets. In this capacity, Taylor is tasked with implementing marketing initiatives that further the company’s brand identity and reach and elevates its marketing offering. She works diligently with marketing teams across various cities, providing guidance and education on effective processes to enhance Stream’s market presence.

With 17 years of industry experience, Taylor has cultivated her expertise in developing and executing innovative marketing strategies that not only amplify brand awareness, but also contribute to bottom-line growth. She has leveraged her profound understanding of commercial real estate dynamics to tailor initiatives that resonate with target audiences including institutional clients and prospects, brokerage firms, and end-users alike, yielding tangible results. Having exponential success in driving the growth of Stream Austin and its marketing operation, her overarching aim in her regional leadership role is to inspire and engage markets within Stream’ to adopt similarly impactful marketing operation strategies.

Taylor has been involved in significant projects such as RiverSouth, a 350,000 square foot office development in South Austin, which achieved a 98% occupancy rate within 18 months of completion. Currently, she is engaged in planning the revitalization of Old 6th, a project encompassing 31 parcels along historic 6th Street in Austin. In addition, Taylor has consulted for ABR Capital Partners in Baltimore, and Brandywine Realty Trust, and Peloton Commercial Real Estate in Austin.

Consistently demonstrating her ability to effect positive change and drive business growth through integrated marketing initiatives, she has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and change agent in the industry.

Tricia Voelkel

Managing Director

Stonelake Capital Partners

Tricia Voelkel is a Managing Director for Stonelake Capital Partners where she oversees property management and property accounting.

Ms. Voelkel joined Stonelake in 2013 with over 20 years’ experience in commercial property management accounting. Prior to joining Stonelake, Ms. Voelkel spent 19 years with two property development and management companies, one of which managed over 2.5 million square feet of office and industrial properties. During her tenure there, Ms. Voelkel was responsible for all aspects of accounting and financial reporting.

Vanessa Rabe

Principal, Austin Practice Leader

HOK

As a registered architect and interior designer, Vanessa is a leader in both disciplines and understands the intricacies of developing flexible, collaborative, state-of-the-art facilities for higher education clients. Over the past 19 years, Vanessa has managed multiple $100M+ projects, including several projects partnered with design architects, bringing lessons learned from peer institutions across the country.

Whitney Williamson

Vice President, Market Officer

Prologis

Whitney Williamson is Vice President, Market Officer for Austin and San Antonio at Prologis. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all operational activities for the combined 7.7MSF portfolio including strategy, leasing and property management. She also collaborates with the Capital Deployment team on acquisitions and developments. Whitney joined Prologis in 2018 as a member of the Dallas leasing team, most recently covering Prologis’ DFW Airport portfolio.

Whitney received her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University. She is a member of NAIOP Austin and the Commercial Brokers Association of Austin. Additionally, she serves on the University of Texas Real Estate Center Advisory Council and the SMU Cox Folsom Institute for Real Estate Advisory Board.

Breaking Barriers in Austin CRE

Women Pioneering the Path

April Whitaker
HONOREE

April Whitaker

Division President

Taylor Morrison

Katie Kim
HONOREE

Katie Kim

CEO

The Kim Group ATX

Nora Linares-Moeller
HONOREE

Nora Linares-Moeller

Executive Director

HousingWorks Austin

Darcie Fowler
HONOREE

Darcie Fowler

Preconstruction Leader

DPR Construction

Tiffany Mann
HONOREE

Tiffany Mann

Head of Operations & People

ECR

Kristi Stotts
Moderator

Kristi Stotts

Shareholder

Winstead PC

Katie Kim

HONOREE

The Kim Group ATX

Katie Kim, CCIM, is a dynamic and accomplished real estate professional with a passion for excellence. As a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), she brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to The Kim Group. With a sharp focus on maximizing value for clients, Katie has a proven track record in real estate development, asset management, and brokerage services. Her commitment to providing innovative and strategic solutions has earned her recognition as a trusted advisor in the industry. Katie's dedication to delivering results and building long-term relationships sets her apart as a driving force behind The Kim Group ATX's success.

