DMV Women Leading Real Estate Award Celebration & Cocktail

With over 25 years’ experience in the parking industry, Colleen has held the positions of Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President and Vice President for national parking management firms as well as co-founded her own parking consulting and software company prior to joining Colonial Parking. As its Chief Executive Officer, Colleen leads her colleagues across the organization to ensure the company delivers its value proposition to every client and parker. Colleen works closely with Ownership on executing key strategies that leverage technology, mobility and parking solutions to drive financial and intrinsic value for our clients. Throughout her parking career, Colleen has been a volunteer leader within the parking and commercial real estate industries, including service on the National Parking Association’s Board, as well as being asked to serve as the founding Chair of Women In Parking. She also has been a frequent speaker and presenter at numerous industry-related annual conferences throughout North America. She will serve CREW (Commercial Real Estate for Women) as their Board’s Secretary in 2024 and is a current member of The Economic Club and ULI (Urban Land Institute). She graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Toledo and maintains her SPHR and CPP designations.

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.

Anitra Androh represents clients in commercial real estate transactions involving the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, and leasing of office buildings, multi-family developments, retail shopping centers, and various mixed-use and mixed-income projects. She has extensive experience negotiating development agreements, construction agreements, construction management agreements, property management agreements, cost-sharing agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, and declarations of covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Her practice also involves the creation of condominium regimes and the negotiating and settling of warranty claims filed against developers by condominium associations. Anitra also regularly represents clients in the acquisition and financing of affordable housing projects.

As MBB Affiliates’ Principal, Ashley Atwater utilizes her 15 years of commercial real estate experience to not only establish the strategic direction of the company, but to also manage all operations of the firm. Atwater oversees the day-to-day operations of the property management staff, maintains client relationships, and works closely with the engineering and accounting teams. She also leads MBB’s business development activities and corporate marketing campaigns. Previously, Atwater focused on lead generation and business development in the private, institutional and public sectors; investment sales and office leasing at Grubb & Ellis, and property/facility management at a Cushman & Wakefield affiliate, where she managed a diverse portfolio of office, medical office, and light industrial properties. Atwater is a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellowship recipient, a member of CREW DC Chapter, Urban Land Institute (ULI), Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA), African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP) and a Board member of the Marshall B. Bass Children’s Fund, a children’s charitable organization. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin School of Business. Ashley was awarded the Emerging Leader Award in 2019 from AAREP-DC and in 2020, was listed as a Woman of Influence by Globest Real Estate Forum in the Property/Facility Management sector.

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.

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.

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.

Anne N. Rosenau joined Cushman & Wakefield in 1987, and has since focused her efforts on advising clients with a variety of real estate transactions, including landlord and tenant representations, space dispositions, renewals, relocations, facility purchase or consulting on a build-to-suit. She has also been involved in a significant number of telco-related leases. Ms. Rosenau has been involved in more than 12 million sf of real estate transactions.

Ms. Tierce serves as Executive Vice President overseeing Asset management across the entire JBG Smith portfolio. Prior to that, she served in various capacities within JBG Smith and its predecessor, the JBG Companies, over her 17 years of tenure at the firm. JBGS, is a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust that specializes in owning, operating, investing in the Washington, D.C. area. Ms. Tierce’s current responsibilities include overseeing the JBGS and Fund Operating Portfolios, which consists of more than 50 operating assets encompassing 30 commercial assets totaling 9.2 million square feet, 21 multifamily assets totaling 7,600 units, and two under-construction multifamily assets with an additional 1,583 units, and a 347 key hotel. In her prior roles, she led dispositions and recapitalizations of commercial assets totaling $3.6B and 17 individual asset transactions across 6.7 million square feet, driving JBGS’s capital recycling strategy. She also previously oversaw the JBG Companies portfolio of 5,302 hotel keys, managing operations, acquisitions, and dispositions of over $1B. Her extensive background encompasses a broad range of experience within the real estate industry, exposing her to a wide range of property types, including commercial, multifamily, retail, and hotel investments, resulting in a total of $4.6B of closing transaction volume. Ms. Tierce graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University.

