2025 Trailblazers

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  Alison Weinberg-Fahey

  Alison R. Weinberg-Fahey focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions. She represents and advises property owners, developers, tenants, lenders, and investors on acquisitions and dispositions, development, construction, and workouts for retail, hospitality, office, aviation, and multifamily projects. She also advises clients on brokerage rules and regulations. Alison counsels clients on the drafting and negotiation of commercial leases and subleases and advises corporate clients on real estate issues arising from commercial leasing and mergers and acquisitions. She also has guided clients on renewable energy and clean technology financing projects. Alison’s previous experience also includes serving as associate general counsel for a boutique investment bank, registered as a broker/dealer and municipal advisor, with offices in San Francisco and New York City. Alison also worked as an auditor at PwC in New York during the 2008 financial crisis and acted as part of the AIG Financial Products audit team based in Wilton, Connecticut.

  Greenberg Traurig

  Shareholder

  Alison Weinberg-Fahey

  Shareholder

  Greenberg Traurig

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  Ashley Allred

  With a flourishing career in commercial real estate, Ashley Allred has seamlessly navigated the industry, learning and growing alongside accomplished brokers. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence has been pivotal in her dual role as an agent and as the Office Manager at MWCRE in Northern Utah, where she works closely with her teammate, Rand Sargent. Ashley is unwavering in her dedication to assisting clients in realizing their ambitious real estate aspirations, whether they are landlords or tenants. She places great importance on nurturing these invaluable relationships. Her unwavering passion for Commercial Real Estate, coupled with a profound understanding of market dynamics, positions her as a dependable and empathetic partner. Ashley’s specialization lies in the fields of industrial, office, and land acquisitions. Her expertise in these sectors makes her a go-to professional for clients seeking success in these areas. Beyond the office, Ashley cherishes moments spent with her four children and indulges in leisure activities like pickleball and golf. She’s an avid enthusiast of live music and enjoys vacations as well as partaking in the plethora of incredible outdoor adventures that Utah has to offer.

  Newmark Mountain West

  Broker

  Ashley Allred

  Broker

  Newmark Mountain West

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  Ashley McDonald

  Senior Director

  Asana Partners

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  Christina Haas

  Focusing on healthcare, research, and higher education projects, Christina excels at engaging and collaborating with mission-driven clients to enhance communities and human experiences through the built environment. Christina leads FFKR's professional development, promoting an inclusive work culture that optimizes employee strengths and experience by providing opportunities that capitalize on individual goals and interests. Christina received her Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) in 2019.

  FFKR Architects

  Principal

  Christina Haas

  Principal

  FFKR Architects

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  Connie Gonzalez

  Connie Gonzalez, is an Associate Vice President for D.A. Davidson’s development finance group where she serves clients across Utah and other markets. Her specialized expertise in cashflow analysis, tax increment financial modeling, real estate pro-forma modeling, HTRZ, CPACE, along with innovative debt structuring provides an unparalleled resource to clients looking to secure capital for real estate developments. Additionally, her recent experiences have led her to focus on infrastructure financing districts (IFD), public infrastructure districts (PID) and other financing tools throughout the nation. Prior to joining D.A. Davidson, Gonzalez spent nearly two years at Piper Sandler Companies, where she worked closely with real estate developers and municipalities to help consult and advise on public infrastructure funding. Her previous experience includes equities execution services at Goldman Sachs, Financial Institutions Group at BlackRock in New York City, and an Executive Strategy Internship for the Larry H. Miller Group under Steve Starks. She currently serves on the Board for ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) and is the Utah Young Leader Chair for ULI (Urban Land Institute). Additionally, her involvement with industry organizations such as CREW, Utah’s Economic Alliance, and HomeAid proves evidence of her passion, engagement, and dedication to Utah’s growth. She studied finance and sociology at Brigham Young University. She holds Series SIE, 50, 52, and 63 licenses.

