Excellence in Ownership, Development and Operations

• 

  Amy Groff

  Amy Groff, CPM®, serves as Chief Operating Officer at the National Apartment Association, where she leads with vision, strategic management, and a commitment to operational excellence. Amy ensures the association is well-positioned to achieve its goals and remain the trusted, preeminent resource for all stakeholders in the rental housing industry. With more than 30 years of experience in real estate—spanning multifamily and commercial sectors—Amy has held key operational roles at Kettler, Bernstein Management Corp, Trammell Crow, and CBRE, including Senior Vice President of Operations, Senior Regional Manager, and Property Manager. She is a Certified Property Manager (CPM®) and has contributed her expertise to IREM’s volunteer leadership in the Virginia Chapter for many years.

  National Apartment Association

  COO

  Amy Groff

  COO

  National Apartment Association

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  Dana Henson

  Vice President

  The Henson Development Company

• 

  Deborah Ratner Salzberg

  Deborah Ratner Salzberg manages Uplands’ investor relations and capital-raising activities. She previously was the Washington, DC Region Chairman for Brookfield Properties, a global real estate development and operating company with 300 million square feet of prime commercial space and 59,000 apartments under management, as well as 9 million square feet of commercial space in development. Prior to joining Brookfield, Debby worked for over 30 years at Forest City Realty Trust. Most recently, she served as President of Forest City Washington, a subsidiary of Forest City Realty Trust, overseeing the company’s activities in the DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Jersey markets. During her career with Forest City, Debby’s responsibilities spanned development, leasing, construction, financing, and management, beginning with individual projects and progressing to executive supervision of multiple high-profile, large-scale developments in the DC Region, including The Yards in the Capitol Riverfront district, Waterfront Station in Southwest DC, and the redevelopment of Ballston Quarter in Arlington, Virginia. Debby began her career as a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She earned a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco, and is a member of the California Bar Association. Debby is active with numerous community and professional organizations, including the Federal City Council, District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA), the Washington Housing Conservancy, the Urban Land Institute, Kenyon College, CubeSmart (CUBE), and the NY Common Real Estate Advisory Committe

  Uplands Real Estate Partners

  Partner

  Deborah Ratner Salzberg

  Partner

  Uplands Real Estate Partners

• 

  Jennifer Tatum

  VP, Leasing

  Skanska

• 

  Jodie McLean

  Jodie W. McLean is Chief Executive Officer of EDENS, one of the nation’s leading private owners, operators and developers of retail real estate. With a more than 25-year tenure at EDENS, she has been a key player in the company’s growth and expansion to its current marketplace leadership, capitalized by blue chip investors and assets valued at $6.5 billion. Jodie is responsible for EDENS’ strategy to move the portfolio to major urban centers and first-ring suburbs, creating a portfolio of assets that are the center of community life. She was named Chief Investment Officer in 1997, President in 2002 and CEO in 2015. Overall, she has been responsible for the development, redevelopment, acquisition and disposition of more than $20 billion in retail assets. McLean passionately believes that retail should evolve beyond a shopping experience, and advocates for connectivity to the communities surrounding the company’s retail centers. To ensure this, each EDENS development is crafted to serve as an authentic gathering place, including a unique merchandising mix and welcoming design elements, fostering a sense of engagement with its neighbors. McLean is Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and serves on several Board of Directors including Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), Wofford College and Milhaus. She is also a Trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and The Real Estate Round Table. McLean is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network’s Liberty Fellowship, Class of 2009. A native of Chicago, IL, she holds a B.S. in Finance and Management from the Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, and a degree from South Carolina Honors College.

  EDENS

  CEO

  Jodie McLean

  CEO

  EDENS

• 

  Ruth Hoang

  Ms. Hoang serves as Senior Vice President of Development where she oversees all company sponsored real estate investment projects from inception to construction completion. Her responsibilities include master planning and entitlement strategy, ensuring design and construction excellence, adherence to project business plans, team mentoring and training, investor relations and reporting, and implementation of portfolio-wide procedures, standards and reports. She is driven by her passion for the built environment and the ability to develop extraordinary places that connect to the soul of a community. By growing and challenging the teams around her, she is able to successfully deliver complex, sustainable and legacy projects in the region. Ms. Hoang is a decisive and seasoned real estate executive with over 25 years of experience, specializing in the complete life-cycle development of multifamily and mixed-use communities with involvement in the pre/development of approximately 10,000 units valued at nearly $3 billion in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining Jair Lynch in 2020, Ms. Hoang led the strategic master planning and development of the Merriweather District in Columbia, MD for the Howard Hughes Corporation; and she has previously worked in development for Home Properties, JPI Development, and the National Capital Revitalization Corporation, along with time spent in real estate consulting at Ernst & Young and RCLCO.

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

  SVP, Development

  Ruth Hoang

  SVP, Development

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

• 

  Samantha Mazo

  VP, Entitlements - East Region

  Prologis

• 

  Vicki Davis

  Vicki Davis is responsible for managing the acquisition, planning, design, and implementation of all Urban Atlantic projects, and asset management of properties that the company owns and its Mid-City Community CDE investment portfolio. With over 28 years of experience in real estate development, she formerly served as Deputy Director of the Maryland Housing Fund and Maryland DHCD -Division of Credit Assurance. Her experience also includes portfolio management for MNC Financial-South Charles Realty and multifamily development for Trammell Crow Residential. As President of Urban Atlantic Development, Ms. Davis has managed development of over $2 billion in real estate projects and asset managed over $4 billion in real estate investments. She has developed over 6,000 multifamily residential units and 600,000 commercial square feet for Urban Atlantic, including eight HOPE VI mixed-finance public housing redevelopment projects, as well as transit-oriented mixed-use projects.  Ms. Davis holds a MBA in Finance from American University, an MS in Engineering & Construction Management from University of Texas, and a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland. She taught for 12 years in the Johns Hopkins Real Estate MBA program and is a LEED AP.