As the Principal Broker & Executive Vice President of Hoffman Realty, Michelle has more than two decades of experience in the real estate industry, including practicing real estate transactional law. Throughout her career, she has been involved in every aspect of the sales process—from direct client sales to division management—and has directed and managed the successful release and sell-out of over 15 new condominium buildings across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. As Executive Vice President of Multifamily and Brand for Hoffman & Associates, Michelle leads the development and implementation of the marketing and branding for each condominium and apartment property, as well as managing leasing efforts for Hoffman’s apartment residences. Michelle graduated with a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles; earned a JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law; and is a licensed broker in D.C. and Maryland. As a D.C. resident for over two decades, Michelle is widely known among friends and clients as the go-to person for local recommendations, from the best French café in town to the perfect place to find a unique gift. Beyond her local expertise, Michelle is passionate about affordable housing and has taught classes on the subject in addition to volunteering at Calvary Women’s Services, a local nonprofit founded to empower homeless women to change their lives through housing, education, and employment programs.

Katie focuses on leasing as well as maintaining broker and tenant relationships at Meridian. She has over 15 years of experience in commercial real estate, including leasing and market research. Prior to joining Meridian, Katie was a vice president with Boston Properties, where she oversaw the company’s Reston Town Center portfolio totaling more than three million square feet and completed over 115 transactions with a diverse mix of tenants including tech companies, law firms, government contractors, and Fortune 100 companies. She began her career with Lincoln Property Company, where she focused on research and brokerage in Washington, DC. Katie received her B.S. in management from Georgetown 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!)

Powered by tenacity, Wendy Feldman Block, brings extensive experience working on a broad range of transactions in the Washington DC Metro area and beyond. She is an award-winning commercial real estate executive serving as an Executive Managing Director at Savills. Wendy is passionate about wellness in the workplace and was the first broker in the world to advise a client on achieving both WELL and LEED Platinum certifications. She is actively sought for her knowledge on the role of wellness in the workplace, all the more critical in the future post COVID world and has a new additional focus on ESG for tenants. In her over her 30+ year career, Wendy has completed sales and leasing transactions totaling in excess of 12 million square feet. Wendy has been recognized multiple times as one of the top producers in the country and received numerous professional accolades. Wendy has represented many of the Washington DC region’s premier associations and corporations, and many of the nation’s leading 200 law firms. Notable recent clients include FINRA, Farmer Mac, the City of Alexandra, Pillsbury, Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She has been an active mentor to countless people in the commercial real estate industry and taken leadership roles at many organizations including CREW DC, Iona Senior Services, Round House Theatre, Higher Achievement, the Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation, and the March of Dimes Heroines Program. Wendy has received several awards for her community engagement including CREBA’s Brendan McCarthy Award, Jewish Woman International - Woman to Watch, CREW’s Impact Award and the Julien J. Studley award which recognizes one recipient for their role in corporate social responsibility.

Jessica Miller is a nationally recognized negotiation expert specializing in developing corporate real estate workplace solutions and lease negotiation strategies for local, national and international clients. She provides strategic and tactical guidance to help her clients locate, design and negotiate optimal office space leases and purchase opportunities to grow their businesses effectively and efficiently. Her experience includes commercial leasing of Office, Flex and Industrial space, strategic planning, portfolio management, workplace strategies, corporate acquisitions and dispositions, redevelopment consulting, user sales, transaction management, contract negotiations and corporate tenant representation services.

