Panel Discussion: Spotlight on San Antonio Women Leaders, Mentors And Innovators

Highlighting the strategies, stories and insights driving progress throughout San Antonio’s CRE landscape

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  Helena Finley

  Helena Finely is a seasoned multifamily executive with more than 25 years of experience in development and construction. She leads EMBREY’s construction division and has oversight for all residential and commercial buildings in the company’s portfolio. Before joining EMBREY, Helena was on the founding leadership team of Vero Sade, which develops, builds and operates Class-A residential real estate. Helena’s previous experience includes leading multifamily construction for Morgan Group Development, Trammel Crow, Gables, and Post Properties. Her portfolio includes construction of 29 multifamily and mixed-use projects with more than 6,800 units and combined budgets of more than $830 million. Helena was recruited from South Africa on a full swimming scholarship to the University of Houston, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She has competed in many ultra-distance events including the Colorado River 100-mile kayak race, the Leadville 100-mile mountain bike race, Ironman Texas, and a variety of adventure races, triathlons and marathons. She and her husband, David, have three children and four grandchildren.

  EMBREY

  Managing Director & EVP of Construction

  HONOREE: LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Helena Finley

  Managing Director & EVP of Construction

  EMBREY

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  Hailey Ghalib

  Hailey Ghalib serves as Senior Managing Director and Head of Housing Investment and Development for Affinius Capital. Hailey leads Affinius Capital’s multifamily, mixed-use and senior housing business and oversees its ground-up development program for housing. Since joining Affinius Capital in 2007, Hailey has guided the company’s housing strategy and works to identify, negotiate and execute portfolio transactions and development efforts across the United States. She is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Hailey received a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Texas at Austin; a Master of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley; and Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston. She is a licensed Architect in the State of Texas. Hailey is also an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a member of the National Multi-Housing Council, serving on the Finance Advisory Committee, and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.

  Affinius Capital

  Sr. MD, Head of Housing Investment and Development

  HONOREE: DEAL MAKER OF THE YEAR

  Hailey Ghalib

  Sr. MD, Head of Housing Investment and Development

  Affinius Capital

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  Connie Gonzalez

  Chief Strategy Officer Connie Gonzalez is responsible for establishing strategic direction to further advance Brooks’ growth, expanding on the success of the last 20 years. In addition, she leads business development, public affairs, community engagement, and project management initiatives. Connie is also the Executive Director of Brooks Gives Back, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves as the vehicle by which all members of the Brooks community can invest in nonprofit initiatives impacting people in the neighborhoods surrounding Brooks, which has distributed more than $450,000 since 2019. Connie joined the Brooks team in November 2015 and previously served as the Director of Strategy & Community Relations and Director of Public Relations. Prior to joining the Brooks team, Connie was a weekend anchor and reporter for both KNWA and KFTA in Fayetteville, Arkansas and KSAN in San Angelo, Texas. Raised in San Antonio, she began her professional career as an intern with News 4 WOAI and worked in public affairs at Spurs Sports & Entertainment. An advocate for community involvement, Gonzalez serves as an Executive Committee member of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Foundation and the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo). She also serves on the CAST Med High School Advisory Board of Directors, the Texas A&M University – San Antonio Mays Center Community Advisory Council, and on the City of San Antonio’ Removing Barriers to Housing Technical Group. Connie previously served as Chair for the City of San Antonio’s Planning Commission and Chair for the South Texas Business Partnership Board of Directors, formerly known as the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she participated in the 2021 Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program. A graduate of Leadership San Antonio Class 44, the City South Leadership Class 30 and the North Chamber Innovative Leadership Program, Gonzalez also served on the Leadership San Antonio Class 45 Steering Committee.

  Brooks

  Chief Strategy Officer

  HONOREE: LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Connie Gonzalez

  Chief Strategy Officer

  Brooks

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  Christi Griggs

  Christi Griggs is a Senior Vice President working with real estate investors and occupiers in transaction management, strategic repositioning, disposition consulting and asset management, primarily on Class A & B office and mixed-use properties. Her unique background in interior architecture feeds her creative approach to creating and implementing strategies for her clients. She takes a trusted ownership approach and is committed to the success of her clients. Prior to coming to CBRE, Ms. Griggs served as a partner and new business development lead for landlord representation with Peloton Commercial Real Estate in San Antonio. Ms. Griggs began her career at Insite Architects in San Antonio as a Senior Designer. In this role, she was responsible for programming, space planning, design, specifications, and project and construction management of interior finish out projects. Ms. Griggs started her formal real estate career with Trammell Crow Company in San Antonio, serving as a Senior Associate with a focus in transaction management. During her time with Trammell Crow Company, Ms. Griggs leased over 2.5 million-square-feet of office space in the San Antonio market. Later, a partner with Peloton Commercial Real Estate, Ms. Griggs was responsible for business development, leasing and brokerage of office projects and tenant representation. Ms. Griggs joined CBRE in June of 2018 as a First Vice President upon the merger of CBRE and Peloton Commercial Real Estate in San Antonio.

  CBRE

  SVP

  HONOREE: DEAL MAKER OF THE YEAR

  Christi Griggs

  SVP

  CBRE

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  Samantha Whitney

  A Principal in TBG’s San Antonio office and Director of Urban Design, Sam is an architect and urban designer committed to building consensus through collaborative processes that strengthen connections between people and place. Her empathy and high degree of conscientiousness pervade all areas of her work. Sam is also gifted in community engagement, consensus-building, and developing close relationships with her colleagues, clients, and the communities she serves. Her project experience includes mixed-use development, downtown revitalization, campus master plans, and urban streetscapes.