  Urban Atlantic

  President

  Vicki Davis

  President

  Urban Atlantic

Excellence in Law and Accounting

• 

  Amy Serafino

  Amy’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, specializing in commercial leasing, real estate development and construction, and acquisitions and dispositions. Her clients include sellers, buyers, owner/developers, contractors, landlords and tenants in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions with respect to major industrial projects, large retail shopping centers, mixed-use developments and other premier real estate projects. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating a broad range of real estate transactional documents including commercial leases and lease amendments for office, industrial and retail users; purchase and sale agreements; design and construction contracts (AIA and custom drafting) for large-scale commercial projects; and land contribution and joint venture development agreements. She has drafted and negotiated covenants, conditions and restrictions, reciprocal easement agreements, and other recordable documents, including use restriction and reciprocal easement agreements in connection with the parceling off of a large retail shopping center. In addition, she is experienced with title and survey review, having discovered and solved complex title and survey issues, as counsel to buyers and sellers in large commercial land transactions. Amy represents a large investment fund (with assets in more than 35 different markets throughout the U.S.) in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, primarily focusing on the negotiating and drafting of commercial leases and lease amendments, as well as dispositions of real estate. She also served as the lead real estate counsel for the buyer of a Washington, D.C. office building in the acquisition and financing of the building, with the ultimate goal of converting the use from office to residential. Amy has extensive experience drafting and negotiating construction and architect contracts for a variety of construction and development projects, including the complete overhaul of an existing office building to an educational facility, a construction management agreement for a minor-league baseball stadium, residential ground-up construction, and custom tenant buildout. As seller/developer’s counsel, she has drafted and negotiated a complex lot purchase agreement for the development and incremental sale of developable lots for a large residential townhome development in the D.C. area. Outside of the office, Amy serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School, teaching a course on drafting and negotiating commercial real estate transactions. She is a member of the board of directors of Community Forklift, an organization dedicated to reducing or eliminating waste by recognizing, retaining, and returning used and surplus building materials to the community. Amy’s passion for real estate extends well outside her professional life. She has built and renovated various residential properties in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. More recently, Amy and her husband are doing the same with a portfolio of vacation homes in the Shenandoah Valley. This hands-on experience provides her with insight and a unique ability to relate to her clients and offer real-world solutions.

  Friedlander Misler

  Principal

  Amy Serafino

  Principal

  Friedlander Misler

• 

  Erin Blanding

  Erin Blanding is a Partner in CohnReznick’s DC Metro tax practice, bringing over 15 years of experience in public accounting. She specializes in providing comprehensive tax compliance, planning, and consulting services to high-net-worth individuals and their closely held businesses. Erin works across a range of industries, with a strong focus on commercial and residential real estate, hospitality, and land development. Her expertise includes year-round strategic tax planning and projections, along with business and individual tax compliance. Erin has deep practical experience in partnership and individual taxation, particularly in engagements involving real estate assets. Her client portfolio includes real estate developers, hotel owners and operators, homebuilders, and other stakeholders in the commercial and residential property sectors. Erin is known for her proactive approach in helping her clients navigate complex tax landscapes.

  CohnReznick

  Partner

  Erin Blanding

  Partner

  CohnReznick

• 

  Jackie Williamowsky, Esq

  Mrs. Williamowsky specializes in real estate, title, and commercial transactions, representing local real estate developers, landlords, and businesses with various aspects of purchasing, selling, financing and developing real estate. In addition, Mrs. Williamowsky has extensive experience in condominium conversions, tax appeals, and TOPA. As a title attorney, Mrs. Williamowsky has conducted thousands of residential and commercial closings in MD, DC and VA. A partner with the law firm, Potkin, Williamowsky & Pillay, PLLC, and the title company, LP Title, LLC, she is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars. Mrs. Williamowsky is a 2006 graduate of American University, Washington College of Law and a 2003 graduate of New York University.

  Potkin, Williamowsky & Pillay

  Partner

  Jackie Williamowsky, Esq

  Partner

  Potkin, Williamowsky & Pillay

• 

  Jennifer Castrillon

  General Counsel

  Skanska

• 

  Justine Fitzgerald

  "A good business lawyer knows how to assess and balance risk in order to close a deal. I always keep my client’s end goal in sight." Justine’s law practice concentrates on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition and disposition of real property assets, development projects, debt and equity financing, leasing, joint ventures, and the formation and operation of ownership entities. She has extensive experience negotiating purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, development agreements, architecture and construction contracts, office and retail leases, and construction, permanent and mezzanine financing documents for commercial mixed-use, office, retail, residential and government projects in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland, as well as around the U.S. To close a deal as efficiently as possible, Justine works closely with her clients to understand their goals and tolerance for risk. Recognizing that no business deal is without risk, she has a keen sense of what is an intolerable level of risk and advises her clients accordingly. She is a problem solver who takes pride in getting the deal closed. Justine also represents closely held private and family-owned companies and non-profit organizations in various industries with their real estate space needs, real estate investment projects and shareholder/partner disputes. Additionally, she has represented clients in the sale of their businesses. Earlier in her career, Justine practiced law for eleven years at Arnold & Porter LLP and served as senior in-house counsel at Hilton Worldwide, Inc. Prior to joining Hirschler in 2016, she co-founded Fitzgerald & Rhodes LLP (later Fitzgerald Law PLLC), a boutique business law firm.