Rebecca Snyder joined Brookfield Properties Multifamily in 2022 as Executive Vice President and is responsible for ESG, Utilities, Marketing, Regional Engineering, Renovations, Transactions, Affordable Housing and Collections. Rebecca joined Brookfield Asset Management in 2020 and had investment oversight of multifamily projects being developed and redeveloped by Brookfield Properties in North America and Portfolio Management responsibilities for Boston, Rhode Island and the DC Metro Region. Prior to Brookfield, Rebecca was Senior Vice President of Residential Development and Asset Strategy for Strategic Property Partners (SPP), where she oversaw the design, development and asset strategy for Water Street Tampa’s multifamily platform and portfolio. Water Street Tampa is a $3 billion, 9 million square feet, mixed-use waterfront development located in Tampa, Florida. At completion, Water Street Tampa will be home to 3,500 total residential units. Prior to SPP, Rebecca was a Partner at Insight Property Group in Arlington, VA where she was responsible for all facets of multifamily development from acquisition through disposition. She oversaw and led Insight’s holistic project vision, design, and asset management strategy for multiple multifamily and mixed-use urban development projects located within the Washington, D.C. region. Prior to Insight Property Group, Rebecca worked at Archstone where she was involved in the development of multifamily and mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. region. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Brown University and her Master of Urban and Environmental Planning and Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia School of Architecture.

Inspired by her passion to empower others to reach heights of hotel ownership, Kendra founded Elise Capital, a hotel investment firm unlocking access to generational wealth through hotel ownership. As founder, Kendra has led Elise Capital through the launch of its investment portfolio of over $21.5M in assets under management (AUM) and the evolution of its advisory platform ushering in a new demographic of hotel owners. With recognition as an innovator in hospitality, Kendra has been honored with Temple University’s 30 under 30 award and is the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence by the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. She has also been featured in Hospitality Design, Hotel Business and Lodging Magazine. Kendra continues to be an advocate for underrepresented communities having served on boards and committees for the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers, She Has a Deal and Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Beginning her career in hotel operations, Kendra has climbed the industry ranks in the sectors of hotel management, asset management, feasibility, and acquisitions/development. Prior to making the entrepreneurial leap she held the position of Director of Acquisitions and Development for TPG Hotels & Resorts underwriting over $1B in hotel transactions. Kendra holds an MBA from the University of Miami as an Emery Means Findley, Jr. Fellow, and a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management from Temple University.

Natalie specializes in providing real estate solutions to commercial occupiers. Her competitive drive, strategic approach, and extensive knowledge of current market conditions provides her clients with important information and guidance throughout the entire transaction. As an advisor, Natalie prides herself on being transparent and devoted to each client.

Autumn Leatham is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Team Lead at City First Bank. Leatham who is based in Washington DC, assist in managing the commercial banking team in addition to focusing on the strategic growth and development of the commercial banking client portfolio. Leatham has spent the majority of her career in the financial services and nonprofit sectors, focusing on commercial real estate and community development lending. Prior to joining City First Bank, she was a senior lead Relationship Manager in Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate Community Lending and Investment Group covering the Greater Washington Area. While at Wells Fargo, Leatham lead the debt product financing for construction and permanent financing of both ground-up development and the acquisition & rehabilitation of existing affordable housing properties. In addition to leading the deal structuring teams on transactions and monitoring LIHTC projects from construction through stabilization. Before that Leatham was at Bank of America in their Commercial Real Estate Community Development Banking Group. While there she was responsible for coordinating the delivery of Community Development Banking products and services to developers and focused on Low-income and Historic Tax Credit Investment as well as Charter School facilities financing. Leatham began her career at PNC Bank as an Investment Advisor in their Wealth Management group, and then spent time working for a large Charter School network in the Washington DC area. Throughout her career, Leatham has developed a high-level expertise for procuring and cultivating relationships. Beyond her professional work, Leatham has volunteered with several non-profit organizations that align closely with her passions. Autumn is a proud graduate of Hampton University, and lives in Bethesda MD with her husband and daughter.

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).

