Dallas Power Players: The Women Who Rule Commercial Real Estate

Lucy Billingsley has spent her career in real estate, developing and managing commercial developments. She, and her husband Henry, started Billingsley Company in 1978 to manage their growing real estate portfolio. The company specializes in developing office buildings, multi-family, retail and industrial properties, and master- planned communities, which include: Cypress Waters, International Business Park, Austin Ranch, and the Arts Plaza campus in Dallas’ Arts District. Prior to Billingsley Company, Lucy was Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas Market Center and the Crow Design Centers in Dallas, Houston and Boston and Wyndham Jade Travel. Lucy has been inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame, the NTCAR Hall of Fame, and she was awarded the 2013 H. Neil Mallon Award. Born and raised in Dallas, Lucy is a graduate of The University of Texas with a B.B.A. in finance. She lives in Dallas with Henry and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Lucy Burns began her career at Lehman Brothers in New York City where she worked in Private Client Services. From there she transitioned into real estate as the head of investments for Groupe Arnault in the United States. In 2006 Lucy joined The Ratkovich Company in Los Angeles where she managed the renovation of a 500,000 square foot high rise on Wilshire Boulevard. The role involved oversight and management of the complete replacement of the building’s central plant, asbestos abatement, common area upgrades and a $5 million lobby renovation. Mrs. Burns also handled lease negotiation, asset positioning, partnership relationships, and property management. n 2008 Lucy entered the family real estate business, where she manages Billingsley Company’s office and single-family property portfolios. “It is a thrill as a parent to see your child as a talent. But better than that is to have them come join your team as a leader focused on creating a significant company for the next 50 years,” remarked Lucy Billingsley, Partner and Co-founder. “Now I have to really start delivering results because I have to live up to a higher standard.” Lucy has her Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development from olumbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Davidson College. She is on the Board of Directors for Downtown Dallas, Inc. and 2 TIF Boards, and is a member of the Associate Council of the McCombs School of Business Real Estate Finance and Investment Council.

Sumner Billingsley is a Partner at Billingsley Company in Dallas, Texas. Sumner is responsible for the company’s 8,567 units in the Multifamily portfolio. Her responsibilities include construction, design, operations, marketing, brand development and portfolio strategy. In addition, she is also responsible for overseeing the company’s retail development, marketing and leasing. Sumner began her real estate career working in development and acquisitions at Trammel Crow Company in Los Angeles, followed by CBRE in New York, before finally joining Billingsley Company in 2014. Sumner earned her Bachelor’s Degree from University of Southern California and her Masters in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. Sumner serves on the Urban Land Institute’s Mixed-Use Council, the Board of the Dallas World Affairs Council, The North Texas Food Bank’s Young Professionals Board, and is a member of the Associate Leadership Council Class of 2016.

Kennis has been involved in many aspects of commercial real estate, including development, lending, investing, and buying/selling of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties.Portfolio is a woman-owned business and is a registered HUB in the state of Texas. The company has a high level of experience with the HUD 221(d)4 program as well as other traditional financing methods. It develops properties both as a fee developer and as a joint-venturer. Above all, Portfolio takes personal pride in each project, and vests the development process with thoughtfulness and integrity.

B. Diane Butler was the Co-Founder and previously Executive Chairman of Butler Burgher Group (BBG), a leading independent national commercial real-estate valuation, advisory and assessment firm headquartered in Dallas with more than 20 offices in key markets throughout the United States. She continues to serve on BBG’s Board of Directors and is a Shareholder. She has 30 years of commercial real estate expertise in valuation, consulting and feasibility studies. She has significant experience in all types of multi-family housing, student housing, healthcare, single and multi-tenant office buildings, industrial, retail, mixed-use developments and master-planned communities including expertise in Agency, FHA and Affordable Housing Appraisals and Market Studies. Butler served as Chairman of The Real Estate Council in 2016, was the CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) National President in 2012, received the “CREW Entrepreneurial Spirit Impact Award” in 2016 and was honored nationally as a “CREW Distinguished Leader” in 2014. She was also recognized by Real Estate Forum among “Women of Influence in CRE” and honored by Commercial Property News as a “Top Woman Executive in CRE.” In addition, Butler was recognized in DCEO Magazine‘s “Dallas 500” among “Top Commercial Real Estate Executive.” She is on the board of Interprise Design and is a member of the Appraisal Institute, the Urban Land Institute, National Multifamily Housing Council, the Dallas Assembly, Dallas Regional Chamber Executive Women’s Roundtable and the National Association of Corporate Directors. Her non-profit Board roles include WINGS Advisory Board, Dallas Women’s Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, North Texas Appraisal Institute, CREW Dallas, Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Shootout and First Tee. Butler is also a designated expert witness and has testified in a variety of court cases concerning real estate valuation. A graduate from Mississippi State University, she holds a Bachelor in Business Administration with a double major in finance and real estate. Butler holds the MAI, FRICS and CCIM designations.

Kim Butler leads the leasing efforts for HALL Group’s HALL Park, a 2.5 million-square-foot, 17-building office park in Frisco and previously KPMG Plaza at HALL Arts, a 500,000 square-foot Dallas Arts District office tower. Butler is also a member of the HALL Group development team. Butler has more than 35 years of commercial real estate experience in Dallas – 25 of which were at Transwestern, where she was consistently a top producer and held several executive roles for the company. Actively involved in the Dallas commercial real estate community, Butler has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Commercial Real Estate Women’s (CREW) Outstanding Achievement Award, Transwestern’s inaugural Founder’s Award and the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors’ (NTCAR) prestigious Stemmons Service Award, the highest honor from the industry group. Butler currently serves on the executive committee and board of directors of The Real Estate Council (TREC). She is also an active member of NAIOP, NTCAR, CREW, the Dallas Arts District and Downtown Dallas, Inc., and has previously held board positions with each. Butler serves on the advisory council of the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University, and previously served on the associate board of the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. She actively mentors both students and young professionals. Butler’s civic and charitable activities revolve around her family and First United Methodist Church – Dallas. Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.