  D.A. Davidson

  AVP

  Connie Gonzalez

  AVP

  D.A. Davidson

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  Elaine Lu

  Managing Director

  Bridge Investment Group

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  Erin Laney Barr

  Erin Laney Barr is Managing Director and Market Leader for CBRE’s Salt Lake City office. In this role, Erin oversees business operations and drives the overall growth strategy for all Advisory Services lines of business, including leasing, sales, valuations, debt & structured finance, project management, and property management. Erin joined CBRE in January 2022 with a diverse background spanning real estate law, economic development and business attraction, and real estate development. As a real estate attorney for over six years in Southern California, she represented financial institutions, including the Big Four, in legal proceedings related to real property holdings. Thereafter, she transitioned from law to a role with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, where she ultimately served as Vice President of Business Development. While there, she helped the state attract and retain high-value companies and assisted with site selection and acquisition. Before being appointed Market Leader, Erin served as a Transaction Manager at CBRE, facilitating deals for national and global occupier clients, including charitable organizations and companies in the social, utilities, energy, and retail sectors. Erin’s strong reputation, deep community and industry relationships, and breadth of professional experience enable CBRE’s Salt Lake City office to drive exceptional results for its clients.

  CBRE

  Managing Director & Market Leader

  Erin Laney Barr

  Managing Director & Market Leader

  CBRE

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  Eva Lopez Chavez

  Eva Lopez Chavez is the eldest daughter in a working-class Mexican immigrant family. She was raised to respect her elders, always lend a helping hand, and above all else, la familia es siempre primero: Family is always first. Elected to serve in 2024, Eva is the first Mexican-American elected to the Salt Lake City Council. Born in Salt Lake City and raised in Southern Idaho, she is a proud daughter of the Rocky Mountain West, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and serves as a local consultant to businesses and organizations. Eva attended the University of Utah and studied political science from 2015-2018. Throughout her career, Eva has been actively involved in grassroots organizing and community engagement efforts, with a focus on social justice for marginalized communities. Eva has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities in the City, such as civil enforcement, community engagement, public process and more. In her former role, she worked as a Mayor’s Office Liaison and outreach specialist helping connect communities to the intersections where policy is created. As Council Member, her decisions revolve around these three core principles: inclusivity, sustainability, and community. She firmly believes that Salt Lake City thrives when every voice is heard, and every resident feels valued. Eva aims to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in decision-making processes and that all community members have equal access to resources and opportunities. Eva is committed to building partnerships and fostering transparent and accountable governance, fighting for policies that prioritize the well-being of District 4, ensuring residents are heard and protecting their interests. Together, with the support of the community, Eva aims to connect communities and include every Salt Laker in the public process.

  District 4

  Salt Lake City Council Member

  Eva Lopez Chavez

  Salt Lake City Council Member

  District 4

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  Gwen Knight

  Gwen consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellence when serving clients. Her focus on the client's best interests, along with her drive, attention to detail and creativity, provide flexibility in developing solutions that achieve desired results. She is involved in numerous real estate transactions representing investors, sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants of office, industrial, land and multifamily properties. Gwen also serves on the CREW Utah Board and was its 2024 President. Gwen’s commercial real estate experience spans the spectrum of brokerage, development, finance, project management, advisory and consulting services, public and private partnership ventures, financing (debt and equity), asset management and strategic planning. She has been a team leader on a variety of commercial real estate projects ranging from $2 million to over $80 million. Gwen joined the Colliers Utah team in 2018 when she and her husband moved to Utah to be closer to family. She had previously been with Colliers in St. Louis since 2011. During her notable career, she served as an executive with a private real estate consulting firm, a Vice President of Development and Corporate Services at a development firm where she led the redevelopment of an historic national landmark building, and at a senior level with a national development firm specializing in office and multifamily development. She has received many honors, including recognition as a Colliers Utah Top Producer in multiple years, a 2022 CCIM Utah Multidisciplinary Broker of the Year finalist, multiple times as a recipient and finalist of the Heavy Hitter in St. Louis Commercial Real Estate award, a CREW St. Louis Economic Impact Award, and recognition as a St. Louis Most Influential Business Woman. Gwen received her MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