Corinne is Vice President, Project Management at Cresa, based in their Washington, DC office. Corinne started her real estate career at JPMorgan Chase as a client advisor for their commercial spaces across the US, including major building renovations in Hudson Yards & Brooklyn, NY, Newark, DE, Chicago, IL, Plano, TX, and Jersey City, NJ. Since her relocation to the DMV in 2016, she has managed over $100M in construction costs for over 50 projects. She exhibits exemplary leadership and has made significant contributions to the internal Cresa team while providing a high level of value and service to her clients and the wider CRE community as a board member of CoreNet’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter (who honored her as Young Leader of the Year in 2022). Corinne is currently managing over $35M in construction costs for 7 projects across the DMV. She continues to be a leader as an active member of CoreNet’s MidAtlantic Chapter, where her 2.5 year position as co-chair of the Young Leader Committee and Board Member just came to an end—but remains an active member on subcommittees. Corinne recently wrapped up the new 11,175 SF HQ project for the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (DISCUS) (managing $2.7M in project costs) which was featured in Washingtonian Magazine. Another noteworthy project: Investment Company Institute’s two full floors at 1401 H St (62,580 RSF, over $14M+ project). She has honed her expertise in multiple areas including lease reviews, space programming, budgeting, scheduling, construction management, and more. She graduated with a B.A. in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy from Virginia Tech and continued her studies in Project Management for Building Construction at NYU.

With nearly a decade of experience in commercial real estate, Sofia leads The Brand Guild’s real estate team and crisis response services. She specializes in developing and executing impactful media messaging and strategies as well as providing ongoing counsel to clients in real estate, government, sports, and tech. Sofia’s successes include masterminding the press efforts of The Wharf, one of the largest waterfront development projects in the country, resulting in 3 billion press impressions in the opening week alone. Most recently, she led the press efforts for the completion of The Wharf with the unveiling of Phase 2. She also leads press efforts for large-scale development projects and their corporate executives across the country, leading a team that consistently secures coverage in media outlets ranging from local broadcast and regional trade publications to national lifestyle and top-tier business outlets. Prior to joining The Brand Guild, Sofia managed communications campaigns for a variety of policy-focused clients ranging from immigration to education to presidential candidates to documentary films. She has also created and worked on crisis and corporate social responsibility campaigns for some of the world’s largest energy companies and is experienced in C-suite media training. Originally from Gainesville, FL, she graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in public relations and a political science concentration.

Tiffany joined LISC in 2020 and has fifteen years of experience in commercial real estate finance and social impact investment. Tiffany currently serves as the Senior Directors of Fund Investments where she is responsible for pipeline development and the deal origination strategy. This includes fund design, and product development and oversight of the underwriting, approval and closing process. Prior to joining LISC, Tiffany served as Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at KeyBank Real Estate Capital, one of the largest capital providers of affordable housing nationwide. As a commercial real estate lender, she originated over $200M in debt capital solutions including construction debt, acquisition, bridge-to-resyndication, lines of credit and on- balance sheet permanent loans to owner-operators and developers. Prior to KeyBank, Tiffany served as an Associate at MicroVest Capital Management, an impact investment firm that provides private debt capital to international microfinance institutions and small and medium enterprises. During her tenure, Tiffany was the primary manager of a $160M international microfinance investment portfolio through five private equity funds and advisory contracts. Tiffany holds a MA from George Washington University (GWU) and a BA from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

Erin McDannald, CEO and co-owner of Lighting Environments and its sister companies, Elevated and Environments, has guided clients throughout the entire lighting design and construction process for over two decades. Trained as an interior designer, McDannald joined Baltimore’s New Design Light firm in the sales department in 2003 before becoming co-owner in 2009. Under her leadership, the company rebranded to Lighting Environments to reflect the company’s expansion into lighting technology offerings for all built environments. Honored as a 2022 Bisnow “Innovator of the Year” in commercial real estate, Erin is recognized as a top female leader in DC’s real estate field. Now a pioneer for IoT (Internet of Things) integration and building and workplace management, McDannald is leading today’s workforce through powerful digital transformation with the Elevated™ app. Elevated, a proprietary building management application, grants users unmatched access and awareness of their built environments. Elevated’s all-in-one interface supports interactive, engaging spaces and supports real estate ROI. Environments is an IoT integrator and software development company offering full-scale adaptable solutions that support businesses from end-to-end, from energy management to health monitoring. With every development and service, Erin McDannald and the Lighting Environments brands continue to innovate for spaces that are expertly designed, well-connected, and flexible for each user and occupant.