  Hirschler Law

  Managing Partner, Tysons Office

  Justine Fitzgerald

  Managing Partner, Tysons Office

  Hirschler Law

• 

  Kathryn Taylor

  Kathy Taylor is an Associate in Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh’s Land Use and Zoning practice group, working closely with clients to secure various zoning and land use entitlements, including rezonings, special permits, special exceptions, and variances, for a wide range of complex commercial, residential, institutional, and mixed-use projects throughout Northern Virginia. Kathy provides thoughtful counsel to developers, commercial property owners, nonprofit organizations, religious and educational institutions, as well as private homeowners, through all stages of the development review process. Starting with zoning feasibility and due diligence, Kathy assists clients in navigating through both administrative as well as discretionary land use approval processes and offers guidance through post-entitlement issues. She also has extensive experience appealing and analyzing Ordinance Notices of Violation to determine appropriate remedies for compliance, including legislative and land use solutions. Frequently appearing before citizen associations, land use committees, advisory boards, planning commissions, and local governing bodies, Kathy has effectively collaborated with all stakeholders on developments to successfully obtain approvals across a variety of jurisdictions and project types.

  Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh

  Associate, Land Use & Zoning

  Kathryn Taylor

  Associate, Land Use & Zoning

  Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh

• 

  Kirsten Andrews Woelper

  Kirsten Andrews Woelper brings more than two decades of legal experience to her role as General Counsel. She previously served as a senior partner in Gallagher Evelius & Jones’s Real Estate and Business Transactions Group. In that role, Kirsten primarily worked with developers, owners, lenders and equity investors on residential, commercial and mixed-use real estate development projects that spanned from land acquisition through development, construction, operation and disposition. She represented borrowers and lenders in acquisition, development, construction, mezzanine and permanent financing transactions, including ones involving low-income housing, historic and new market tax credits. Kirsten also represented developers and owners in the formation of condominium and homeowners associations. Kirsten is recognized by Best Lawyers in America as a leading lawyer in real estate law and has been recognized by Chambers USA since 2020 for her work in real estate. She serves on The St. Paul’s Schools’ Board of Trustees and as the chair of the Maryland Regional Selection Committee for Jefferson Scholars Foundation. She previously served on the Institute of Notre Dame High School’s Board of Directors.

  The Bozzuto Group

  General Counsel

  Kirsten Andrews Woelper

  General Counsel

  The Bozzuto Group

Excellence in Construction and Engineering

• 

  Ashley Hayes

  Ashley Hayes has been a dedicated member of Southland Industries for more than 15 years and currently serves as Vice President of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic division. Throughout her career, Ashley has progressed through numerous roles within the project management track—from Project Engineer to Project Executive giving her a deep, practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by her teams. Today, she leads more than 70 professionals and oversees an annual project portfolio exceeding $400 million. A licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ashley has built her career with a strong focus on the mission critical and federal sectors, bringing extensive design-build expertise to every project she touches. Beyond her project leadership, Ashley is an active and respected voice within the Mechanical Contractor’s Association of Metro Washington. She has served in a variety of influential roles, including Women in the Mechanical Industry committee member, Industry Fund Trustee and Chair, and currently serves as a Trustee of Local 602’s Health Fund. Ashley is deeply committed to developing the next generation of leaders especially women at Southland and emerging field leaders within the local unions. Known for her empathetic, people-first approach, she continues to inspire, mentor, and elevate those around her. She is equally passionate about tackling complex technical challenges and approaches leadership through the lens of thoughtful, solutions-driven problem solving.

  Southland Industries

  VP

  Ashley Hayes

  VP

  Southland Industries

• 

  Christina Lewis

  Christina Lewis is a leader of Langan’s environmental due diligence practice with more than 15 years of experience. Her expertise includes navigating regulatory programs in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, and providing environmental assessments and remediation at active and inactive commercial and industrial facilities around the world. She guides clients through regional and international environmental regulations and provides creative solutions for property transactions and brownfield redevelopments. She received the 2023 CREW DC Champion Award and the 2022 LightBox PRISM Industry Influencer Award.

  Langan

  Associate Principal

  Christina Lewis

  Associate Principal

  Langan

• 

  Jodi Paci

  Jodi Paci is a connector of people, needs, projects, and passions. As a Business Developer and Special Service Group Co-Leader at DPR Construction, she brings a smart, reliable, and solutions-oriented approach to every opportunity. With a background in estimating and project management, Jodi approaches her roles with a full toolbelt of knowledge and practical experience. Known for her positive, “get it done” attitude, she’s the go-to person who will figure it out—whatever “it” may be.

  DPR Construction

  Business Development Manager

  Jodi Paci

  Business Development Manager

  DPR Construction

• 

  Kim Roy

  Kim Roy began her career in commercial construction with HITT Contracting in 1999. She rose through the ranks of operations in HITT’s Base Building sector, delivering more than 6.5 million square feet of complex tenant fit-out and new construction projects. In 2009 she was promoted to vice president and in 2012 to senior vice president in charge of preconstruction and strategy. Kim’s considerable construction experience and business savvy propelled her to executive vice president in 2015. In this role, she led the firm’s Healthcare sector, which delivers more than $100 million annually on hospital, ambulatory, and highly specialized patient care construction. Additionally, Kim provided executive oversight for a diverse group of corporate resources including business development, HR, marketing, preconstruction, virtual construction, and sustainable construction and corporate responsibility. In 2017, Kim was named CEO of HITT Contracting. In this role, she is responsible for defining key initiatives, identifying emerging markets and business opportunities, as well as executing the strategic vision of the board. She provides executive oversight for all corporate operations. Additionally, Kim leads the Corporate Steering Committee and the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee. She is also the President of the HITT Contracting Foundation.

