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Panel & Honorees

Women Leading Real Estate Panel

Kayla Evans

Kayla Evans

President of CREW LA &

Vice President, Marsh McLennan Agency

Rachael Sery

Rachael Sery

Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets

George Smith Partners

Crystal Lofing
Moderator

Crystal Lofing

Partner

Allen Matkins

Rachael Sery

Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets

George Smith Partners

Rachael Sery serves as the Head of Capital Markets Operations at George Smith Partners, where she leads initiatives to enhance the firm's value to clients and reinforce its position as a market leader during this dynamic period of growth. She is responsible for directing and managing the firm's technology initiatives and dedicated team, oversees training and standards for all employees, and co-leads recruitment efforts.

As Managing Director, she actively originates and executes debt and equity placements across the United States, with a focus on structured finance. Rachael brings specialized expertise in esoteric financings, including EB5, tax credits, and back-of-house leverage. She has a background in hospitality financing and dedicates significant time to clients in that sector, serving as the firm's in-house hospitality expert. Over her career, she has arranged over $5 billion in total project capitalizations across debt and equity markets.

She structures creative, full-capital stack solutions across large-scale development or heavy repositioning opportunities, providing clients with innovative financing strategies.

Rachael began her career at a buyside advisory firm, focusing on net-leased properties and consulting on more than $400 million in commercial acquisitions, primarily in retail and industrial sectors. She further developed expertise during her tenure in the JLL Capital Markets debt & equity placement group, where she worked with institutional clients and gained insights into market trends and international capital.

Having previously been instrumental at GSP, Rachael has returned in this expanded leadership role, bringing fresh perspective and deep understanding of the capital markets landscape.

When not working, she enjoys spending time with family in nature, traveling to new countries, and learning Torah.

Crystal Lofing

Moderator

Allen Matkins

Crystal Lofing is a partner in our Century City office's real estate group whose practice involves multiple facets of real estate transactions, specifically including acquisitions and dispositions (including note purchases and subsequent foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure processes and negotiations), commercial leasing, real estate joint venture agreements, ground lease and development transactions and other documents relating to the ongoing operation and management of commercial property, including easements, covenants, conditions and restrictions, property management and brokerage agreements. She represents landlords, tenants, sellers, buyers, developers and other real estate users, ranging from entrepreneurial individuals and entities to real estate investment trusts and other highly sophisticated institutional investors.

Honorees

Gina Abbott

Gina Abbott

President

Stockdale Capital Partners

Ana Almada

Ana Almada

CEO

DKN Hotels

Lauren Baron

Lauren Baron

COO

SDS Capital Group

Sheri Bonstelle

Sheri Bonstelle

Partner

Greenberg Glusker

Megan Burrows

Megan Burrows

Managing Director

ZMR Capital

Sarah Cha

Sarah Cha

SVP

IDS Real Estate Group

Cathy Coler

Cathy Coler

COO

MRK Partners

Paula Danker

Paula Danker

SVP & Shareholder

Kidder Mathews

Christine Fitzgerald

Christine Fitzgerald

Managing Partner, California Offices

Katten

Shari Fykes

Shari Fykes

National Client Manager

Partner Engineering & Science

Dorothy Groza

Dorothy Groza

Partner

CGS3

Vanessa Haddad

Vanessa Haddad

Director, Investments

Marcus & Millichap

Alyssa Kennedy

Alyssa Kennedy

Senior Director

Whitman Peterson

Karen Kennedy

Karen Kennedy

President & Founder

National Asset Services

Julia Leonard

Julia Leonard

VP, Operations

Matthews

Darla Longo

Darla Longo

Vice Chair & Managing Partner

CBRE

Penny Maus

Penny Maus

CEO

propertyworx LLC

Koren Mercer

Koren Mercer

Director, Design, Construction & Capital Planning

BKM Management

Heather Metoyer

Heather Metoyer

Senior Director, Property Management

Lincoln Property Company

Gina Pfingston Wahl

Gina Pfingston Wahl

VP

Arc Capital Partners

Shilin Qiu

Shilin Qiu

Principal Master Planner

Walt Disney Imagineering

Andrea Reynoso

Andrea Reynoso

Associate General Counsel

Post Investment Group

Angela Ryan

Angela Ryan

Principal

Ware Malcomb

Rebecca Swanner

Rebecca Swanner

Workplace Sector Leader

HED

Lorena Tomb

Lorena Tomb

CEO & Founder

URBANLIME Real Estate

Nicole Torstvet

Nicole Torstvet

VP, Development & Entitlement

Prologis

Stacy Vierheilig-Fraser

Stacy Vierheilig-Fraser

Principal

Lee & Associates

Victoria Vu

Victoria Vu

Managing Partner

VF Developments

Jacqueline Waggoner

Jacqueline Waggoner

President & CEO

Century Housing

Shannon Woodcock

Shannon Woodcock

Senior Managing Director

Savills

Sally Zesut

Sally Zesut

EVP

Stream Realty Partners

Sheri Bonstelle

Partner

Greenberg Glusker

Sheri L. Bonstelle is a Partner in Greenberg Glusker’s Real Estate Department and Chair of the Land Use & Development Practice. A licensed architect turned attorney, she guides complex development projects from acquisition through entitlement, construction, and litigation. Sheri has successfully entitled transformative mixed-use, hospitality, and residential projects across Los Angeles, and advises on innovative housing solutions, including Density Bonus and Transit-Oriented Communities developments. With deep experience in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and post-disaster rebuilding, she brings a forward-thinking, design-informed perspective to land use strategy, regulatory navigation, and the future of urban development.