With more than 38 years of experience, Kay is a recognized expert on workplace design and strategy issues. She is an award-winning designer who has worked with several Fortune 500 companies to optimize their global real estate portfolios and create innovative work environments based on their unique organizational DNA. As Co-Director of HOK’s WorkPlace team, a practice that supports organizations undertaking multiple projects in various locations, and a member of HOK’s Board of Directors, Kay is responsible for helping clients redefine how, when and where their people work, and supports a holistic design approach that integrates an organization’s people, processes, and technology. She was recently selected from her field of peers to provide Congressional Subject Matter Expert Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on “Federal Real Estate Post-COVID-19: A View from The Private Sector.” In 2020 Kay was named ASID’s Designer of Distinction for the year. Kay is considered an industry thought leaders on workplace. She has authored multiple white papers and articles on a variety of design related topics including wellbeing; next gen workforce; technologies impact on the workplace; space fusion and the rise of the human factor. In 2021 Kay was elected to both the ASID and the IIDA College of Fellows and inducted into the 2022 SCN Hall of Fame, celebrate contributions to the AV/IT industry. In 2022 Kay was recognized by both Melwood and IFMA for her continued research and efforts to bring awareness to DEI initiatives and the needs of the neurodiverse community. Kay was awarded the IFMA Distinguished Author Awards for her research and whitepapers on Neurodiversity and was awarded the first Melwood Ability Awards - Inaugural Accelerator Award for her efforts to raise awareness about the needs of the Neurodiverse. Kay currently serves on the National ASID Foundation Research Taskforce, the IWBI Health Equity Advisory Team and the Advisory Board for WorkDesign Magazine and I&S Magazine. She was recently appointed to the University of Richmond Customer Experience Advisory Board after serving two years on the George Washington University Customer Experience Certificate Program Advisory Council. During her career she has also served on the International Boards of CoreNet Global, AVIXA, and IFI - International Federation of Interior Designers /Architects, the Boards of ASID, IIDA and NCQLP and the Advisory Board of Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design and NVCC. She is an active member of IFMA and co- founder of the IFMA Workplace Evoluntionaries, WE community and serves as an Executive committee for WE. Kay is committed to mentoring the next generation of designers and as such mentors multiple individuals within HOK and across the industry. She is also a Founder of the DC Chapter of UPWARD, a global network dedicated to the professional advancement of women in the workplace. “We are witnessing the evolution of workplace, and design can be a powerful tool in that endeavor. What designers have always done well, the art of design, is being enhanced with the emerging science of design. By creating environments that support wellbeing, inclusivity and inspire those within them, we can drive powerful outcomes and create spaces that reflect our humanity. We need to design with courage to define the next generation of great places to transform the way we work, live, learn and play. We are no longer just designing environments. We are designing the experience. We need to mentor the next generation of designers to carry the torch forward.”

Brittany is a social impact trailblazer. Her personal mission is to help eliminate one of the biggest wealth gaps, by supporting women in the creation of generational wealth. While in college Brittany started her first company which she grew to a staff of 19 people with a large client base in DMV (Dc, Maryland, Virginia) area. After many years as a real estate professional concurrently, she saw an opportunity to pivot her 15 years of experience into the formation of a real estate consultancy that has a vision to help individuals buy, sell, and invest in real estate around the world. Her current focus includes building a team of international residential and commercial real estate professionals, completing a new home development in Houston, Tx, and continuing to support the growth of the Women In Real Estate ™ organization. Brittany has ownership stakes in several companies. She has been featured in publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, Inc Magazine, Under30CEO.com, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Voices, American Express Open Forum, and various others. She has also been featured on the cover of the Loudoun Business Journal as one of the top women business leaders in Loudoun County and was named Woman of the Year by Phi Upsilon Zeta, of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc..

Katie serves as Senior Vice President, Business Development for NFP. In this role Katie leads NFP’s Atlantic region sales team, working with advisors to drive new business opportunities and strengthen current client relationships. Katie’s vast knowledge of the insurance industry and her own sales experience have been instrumental forces in NFP’s continual year-over-year growth. Prior to her current role, Katie led NFP’s Mid-Atlantic key accounts team, overseeing the daily corporate benefits sales and service operation. Katie was also NFP’s New Business Manager, an experience that has been invaluable in her current role. Katie is a graduate of Fairfield University with a degree in organization communications and she has a master’s of science in health promotion management with a specification in education from American University.