  HITT

  CEO

  Kim Roy

  CEO

  HITT

• 

  Sherry Kissal

  As Partner at Coakley & Williams Construction, Sherry Kissal drives strategic growth by identifying target markets, expanding core sectors, and aligning pursuit investments with client priorities. Since joining Coakley & Williams Construction in 2014 and becoming an equity partner in 2020, she has played a key role in strengthening the company’s market position and client partnerships. With more than 25 years in the design and construction industry, she bridges design intent, constructability, and business strategy to deliver measurable value for clients. Sherry serves as President of the IIDA Mid-Atlantic Chapter and sits on the CREW National Corporate Council, following service on the CREW DC Board of Directors and its DEI Council. A visible advocate for women in commercial real estate, she founded CWC’s Women’s Group and advises peer firms on similar initiatives. She also led Marymount University’s Design Advisory Council and continues mentoring design students through lectures and site tours. Sherry’s leadership reflects her core belief that the most meaningful spaces and companies are built through shared vision, empowered people, and purposeful collaboration.

  Coakley Williams Construction

  Partner

  Sherry Kissal

  Partner

  Coakley Williams Construction

• 

  Tisa Clark

  Tisa J.D. Clark is an accomplished real estate executive, developer, and general contractor with more than 25 years of experience spanning commercial brokerage, mortgage banking, construction, and community redevelopment. She currently serves as an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate, where she represents investors, developers, and business owners in complex real estate transactions across Maryland and the District of Columbia. As President & CEO of J.D. Clark Professional Services, L.L.C., a certified general contracting and construction firm, Tisa has overseen major renovation, facilities management, and redevelopment projects that transform properties while ensuring compliance with local, state, and investor requirements. In parallel, through J.D. Clark Real Estate, she has led property acquisitions and redevelopment efforts, turning vacant and underutilized assets into quality housing and commercial opportunities. Through The J.D. Clark Companies, Tisa has successfully redeveloped blighted properties into homeownership opportunities, supported nonprofit developers with construction and compliance, and delivered advisory and coaching services to public and private-sector clients. Her portfolio includes projects supported by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Housing Initiative Partnership, and local governments Earlier in her career, Tisa served as a Director at Freddie Mac, managing enterprise-wide initiatives in mortgage banking, secondary markets, and affordable housing—experience that uniquely positions her at the intersection of finance, construction, and brokerage. She holds the Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation from the Mortgage Bankers Association and is a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) candidate, reflecting her deep expertise in capital markets and mortgage finance. A Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate, Tisa integrates financial strategy, sustainability, and operational execution into every project. She is also a recognized civic leader, having served as the former Chair of the Prince George’s County Public Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council, where she championed workforce development pathways for future leaders in construction and real estate. A native Washingtonian, Tisa is a recognized voice in the real estate and business community. She is active with the Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR), the Maryland REALTORS® Education Committee, and the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives. Respected as a strategic advisor and community builder, Tisa is known for her ability to “fix what is broken”—whether in properties, projects, or systems—while creating lasting impact across the commercial real estate ecosystem.

  The JD Clark Companies

  Founder & CEO

  Tisa Clark

  Founder & CEO

  The JD Clark Companies

• 

  Shannon Mangiameli

  Shannon Mangiameli is a seasoned real estate professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in construction and project management. She leads complex, multimillion-dollar projects from concept to completion, collaborating with owners, investors, tenants, architects, and contractors. As the North American Design and Construction Leader for Amazon’s Reverse Logistics program, she currently oversees a $500M portfolio of projects and a team of professionals managing new builds and retrofits of existing warehouses. Ms. Mangiameli holds an MBA in Real Estate from Roosevelt University, as well as Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A dedicated mentor and community leader, she was recently nominated to the Wisconsin Foundation Alumni Advisory Council and supports Baltimore’s public library (Pratt Contemporaries) and arts initiatives (BOPA). A former Goldie Scholar, she now mentors emerging real estate professionals with The Goldie Initiative. Outside of work, Shannon is an accomplished endurance athlete, Ironman finisher, and fluent Italian speaker who enjoys exploring Baltimore and the DMV with her rescue dog.

  Amazon

  Leader, Design and Construction

  Shannon Mangiameli

  Leader, Design and Construction

  Amazon

Excellence in Architecture & Interiors

• 

  Claudia Scozia

  Claudia is a Principal Architect and Firm Founder of SCALE architecture with over 20 years of comprehensive experience spanning architectural design, strategic project management, and corporate leadership. She spent a decade honing her craft as an architect and university educator before successfully transitioning into a corporate role, where she rose to Vice President at BXP. Claudia specializes in delivering multi-million dollar, large-scale developments across multiple regions. Her unique expertise lies in seamlessly bridging creative architectural vision with rigorous, high-level strategic execution to drive profitable, landmark projects from concept to completion.