Nora Linares-Moeller

HONOREE

HousingWorks Austin

Nora Linares-Moeller was named HousingWorks Austin’s Executive Director in April of

2018. She had served at the organization’s Interim E.D. since August of 2017. Nora’s civic

and political achievements span the past 42 years. She spent 12 years in state

government management with the last five serving as the first Executive Director of the

Texas Lottery Commission. Under Linares-Moeller’s direction, the Texas Lottery achieved

international prominence setting industry records for the sale of instant, Lotto and daily

game tickets.

In 1997, Nora started her consulting company serving gaming clients all over the world,

as well as other companies, nonprofits and political candidates. Her work in affordable

housing began in 2013 as the fundraising consultant for the highly successful Keep

Austin Affordable bond campaign. That work led to her involvement with HousingWorks

Austin, which began in 2014. Besides fundraising and capacity building, Nora has played

a vital role in helping organize events for HousingWorks, including the Annual Housing +

summit series co-hosted with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

“I have always believed that housing is the central issue for an individual to fulfill a

productive life,” said Linares-Moeller. Without proper housing, individuals’ health,

happiness and well-being are affected. I work every day to help, in any way I can, to

make peoples’ lives better. I see the need for cultural enrichment, better health,

productive jobs, but the most important of them all is a place to live your life.”

As a community volunteer, Linares-Moeller serves on the Board of Directors of Ballet

Austin (Past President), Texas Rural Communities, President of the Sally M. Kingsbury

Sarcoma Research Foundation, and a founding member of the Transit Forward Board.

She also serves as President of the La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) organization, a

national organization founded by Cesar Chavez. She recently became a founding

member of LUPE Votes Board of Directors.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Linares-Moeller received her Bachelor of Arts

degree in 1976 from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. She

is a 1989 graduate of Leadership Texas and a 1990 graduate of Leadership America.

Tiffany Mann

HONOREE

ECR

Tiffany Mann is the Head of Operations and People for ECR where she is responsible for overseeing and managing the company’s day-to-day operations necessary for employee success and growth. In her position, she guides and manages the overall provision of Human Resources services, policies, and programs for the entire company, including team events and initiatives

Before joining the ECR team, Tiffany earned her bachelor’s in Psychology from Texas State University and her master’s in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado at Boulder. With an academic emphasis on leadership and employee development, Tiffany applies her learnings to her current role within ECR.

An avid reader, Tiffany enjoys reading many different styles of books, including personal development, memoirs, and fiction. She also loves traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with family and friends.

Kristi Stotts

Moderator

Winstead PC

Kristi E. Stotts is a shareholder in Winstead's Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group. Kristi’s practice is focused on real estate development, with an emphasis on structuring and administering residential, mixed-use, and office condominiums, and residential and mixed-use communities. Kristi represents developers in their administration of property owner associations. Kristi also has experience in a variety of commercial real estate transactions including drafting acquisition and disposition contracts, easements, and license agreements.

Recognizing Women in Senior & Executive Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Bisnow is excited to host our third annual Austin Women Leading Real Estate (WLRE) awards. Last year, we recognized rising stars in the industry. This year, our WLRE program will honor senior-level executives and leaders who are shaping commercial real estate from the top. 

GET A FREE HEADSHOT! 

The event just leveled up! You'll have the opportunity to upgrade your professional headshot while you're at the event, courtesy of Square Foot Photography. Get camera-ready with makeup touchups before your shoot with Black Parade Beauty Company. 

For any questions, sponsorship, or press inquiries, contact Sophie McCourt, our Director of Operations at sophie.mccourt@bisnow.com

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact shannon.dearaujo@bisnow.com no later than 7 business days prior to the event.

Agenda

Time Activity
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
Coffee, Breakfast and Networking
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
Panel Discussion: The Women Transforming CRE

How Is The Industry Evolving?

3:45 PM
4:00 PM
Networking and Coffee Break
4:00 PM
4:30 PM
Award Ceremony: Austin's C-Suites In CRE
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Closing Networking

WANT THE ATTENDEE LIST FOR FREE?

Biscred's sales and marketing CRE prospecting tool allows users to identify companies and contacts based on industry, asset class experience, job seniority, location, and more CRE-specific indicators. Schedule a demo with Biscred here and receive the attendee list for free when you mention this promotion.