Stephanie Williams, President of Bozzuto Management Company and Operating Partner of The Bozzuto Group, has remained focused on providing extraordinary experiences to residents, clients, partners and employees of the company since joining the company in 2004. She directs the operations and an array of specialized initiatives for an apartment portfolio of 77,000 units across over 265 properties in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southern regions. In 2017, Stephanie earned the Multi-Housing News Excellence Award for Executive of the Year, was named Minority Business Leader by Washington Business Journal and was honored as a member of Baltimore Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2018, under Stephanie’s leadership, Bozzuto Management Company was awarded #1 Property Management Company by the National Association of Home Builders. Stephanie is Board member of the Real Estate Executive Council and an active member of the Urban Land Institute, and the District of Columbia Building Industry Association.

Malanda Worrell is the Senior Vice President of Market Strategy for the Mid-Atlantic region. In this position, Malanda partners closely with JLL’s Mid-Atlantic Market Director to develop and execute various growth and productivity initiatives throughout the region. This includes direct oversight of certain business sectors and the creation of targeted growth strategies for segments of the region. Malanda provides data-driven metrics to inform strategic and operational decisions. Malanda has been a valuable contributor to JLL’s strategic initiatives throughout her time working in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to taking her current role, Malanda’s leadership helped transition the company into stronger pandemic-era footing in 2020 while keeping the largest commercial leasing brokerage — with $163 million in revenue generated from local operations and 24.7 million total local square feet leased in 2019 — successful. Additionally, Malanda was the Americas Black Professionals Network (BPN) Americas Operations Lead, created a Mid-Atlantic Diversity & Inclusion Council and spearheaded training initiatives within the region. She also co-led JLL’s Mid-Atlantic Summer Internship Program Outside of the office, Malanda works to bring a strong leadership perspective to a variety of other nonprofit organizations, including Make-A-Wish and A Wider Circle. She has been a noteworthy leader in the DEI space and participated on Project REAP cohort of 2019. In 2021, Malanda was recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Washington Business Journal. Malanda is a Board Member of Wesley Housing as well as Global Citizens Public Charter School. She earned an International Business and Finance - Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University and currently resides in Southeast, DC with her husband and son.

Erin Cotter is Leasing Director for BXP in the Washington D.C. region. Erin joined BXP in 2019 and assists with the leasing strategy implementation of BXP’s 5M SF+ Reston Town Center (RTC) office portfolio. Erin and her team secured the majority of leasing activity in the Dulles Corridor in 2021, which was of the top performing submarkets in the country for the year. Since joining BXP, Erin has participated in 80 lease transactions totaling over 2M SF and stabilizing the RTC portfolio where the current vacancy rate is ~6%. Prior to joining BXP, she worked for Cushman & Wakefield for 6 years representing tenants and landlords in the Washington D.C. region; and started her career for Davis Carter Scott in marketing. Erin has a degree in Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from Christopher Newport University.

Moriah Thomas Parker leads client development and strategic capital raising execution, including maintaining relations with current investors and expanding the firm’s institutional, consultant, and wealth management capital relationships. In addition, Thomas Parker is responsible for strategic portfolio analysis, on-going fund management, and portfolio risk evaluation. She is a member of the firm’s management committee and serves as the sponsor of FCP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion operational committee. Prior to joining FCP, she worked at The Carlyle Group, where she managed financial reporting & analysis for the Europe, Ireland, and Middle East Northern Africa buyout private equity strategies. Thomas Parker is a member of the Pension Real Estate Association, Urban Land Institute (mentor for WLI Virginia inaugural Career Development Program for Women of Color) and African American Real Estate Professionals of DC. She graduated from Howard University where she earned her BBA with a concentration in Finance. Moriah also holds a Real Estate Financial Analytics Certificate from MIT School of Architecture and Planning.