Dorothy Groza

Partner

CGS3

Dorothy approaches deals with an owner’s mindset and seeks to strike the right balance between business opportunity and legal risk. With experience both in-house and at top transactional firms, she brings an entrepreneurial perspective and a practical, solution-oriented approach to every negotiation. Her ability to anticipate issues before they arise, combined with her creative, business-forward problem solving, has made her a trusted advisor to clients across the real estate, hospitality, restaurant, cannabis, automotive, manufacturing, and technology sectors. With over 13 years of experience in all phases of complex real estate and business transactions, Dorothy has developed a deep understanding of how to structure and navigate deals in her clients’ best interest. She has facilitated the acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing, and development of over $1.4 billion in real estate assets, including negotiating senior loans, portfolio refinances, seller carry arrangements, and distressed workout scenarios. Her practice includes extensive experience in purchase and sale transactions, commercial financing, leasing, due diligence, contract negotiation, loan documentation, regulatory compliance, construction matters, zoning, and easements. Dorothy has represented purchasers, sellers, landlords, and operating companies across hotels, multifamily communities, office buildings, industrial warehouses, shopping centers, and mixed-use properties throughout the United States. Prior to joining CGS3, Dorothy served as general counsel for Empire, a leading California retailer, manufacturer, and distributor. During her tenure at Empi4e, she led the company’s legal department where she handled complex business, real estate, and regulatory matters. Concurrently, she operated her own independent law firm, Groza Law, for nine years, focusing on major hospitality acquisitions and corporate transactions, including entity formation, governance, shareholder agreements, licensing, and distribution arrangements.

Dorothy previously served as in-house counsel to SOCA, a multi-state real estate developer, and began her legal career as an associate at a business, real estate, and construction litigation firm in Orange County, giving her a foundational understanding of how disputes arise and how to draft to avoid them.

Outside the office, Dorothy is a vintage auto and moto enthusiast who enjoys rally driving and racing through Baja with friends.

Penny Maus

CEO

propertyworx LLC

Penny Maus is Founder and CEO of propertyworx LLC, a real estate and land use consulting firm serving public, private and nonprofit clients throughout California. Drawing on more than two decades of commercial real estate experience, Penny advises clients on complex real estate transactions, development solicitations, due diligence, entitlement strategy, public private partnerships and project implementation. Prior to founding propertyworx LLC, Penny held leadership roles with the City of San Diego and Port of San Diego and worked in corporate real estate for Petco and Jack in the Box. Her experience across the public and private sectors gives her a unique perspective on navigating agency processes, aligning competing priorities and moving complex projects forward. Penny serves as President of Lambda Alpha International’s San Diego Chapter, Vice Chair of ULI San Diego-Tijuana’s District Council and is a Founding Board Member of California Affordable Lodging Solutions.

Lorena Tomb

CEO & Founder

URBANLIME Real Estate

Lorena Tomb is a Los Angeles–based commercial real estate broker and founder of URBANLIME Real Estate, specializing in retail, hospitality, nightlife, and adaptive reuse properties throughout Southern California. Since entering the industry in 2011, she has built a reputation for identifying unique opportunities and helping shape some of Los Angeles’ most dynamic restaurant, entertainment, wellness, and lifestyle destinations. With a deep understanding of culture-driven real estate, Lorena focuses on leasing and selling character-rich properties ranging from historic buildings and creative office campuses to boutique hospitality and experiential retail concepts. Her expertise includes food & beverage leasing, liquor-license transactions, and adaptive reuse projects across neighborhoods including the Arts District, Hollywood, Silver Lake, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Highland Park Lorena studied at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University before completing a postgraduate program in real estate investments at University of California, Los Angeles. Having lived in multiple countries and speaking multiple languages, she brings an international perspective and relationship-driven approach to her work. Outside of real estate, Lorena enjoys hiking, traveling, music, dancing, DJing, and exploring hidden gems with her family — experiences that continue to shape her appreciation for hospitality, design, and meaningful spaces.

Join Us & Show Your Support

Bisnow is proud to host Southern California's Annual CRE Power Women Awards Ceremony. This event will bring together some of the industry's most powerful and influential women to honor them and their accomplishments and provide insight, networking, and resources for professional development. Join us in honoring women who have reinvested and pushed the industry forward during challenging times. Bisnow is looking to recognize leaders across all sectors of the commercial real estate industry that are championing Southern California’s recovery. 

Why You Should Attend: 

Bisnow Power Women events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to celebrate and honor the leading power players in Southern California's commercial real estate industry. Gain insight from some of the industry's top leaders on advancing Southern California's recovery and enhancing leadership opportunities for women in real estate.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact thea.parkert@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Interested in Sponsorship?

Contact avery.warren@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

Venue

Hilton Los Angeles Culver City
6161 West Centinela Ave
Culver City, CA 90230

Ballroom Name/Floor: 3rd floor - Pacifica ballroom /foyer


Parking: Hotel - $30 valet parking & $25 for self parking

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Agenda

Time Activity
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
Networking & Light Bites
3:30 PM
4:30 PM
Women Leading Real Estate Panel: Leading With Purpose

Lessons in Leadership, Recognizing & Communicating Your Value, Confidence, Resilience, Overcoming Barriers, And More!

4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Power Women Awards Ceremony

Honoring the “Trailblazers”, the Most Innovative & Influential Leaders Across all sectors of CRE

5:00 PM
6:00 PM
Celebration & Cocktail with Appetizers & Drinks

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