  SCALE Architecture

  Principal

  Claudia Scozia

  Principal

  SCALE Architecture

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  Daniela Urazan

  Architectural Designer

  Van Metre

• 

  Joely Fischi

  Architect

  Dwell Design Studio

• 

  Lisa Dorsey

  Lisa Dorsey is the Managing Principal of Interplan, where she has led the firm since 2022, backed by her twenty-year career in interior design and architecture. Specializing in Healthcare and Corporate Design, Lisa is recognized throughout the industry for her expertise in managing complex projects and creating environments that balance forward-thinking, functionality, and human-centered design. In addition to her leadership role, Lisa serves as Director of Interplan’s Furniture Division, Lines, where she has expanded the firm’s service offerings. Under her guidance, Interplan has grown her team by 25% and doubled revenue since taking over as managing Partner, a reflection of her strategic vision and collaborative leadership style. A passionate advocate for the design community, Lisa is deeply dedicated to mentoring professionals at every stage of their careers and fostering a supportive, inclusive, and friendly work culture. She believes that great design begins with great teams—empowered, connected, and encouraged to grow. Lisa has been instrumental in re-envisioning Interplan, a forty-year-old firm, ensuring it remains rooted in its core values of Respect, Creativity, Ownership, Results, and Relationships, while evolving to meet the needs of a changing industry. Her leadership continues to shape the future of commercial design—elevating both the profession and the people within it.

  Interplan

  Principal

  Lisa Dorsey

  Principal

  Interplan

• 

  Marnique Heath

  Marnique Heath, FAIA is a Principal and Chair of the Board of Directors of STUDIOS Architecture, an international design firm specializing in workplace, civic and institutional, and mixed‐use projects. At STUDIOS, she oversees an innovative design practice with a diverse client base, including the District and Federal government, educational and cultural institutions, non‐profit organizations, and many private corporations. She is highly valued for her efforts to lead the firm into a new generation of industry practice where diverse interests and backgrounds must be valued and represented to create inclusive places and communities. She also reinforces climate justice as essential for creating equitable communities. Through civic engagement, Marnique leads with a focus on the greater common good. She chairs the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board at the appointment of Mayor Muriel Bowser, and she previously chaired the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment. She is known for her ability to merge divergent groups and interests to create an outcome where all stakeholders’ voices are evident. She amplifies the history of marginalized communities by creating new historic districts and landmarks, including the Kingman Park Historic District and the Barry Farms District. Marnique is a member of the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, recognition achieved by only 3% of members of the AIA for significant contribution to the profession and society. Outside of professional and service work, Marnique enjoys spending time with her husband, Kenyattah Robinson, and son, Markus, and traveling whenever possible.

  STUDIOS Architecture

  Principal, Board Chair

  Marnique Heath

  Principal, Board Chair

  STUDIOS Architecture

• 

  Melissa Hendrix

  With over 30 years of architectural experience, Ms. Hendrix has provided overall management and design for major projects, with a particular expertise in federal and historic renovation work. A dedicated advocate for the historic preservation efforts of the firm, she understands the complexities, challenges, and opportunities presented by these project types, having completed work ranging from select interventions to monumental building modernizations of over one million square feet. Ms. Hendrix is experienced in all phases of project development, from initial studies and surveys to final construction documents and construction phase services. Her expertise in federal facilities standards includes evolving security, sustainability, workplace, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) requirements. Ms. Hendrix received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Virginia.

  Shalom Baranes Associates

  Senior Principal

  Melissa Hendrix

  Senior Principal

  Shalom Baranes Associates

• 

  Rashmi Mehadia

  Since joining RDC in 2016, Rashmi has been a driving force behind complex architectural projects and major retail rollout programs. A licensed architect in Virginia, she has established herself as a resourceful, design-oriented leader—valued for her problem-solving skills, collaborative spirit, and commitment to innovation.

  RDC

  Associate Principal

  Rashmi Mehadia

  Associate Principal

  RDC

• 

  Sarah Gabriel

  Sarah has been with Washington Workplace since 2005. Since her start at the company, she has grown her team from one person to a team of ten. As a Partner with the firm, she is responsible for business development and strategic planning. As a team leader she works hard to make sure her team is as efficient, creative and focused on their customer's needs. Sarah takes great pride in working with clients to provide beautiful and functional work environments with a focus on adhering to budgets, lead times and customer focused service. Sarah is a mother to triplet young adults, one of whom is in the Commercial Real Estate industry in the DC area. The other two are in NYC and LA. Her home is in Old Town Alexandria and is an avid pickleball player.

  Washington Workplace

  Partner

  Sarah Gabriel

  Partner

  Washington Workplace

Best in Brokerage

• 

  Allison DiGiovanni

  Allison DiGiovanni is the Executive Vice President and Market Leader of the Mid-Atlantic region. Based in Washington D.C., DiGiovanni is responsible for guiding and driving Newmark’s full spectrum of service offerings, managing strategic planning, revenue growth and profitability, recruitment and business development. She works strategically to further the region’s client advocacy goals in alignment with Newmark’s national initiative and direction. DiGiovanni brings 18 years of commercial real estate management experience. Prior to joining Newmark, she spent more than eight years at MRP as Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of its office group with responsibility for service delivery, operations and business plan execution for its owned office portfolio and fee-managed assets. In this role, she oversaw more than 100 employees and partnered with senior management to execute strategic business plans, growing the company’s portfolio from 3.5 million square feet to over eleven million square feet and expanding into the Philadelphia and New York markets. Prior, she served as Director at Republic Properties where she was responsible for the firm’s three-million-square-foot Washington Metro portfolio of office, retail and new development properties. She also managed portfolios with CarrAmerica, CarrProperties and Brookfield Properties.