  Colliers

  EVP

  Gwen Knight

  EVP

  Colliers

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  Jacqueline Hopkinson

  Jacqueline has been Senior Corporate Counsel for Wadsworth Development Group since 2018. In her role, Jacqueline has primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating leases, purchase agreements, and ancillary documentation related to the company’s real estate transactions. Much of Jacqueline’s time is spent drafting complex real estate transactional agreements, focusing primarily on commercial lease negotiations and related lease transactions for retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use developments, along with legal documentation related to real property dispositions and acquisitions. Prior to joining Wadsworth Development Group, Jacqueline was in-house counsel as the Senior Leasing Attorney for Woodbury Corporation, a prominent real estate development company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Before entering the real estate field, Jacqueline was a public defender in Salt Lake City and a pro bono attorney for the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. Jacqueline was recently recognized by Utah Business Magazine as a “Legal Elite” for her work as in-house counsel at Wadsworth Development Group. She is an active member of the Utah State Bar and International Council of Shopping Centers. Jacqueline graduated summa cum laude from Westminster College (’04) with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration. Jacqueline graduated cum laude from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah (’08) with a Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Jacqueline was awarded the David T. Lewis Clinical Award for the Class of 2008 for her work with the innocence project. She was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 2008.

  Wadsworth Development Group

  Senior Corporate Counsel

  Jacqueline Hopkinson

  Senior Corporate Counsel

  Wadsworth Development Group

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  Jill Snyder

  Jill Snyder has been a top performing commercial agent in Utah for 25 years. She began her Commercial Real Estate career in 1998 with Commerce Real Estate Solutions where she was involved in over 200 transactions. Jill specializes in multi-family, retail, office, industrial, land, and investment sales. She has extensive knowledge of Summit, Wasatch, and Salt Lake counties. Jill started with Newmark in the fall of 2015. During her time there, she closed over 160 million in sales and leasing. She was awarded with Newmark’s Breakout Agent of the year in 2019, as her numbers consistently increased at a rate of over 200%. She also obtained her broker’s license in 2018. She recently joined BHHS Commercial Division, and currently sits on the CCIM Utah Chapter Board as the Sponsorship chair, along with the Commercial Alliance Committee in Salt Lake City. Jill is an associate of the Park City and Wasatch Front multiple listings. She is a board member of Park City's MLS. She is also a member of the Park City and Heber City Chambers of Commerce. Jill has worked on a variation of multiple properties, some of which include: Quarry Village, Holiday Village, Redstone, Lower Main Street, Toll Creek Village, and Kimball on Main. Jill resides in Summit County and plans to retire in the area. She is passionate about fitness and has a deep love for animals. In her free time she enjoys golfing with her husband, and hiking with her dogs and two daughters. In her opinion, spending time with her family is the most fulfilling accomplishment she can make in her life. During her career, she has consistently been dedicated to serving her clients real estate needs time and time again. She treats clients as family and uses her direct nature to negotiate every deal that she is a part of. It goes without saying that Jill’s passion, perseverance, and integrity is unsurpassed in the field. She looks forward to making your real estate needs her priority!

  BHHS UT Properties

  Senior Managing Director

  Jill Snyder

  Senior Managing Director

  BHHS UT Properties

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  Kathy Olson

  Director

  Woodbury Corporation

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  Kenzie Kier

  Networking & Operations Director

  J. Fisher Companies

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  Krista Peters

  Krista Peters is the Senior Vice President of Operations at Redstone Residential, overseeing all conventional multifamily communities across the portfolio. With her CAPS designation from the National Apartment Association and 17 years of industry experience, Krista blends financial acumen with a people-first leadership style. She has a proven track record in driving operational excellence, building high-performing teams, and developing cost-effective strategies that enhance resident satisfaction and asset performance. A Utah native, Krista enjoys exploring Utah’s natural beauty, oftern rockhounding, alongside her husband, two sons, and their dogs.

  Redstone Residential

  SVP

  Krista Peters

  SVP

  Redstone Residential

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  Michele Sauk

  Experienced Senior Vice President with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry. Skilled in Coaching, Sales, Team Building, Management, and Account Management. Multi-business Entrepreneur. Educator and speaker to small business owners. Strong finance professional graduated from Utah State University.

  Fortis Bank

  Market President

  Michele Sauk

  Market President

  Fortis Bank

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  Nadia Letey

  Nadia Letey joined CBRE in 2007 with a diverse background in marketing and sales. She currently holds the esteemed role as Senior Vice President of the Scott Wilmarth Office Team, working alongside Scott and his team of professionals. Nadia has made a profound impact in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, directly influencing the growth and revitalization of Salt Lake City’s metropolitan and surrounding areas through the office market sector. She is best known for her meticulous attention to detail and her flawless follow through as a leading and trusted voice in her profession and has expanded on this role to work with many high profile owners, stakeholders and decision makers drawing national and global business to Utah. Nadia is readily engaged in her professional community, presenting forecasts and revitalization outlooks to such organizations as the Downtown Alliance, the SLC Mayor’s office and is a force in the advocacy and mentoring of women in business. Nadia continues to make her mark in 2024 as a leader in her field, fostering committed client relationships, strategic marketing to revitalize a post pandemic climate, and finally directly influencing Utah’s economic growth through the office market industry.

  CBRE

  SVP

  Nadia Letey

  SVP

  CBRE

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  Nichole Parkinson

  Nichole Parkinson’s career is a powerful testament to perseverance, passion, and exceptional leadership. With 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Nichole has built a reputation for her reliability, expertise, and steady drive for excellence. She began her career at Mountain West Commercial Real Estate (MWCRE) as an Executive Assistant to top-producing agents. Her keen attention to detail, tireless work ethic, and genuine passion for the industry quickly set her apart. These qualities fueled her rapid ascent through the organization’s ranks. Nichole’s natural ability to manage complex operations and her visionary mindset led her to the role of Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, she oversees the day-to-day operations of MWCRE and has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s ongoing success. Under her leadership, the company has expanded into new markets, attracted top-tier talent, and strengthened its position as an industry leader. Her strategic foresight and deep understanding of commercial real estate continue to drive MWCRE’s growth and innovation. Outside of the office, Nichole embraces adventure and downtime in equal measure. She enjoys camping, reading across all genres, and cheering on her beloved Green Bay Packers. Above all, she values time spent with family and friends, finding purpose and balance in those relationships.

  Newmark Mountain West

  COO

  Nichole Parkinson

  COO

  Newmark Mountain West

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  Nicole Horst

  Nicole, President of Wenk Associates since 2020, oversees and often manages most of the firm’s complex park, open space, greenway, and municipal projects. With over 25 years of experience, Nicole develops strategies to push through complicated environmental, political, and community challenges and builds departmental and community consensus to support project goals and outcomes. Nicole aims to make her project processes comfortable and accessible to all project team members, from highly technical experts to the broader community. She brings a passion for place-making and creating enduring spaces that connect people to nature and are respectful to everyone. Nicole is a professional landscape architect in the States of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. She holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Iowa State University. Nicole also serves as Wenk’s managing principal. She has served as a jury member for the ULI Americas Awards for Excellence and has presented nationally on a variety of topics related to resilient design.

  Wenk Associates

  President

  Nicole Horst

  President

  Wenk Associates

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  Norah Potter

  Norah manages development projects from concept through completion, participates in project visioning, and supports acquisitions efforts.

  Lake Union Partners

  Development Manager

  Norah Potter

  Development Manager

  Lake Union Partners

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  Rachel Oh Smith

  Rachel Oh Smith is a Managing Director at PEG Companies and a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Since joining PEG in 2018, Rachel has played a pivotal role in driving the firm’s growth and shaping its investor strategy. From 2018 to 2025, she successfully led PEG’s fundraising initiatives, securing over $1 billion in equity from institutions, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth investors. In addition to spearheading capital-raising efforts, Rachel has been instrumental in guiding the firm’s marketing strategy, product development, investor communications, and reporting functions. In 2025, she transitioned to lead the PEG Investor Experience, where she focuses on elevating all aspects of investor engagement — from strategic communications and investment reporting to cultivating and strengthening the firm’s most valued relationships. Before joining PEG, Rachel managed large enterprise accounts for major SaaS companies along the West Coast and built deep expertise in private wealth management, working closely with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private foundations. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to navigate complex markets, build investor trust, and drive successful fundraising outcomes across diverse environments. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with University Honors from Brigham Young University.