  Newmark

  Executive Vice President and Market Leader of the Mid

  Allison DiGiovanni

  Executive Vice President and Market Leader of the Mid

  Newmark

• 

  Ani Paulson

  SVP

  Northmarq

• 

  Cathy Delcoco

  Cathy Delcoco is a Vice Chairman within CBRE’s advisory and transaction services group, specializing in the corporate representation of clients in the government contracting, media and technology industries. She joined CBRE in 1989 and has continually been recognized as a top performer for the company. Her clients include Booz Allen Hamilton, Ortbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman), comScore, Alion Technology and Bechtel. Cathy focuses on bringing integrated solutions to organizations with robust real estate portfolios, as well as organizations beginning to expand and grow their footprint in the region. Additionally, she brings her knowledge of the CBRE platform and personnel to assignments to ensure that the right subject matter experts are engaged. Her consultative approach provides exponential benefits to her clients based on her focus and commitment to putting their needs first. Cathy is a well-respected expert in corporate real estate and has presented at numerous events and been featured in publications such as Bisnow, The Washington Business Journal, and The Washington Post.

  CBRE

  Vice Chairman

  Cathy Delcoco

  Vice Chairman

  CBRE

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  Kelly Crough

  KELLY M. CROUGH joined DSC Partners LLC in October 2019 bringing 18 years of experience in commercial real estate with an impressive leasing and tenant relations background. Kelly oversees the day to day management of our third-party brokers throughout the portfolio. Her extensive underwriting experience, financial analysis, and due diligence is invaluable to DSC. Her focus on the strategic business plan and the ability to meet our investment criteria is evident by her proven transactional record. Kelly joined DSC from Finmarc Management where she oversaw the leasing of a portfolio inclusive of office, flex, industrial and retail assets totaling six million square feet throughout Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. Prior to joining Finmarc, Kelly worked at First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) where she was a part of the team responsible for the leasing of over 5 million square feet of office, flex and industrial properties throughout Suburban Maryland and Baltimore. During her career, Kelly has leased over 15 million square feet of diversified real estate throughout the region.

  DSC Partners

  VP

  Kelly Crough

  VP

  DSC Partners

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  Kyle Schoppmann

  Kyle Schoppmann serves as the President of CBRE’s Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes offices in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Kyle oversees the day-to-day strategic direction, performance and growth of the Mid-Atlantic Division for all CBRE lines of business. She holds responsibility for the development and management of our professionals, directing the creation and implementation of tools and training that drive their success. Kyle joined CBRE as Managing Director, Brokerage Services, in 2007, assumed responsibility for Capital Markets as Senior Managing Director in 2009, and in 2014 was promoted to Executive Managing Director. She served as the head of Occupier Services and Executive Managing Director for CBRE’s Tri-State region prior to leading the Mid-Atlantic Division. Kyle has more than 20 years of experience in sales strategy, training and professional development. She was previously a Consulting Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and then IBM, where she worked closely with C-level executives on complex change initiatives. Prior to IBM, she held various sales and marketing positions at the Dow Chemical Company. Kyle currently serves as a member of CBRE’s Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council. She is also a member of Leadership Greater Washington (Class of 2019), Federal City Council and the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Kyle has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s first-ever “Greater Washington’s New Guard” list, the Power 100 List and is a Women Who Mean Business Honoree. In 2019, Kyle was named to Washingtonian's list of the Most Powerful Women in Washington, and in 2020, she was featured in Virginia Business Magazine’s Virginia 500 – The 2020 Power List.

  CBRE

  President, Mid-Atlantic

  Kyle Schoppmann

  President, Mid-Atlantic

  CBRE

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  Skylar Jones

  Leasing Representative

  Kimco

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  Victoria Abbasi

  As a senior member of the Government Solutions practice group, Victoria has a decade of federal government real estate experience. Victoria represents institutional owners across the United States in a variety of complex government real estate transactions and consulting assignments largely involving the General Services Administration (GSA) and specializes in advising clients throughout the Federal Government procurement process. She has distinguished herself as an expert and thought leader in the federal real estate sector. Victoria began her career with the Colliers Government Solutions team as the Marketing Coordinator. She was a recipient of Colliers Service Excellence Award, which recognizes individuals who consistently create memorable outcomes for their clients and colleagues. In 2023, she received the global CREW Network Rising Star Impact Award. She is heavily involved in the commercial real estate industry, including mentoring young professionals and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Federal Real Property Association (FRPA).

  Colliers

  VP

  Victoria Abbasi

  VP

  Colliers

Rising Stars

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  Anslee Krouch

  Anslee Krouch joined JLL’s D.C. Agency Leasing team in April 2025, focused exclusively on D.C.’s downtown office market. Anslee and her team are responsible for the leasing and marketing of a portfolio encompassing approximately 21 million square feet of office space in Washington D.C. Her expertise includes lease analysis, market assessments, competitive evaluations, marketing strategy, and client relationship management. Before joining the D.C.'s Agency Leasing team, Anslee spent four years as a broker on JLL's Life Sciences team in Boston, where she represented both Tenants and Landlords across diverse asset classes and property types. Prior to JLL, she worked for Building Engines and WeWork, building a comprehensive skill set in commercial real estate operations and client service. Anslee graduated from Bucknell University with a B.S. in Political Science. Anslee is also involved with the Commercial Real Estate Development Association as well as the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association. Key Clients: • Akridge • Azora Exan • Brookfield Properties • Capitol Crossing Advisors • Columbia Property Trust • Deka Immobilien Investment • DivcoWest • Douglas Development Corporation • Eagle Cliff Real Estate Partners • EastBanc • Jamestown • Landow & Company • Mitsui Fudosan America • MRP Realty • RMR Group • Sentinel Real Estate Corp • Spear Street Capital • TA Realty • The Meridian Group • UBS

  JLL

  Senior Associate

  Anslee Krouch

  Senior Associate

  JLL

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  Arezou Wilson

  Arezou Wilson is a real estate professional with over a decade of experience in architecture and design, now focused on affordable housing development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s in Real Estate, bridging creative vision with practical development expertise. Arezou is dedicated to creating thoughtful, inclusive communities that expand access to quality housing and contribute to lasting neighborhood impact.

  Urban Atlantic

  Development Associate

  Arezou Wilson

  Development Associate

  Urban Atlantic

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  Emily Alexander

  Since joining Jair Lynch, Emily has delivered 540 apartments and 100,000 SF of office and retail while expanding her work experience with historic renovation and multi-family. She played a pivotal role in advancing âme at Meridian Hill, led WMATA’s award-winning public art program, and contributed to transformative redevelopments including the Reservoir District and Barcroft Apartments in Arlington.

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

  Development Manager

  Emily Alexander

  Development Manager

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

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  Hazel Mendoza

  A U.S. Navy veteran, Hazel Mendoza brings discipline, integrity, and leadership to every project she takes on. She combines her field expertise with a passion for craftsmanship, collaboration, and client satisfaction, delivering projects that strike a balance between function, design, and quality. Hazel is a rising star at Coakley & Williams Construction, where her commitment to excellence has been evident in projects such as Carl F. West Estates Senior Living and the Landon School. She is known for her ability to lead by example, foster teamwork, and ensure that every detail on site reflects professionalism and precision. Dedicated to service beyond the job site, Hazel actively supports community organizations and empowers others, especially women and veterans, to pursue careers in the trades and real estate industries. She is currently earning her Business Administration degree at the University of Maryland Global Campus, further strengthening her leadership and business strategy skills. Driven by the belief that leadership means lifting others, Hazel continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of builders, entrepreneurs, and women in the construction industry.”

  Coakley Williams Construction

  Assistant Superintendent

  Hazel Mendoza

  Assistant Superintendent

  Coakley Williams Construction

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  Julianna Falzon

  Project Manager

  Southland Industries

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  Kristyn Dawson

  Branch Manager, Commercial Title Underwriter

  Community Title Network

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  Melanie Sunnerberg

  Investment Associate

  Saul Urban

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  Rachel Kenney

  Rachel's keen ability to resolve complex design and construction issues quickly across a broad range of project types, including demonstrated success in complex modernization and headquarters projects, has enabled her to design, document, and lead many of STUDIOS most innovative design projects in the Washington, DC office. She is a leader of sustainability and acts as the DC coordinator for STUDIOS' 2030 commitment towards carbon neutrality. Rachel brings expertise and knowledge of sustainable building design practices, including sustainability and code compliance paths and LEED v4 certification for Schools and DC Green Construction Code. Significant projects include the District Department of Transportation, Office of the Attorney General, MacFarland Middle School, and Jefferson Academy, among others.

  STUDIOS Architecture

  Associate Principal

  Rachel Kenney

  Associate Principal

  STUDIOS Architecture

Our 2025 Nominations Committee

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  Samantha Giunta

  Samantha Giunta joined BlackChamber Group as the Chief Financial Officer in October 2019 – a month prior to inception of its first private real estate fund. As a new fund manager to the market, BlackChamber has raised close to $1 billion in less than five years from well-respected institutional investors to capitalize the development of build-to-suit data center campuses in Northern Virginia that are wholly leased to the largest hyperscale cloud service providers. BlackChamber is a vertically integrated developer and SEC registered investment advisor with approximately $1.3 billion assets under management as of the end of 2023. In its short tenure, BlackChamber has acquired approximately 370 acres of Northern Virgina land with the capacity to develop approximately 9.2 million square feet of data centers. Prior to joining BlackChamber, she was the controller at ASB Real Estate Investments, a division of ASB Capital Management located in Bethesda, MD, an established real estate investment management firm with $8.1 billion in assets under management from over 340 private institutional clients. In that role, she was the controller of a core open-end fund, a separate account owned by a union affiliated pension fund, and a value-add, closed-end fund. Cumulatively, those vehicles owned 190 assets with 15.7 million rentable square feet across multiple product types – office, multifamily, retail, and industrial. Before transitioning into private equity, Ms. Giunta began her career as an external auditor at Deloitte. Ms. Giunta is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional (inactive) and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi.

  BlackChamber Group

  CFO

  Samantha Giunta

  CFO

  BlackChamber Group

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  Yalda Ghamarian Howell

  Yalda Ghamarian Howell is a Managing Director of Multifamily Investment Sales for the Mid-Atlantic region. Since she joined Berkadia in June 2022, Yalda has completed over $6 billion in investment sales encompassing approximately 20,000 units. She specializes in the marketing, underwriting, and execution of multifamily sales transactions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Previously, Yalda was the Senior Vice President of CBRE’s Multifamily Investment Sales. With over a decade at CBRE, she assisted in the disposition of nearly 500 apartment communities with an aggregate value exceeding $25.8 billion. Prior to CBRE, Yalda worked at Kettler Inc. where she focused on property management, marketing and development verticals. Yalda earned a B.S. in Management and Housing from Virginia Tech and a M.S. in Real Estate from John Hopkins University.