  PEG Companies

  Managing Director

  Rachel Oh Smith

  Managing Director

  PEG Companies

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  Sarah Narjes

  As the General Manager for Mortenson’s Salt Lake City office, Sarah Narjes is responsible for the continued expansion of Mortenson’s presence in Utah and oversees key active development and investment projects. Narjes has successfully led a variety of complex high-profile projects since joining Mortenson in 2007. With her customer-centric and charismatic leadership style, Sarah transitioned to Mortenson’s Sports + Entertainment Group in 2014, serving in a variety of leadership roles for iconic sports stadiums including the Truist Park (Atlanta Braves) in Atlanta, Georgia and the Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  Mortenson

  General Manager

  Sarah Narjes

  General Manager

  Mortenson

Elevating Salt Lake: The Female Force in Real Estate

A conversation with industry leaders on their career journeys, key wins and what’s shaping Salt Lake’s commercial real estate market today

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  Dana Baird

  Dana Baird brings a truly unique set of institutional commercial real estate brokerage experience and accreditations to her responsibility as Executive Managing Director of the Cushman & Wakefield office division. She has been active in the commercial real estate community for nearly thirty years and is consistently recognized by her peers as a top producer, averaging more than $50 million and 850,000 square feet (SF) of annual transaction volume.

  Cushman and Wakefield

  Executive Managing Director

  Honoree

  Dana Baird

  Executive Managing Director

  Cushman and Wakefield

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  Darlene Carter

  20 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate development. As CEO of CW Group, I oversee 4 company business lines- CW Urban, CW Land Co, Cole West Home and Cole West Development. I am proficient in recognizing and capitalizing on changing market trends and demographics, strategic planning, operations, systems development to execute business plans, capital raising and proforma budgeting. I am passionate not just about building and developing residential projects but building and developing successful teams, brand awareness and unique end user experiences. As the keeper of our company culture, I live by a people first approach. 2018 Utah Business Magazine 30 women to watch honoree and 2020 Utah Business Magazine 40 under 40 honoree. Long story short, #realestatenerd

  C.W. Group

  CEO

  Honoree

  Darlene Carter

  CEO

  C.W. Group

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  Ronda Landa

  As a leading Commercial Sales Executive, Ronda brings considerable commercial market knowledge and excellent leadership abilities to our dynamic National Commercial Services (NCS) team. Both her diverse professional background and her extensive expertise allow her to craft custom-tailored solutions and unparalleled value-add for her customers, and in turn, help successfully close complex national and local commercial transactions. Whether it is utilizing her vast network to make connections or her adept communication skills, Ronda guarantees her clients, and their transactions, are handled with the utmost personalized care from start to finish. Ronda provides exceptional service to a discerning clientele, representing them in diverse transactions ranging from commercial industrial to complex energy deals. She is backed by a leading Fidelity National Title team comprised of top professional escrow, title, and skilled underwriting staff. Ronda continues to grow her knowledge and network by involving herself in many commercial real estate organizations including CREW, CCIM, ULI, WEN, and UCRE. As the former President of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), she helped develop strategies for individuals and businesses to reach their full potential and secured the first local scholarship with a five-year commitment from the CRE community. In 2021, Ronda was recognized as one of “The Top 10 Most Inspiring Business Women Making a Difference” by Insights Magazine. Clients, volunteers, and co-workers alike often seek Ronda’s advice and expertise, as she always welcomes the opportunity to help and mentor with an open heart. We are excited to have her join our Fidelity National Title NCS team and are certain that she will be an integral part of growing our team to be the market leader.

  Fidelity National Title

  SVP

  Honoree

  Ronda Landa

  SVP

  Fidelity National Title

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  Chantily Malibago

  Chantily leads Mortenson Development’s healthcare vertical and is responsible for driving strategy and long-term growth. A 20 year real estate professional, Chantily has worked with health systems and care organizations nationwide delivering real estate solutions to help reduce the cost of care, improve the patient experience and positively impact the health of their communities. Most notably, she was responsible for regional portfolio strategy and management for a Fortune 6 global healthcare organization. Chantily brings a customer-focused approach—taking time to understand a client’s objectives and aligns resources, market knowledge and data needed to help make informed decisions. This makes her a trusted partner committed to helping healthcare clients achieve meaningful results by levering Mortenson’s deep development expertise—from strategic planning, portfolio optimization, site selection and financial feasibility to creative financing strategies and partnerships. Six Sigma Green Belt certified, Chantily earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and a master’s degree in healthcare services administration from the University of South Dakota. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

  Mortenson

  Director, Real Estate Development

  Chantily Malibago

  Director, Real Estate Development

  Mortenson

• Moderator

  Kristen McCann

  Sales and Real Estate Partnerships Manager

  Placemakr