  Berkadia

  Managing Director

  Yalda Ghamarian Howell

  Managing Director

  Berkadia

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  Ella Adkins

  Ella (Cooper) Adkins is a Vice President in JLL’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents law firms, professional service firms, and technology companies. She is a member of JLL’s Law Firm Group (“LFG”), which specializes in global portfolio representation of the AMLAW 100. Since 2010, the LFG has conducted over 300 lease transactions across six continents. Ella has been involved in a vast array of real estate advisory services for her clients, including headquarters relocations, new site selection, asset acquisitions and dispositions, multi-location consolidations and lease restructures. Additionally, Ella serves on the board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Washington, D.C. Chapter, and is a founding member of the WINNERS Lacrosse Junior Board.

  JLL

  VP, Brokerage

  Ella Adkins

  VP, Brokerage

  JLL

It's a Women's World: DMV CRE Outlook

Hear from the region's trailblazers as they discuss their latest projects, partnerships, strategies and industry trends across design, development, leasing and more.

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  Christine Miller Langemak

  After more than 28 years in the industry, Christine has never considered what she does as “work”. “I do my best to listen to my clients and then to strategically show them the best products to meet their needs for design, budget and timeline.” Her experience at Washington Workplace includes some interesting and eclectic jobs, including work on sets for the films GI Jane, and Contact, design work for the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, and the Marine Corp Museum. Christine spends her spare time with her four boys, husband, extended family, and friends rafting up at Dobbins Island, near her home in Pasadena, Maryland or skiing at Seven Springs.

  Washington Workplace

  Partner

  Christine Miller Langemak

  Partner

  Washington Workplace

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  Julia Broder

  Julia Broder is a Senior Director at Convene, a global hospitality company that designs and manages meeting, event, and flexible workspace. She leads the team responsible for selling WorkPlace, Convene’s premium flex office solution that encompasses two offerings: private WorkSuites for teams of 10 or more, and Membership, which offers access to communal workspaces and is great for individuals or small teams. Based in Washington D.C., Julia manages sales for the local Convene Hamilton Square, oversees sales efforts across New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and is actively involved in pursuing expansion opportunities for the WorkPlace product. Under her leadership, occupancy for Convene WorkPlace has grown to exceed the industry standard. Prior to joining Convene, she supported a top brokerage team at Colliers in New York, and has also worked in Broadway producing. She recently moved back to her native Washington D.C. after living in New York City for 12 years.

  Convene

  Senior Director, WorkPlace

  Julia Broder

  Senior Director, WorkPlace

  Convene

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  LaVonne Torrence Berner

  LaVonne is principal and owner of Torrence Law, a commercial real estate transaction focused law firm founded in 2009. LaVonne’s practice focuses on representing landlords in negotiating retail, office, and flex space leases. In addition, she has extensive experience representing regional tenants in negotiations with national developers and landlords and routinely represents investors and owner occupants in small parcel purchase and sale transactions. LaVonne is passionate about working with landlords and owners to protect real estate holdings and profits, and she finds it equally important to educate tenants on responsibilities associated with entering a commercial lease. To that end, LaVonne was a contributor on the ICSC Connect Virtual Business Series panel on Essential Site Selection Tips for Small Businesses, and she contributed to the Montgomery County, Maryland, Office of Legislative Oversight’s Memorandum Report 2024-9, which examines the legal landscape of commercial lease laws in Maryland. LaVonne volunteers on the Board of Directors of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. and chairs the Incentives Review Committee, and she also volunteers on the Executive Committee for Women in Retail Real Estate (WIRRE). In the 10 years prior to founding Torrence Law, LaVonne was on a team of lease negotiators for an international retail development and management company and an attorney at a mid-size commercial real estate law firm.

  Torrence Law Office, LLC

  Principal and Owner

  LaVonne Torrence Berner

  Principal and Owner

  Torrence Law Office, LLC

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  Victoria Wallace

  VICTORIA WALLACE Victoria Wallace joins the interior design studio in the DC office bringing with her 16 years of experience in hospitality-focused and multi-family design and restaurants. She has a passion for creating unique, meaningful spaces that bring people together. She’s a thoughtful leader with keen attention to detail and a knack for collaborating with clients and consultants to create fully integrated and highly successful project results. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture, Victoria believes in a holistic approach to design that incorporates all aspects of the built environment, blending style and function seamlessly. Her design approach is based on the belief that every project has a character that is just waiting to be brought to life through the design process. Ever curious and a lifelong learner, she finds inspiration from nature, cultural traditions, historic precedent, and an astute awareness of design and market trends.

  ZDS

  Project Manager, Interiors

  Victoria Wallace

  Project Manager, Interiors

  ZDS

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  Genevieve Hanson

  Genevieve Hanson has spent 20 years overseeing real estate transactions and assets valued over $6 Billion and has more than 10 years’ experience as a strategy and operations consultant. Genevieve is the CEO and Founder of H & H Realty Group focused on leveraging real estate consulting and multi-family development to generate social and environmental impacts. Prior to H & H, Genevieve was a Partner at Ernst & Young, LLP, providing real estate strategy and transaction services to the Dept of Commerce, Veterans Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force, HUD, City of Baltimore and University of Pittsburgh. As an Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Genevieve led real estate policy, asset management, leasing supply chain operations and sustainability program. While at U.S. General Services Administration and the DC Government Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development, Genevieve managed the strategy, solicitation process and deal structure for multiple acquisitions and dispositions for properties up to 110-acres. Genevieve has served in Leadership positions with several Trade Associations including Commercial Real Estate for Women DC; Urban Land Institute; African American Real Estate Professionals; and Federal Real Property Association. Genevieve earned a B.A. in International Relations from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

  H&H Realty Group

  CEO

  Moderator

  Genevieve Hanson

  CEO

  H&H Realty Group

Opening Remarks

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  Megan Abraham

  CEO

  The Goldie Initiative