  TBG

  Principal, Director of Urban Design

  HONOREE: INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

  Samantha Whitney

  Principal, Director of Urban Design

  TBG

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  Stephanie Martinez

  A rapidly emerging leader in industrial construction, San Antonio-based Stephanie Martinez oversees Catamount’s national industrial division, managing a portfolio of over 800 projects valued at more than $5 billion across 41 states since 2010. The portfolio includes complex distribution, manufacturing, and R&D facilities. Known for empowering teams with accountability and consistency, she drives operational success through process innovation, mentorship, and tailored client solutions. Stephanie led Catamount’s Florida expansion and develops future leaders who take ownership and deliver outstanding results for clients. Starting as a Catamount intern in 2012, she quickly progressed through preconstruction and operations roles. Inspired by a family legacy in building and fueled by a passion for problem-solving and collaboration, Stephanie combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership. A champion of Catamount’s ESOP culture, she emphasizes team growth, transparent communication, and continuous learning, creating a lasting legacy of capable, confident leaders. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

  Catamount Constructors

  VP, Industrial

  HONOREE: RISING STAR + PANEL MODERATOR

  Stephanie Martinez

  VP, Industrial

  Catamount Constructors

Leader of the Year

A woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and continued efforts to move the market forward

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  Arleen Garza

  As Principal and Founder of REEP Equity, established in 2012, Arleen Garza spearheads acquisitions and strategic growth initiatives for the company. Under her leadership, REEP Equity has acquired underperforming multifamily properties and implemented value-add improvements to maximize returns for investors. In 2017, she also founded REEP Residential, a real estate management company that currently oversees REEP's 23 properties in the Texas triangle. Her mission remains focused on identifying lucrative opportunities for investors. With acquisitions exceeding $730 million and 6,000 units, she prioritizes excellence in operations and investor relations. Prior to venturing into real estate, Arleen enjoyed a distinguished career in the financial services sector. She has held several pivotal roles, pioneering one of the first Hispanic marketing programs for a national bank, managing retail bank branches, and managing an International Private Banking department. As a best-selling Amazon real estate author, she is a highly sought after through leader and a frequent guest speaker at real estate investing events and on podcasts, including hosting her own, Empowered Investing with Leading Ladies. Arleen is passionate about focusing on the residents, making an impact in the communities she serves, educating others on the strong passive returns and ways to build wealth through investing in multifamily real estate.

  REEP Equity

  Co-Founder

  Arleen Garza

  Co-Founder

  REEP Equity

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  Laura Gilliland

  Laura Gilliland is the Assistant Director of the Embrey Real Estate Finance and Development Program at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where she has been part of the program since 2009. The Embrey REFD Program is recognized as one of the leading commercial real estate programs in the country. Laura is passionate about mentoring students and helping them begin careers in commercial real estate. She is an active member of CREW San Antonio, the Real Estate Council of San Antonio (RECSA), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) South Texas, and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). She holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in education from UT San Antonio.

  UTSA College of Business

  Assistant Director

  Laura Gilliland

  Assistant Director

  UTSA College of Business

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  Monica Martinez

  Division President

  Stewart Title of San Antonio

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  Carolyn Shaw

  Carolyn Shaw joined Stream in 2009 and, in 2020, was named the Executive Managing Director and Partner for Stream San Antonio—overseeing the market’s operations and driving its overall growth in leasing, investment sales, acquisition, development, and property management. Prior to Carolyn being named EMD for San Antonio, she contributed to closing more than 370 transactions totaling five million square feet and nearly $300 million in consideration. Her deep understanding of real estate economics and experience across all aspects of the industry have given rise to her invaluable leadership and role within Stream. Under Carolyn’s leadership as EMD, the San Antonio portfolio has experienced remarkable growth, expanding by 115% to 21 million square feet under lease and/or management. Additionally, transaction volume has increased by 71% and revenue from operations by 180%. The San Antonio team has doubled in size while maintaining a focus on Stream’s core values. There are currently more than 65 employees at Stream San Antonio, including 19 brokers. As a leader within the Stream organization, Carolyn serves on the Stream Operations Committee alongside 14 Stream executives. Outside of Stream, Carolyn serves as the Scholarship Chair for the Valero Alamo Bowl on The University of Texas at Austin Real Estate Center Council’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, is an active member of Greater SATX, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority San Antonio Alumni, Locks of Love, and Alamo Heights School District Parent Teacher Organization. A native San Antonian, she has deep roots in the city and has been connected with many local organizations and charities throughout the years, including the DoSeum and The Believe It Foundation.

  Stream

  Partner & EMD

  Carolyn Shaw

  Partner & EMD

  Stream

Deal Maker of the Year

A woman who has made a significant contribution to one or more major deals in and around San Antonio

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  Carrie Caesar

  Carrie Caesar specializes in the investment sale of office, industrial and retail properties throughout Central and South Texas and has been active in the industry since 1991. Her in-depth knowledge and ability to source private capital has served to create optimum value for her clients. In her tenure, Carrie has closed numerous commercial property transactions encompassing over $2.5 Billion in sales. As leader of the Austin/San Antonio Private Capital Investment Properties Team, Carrie oversees the entire sale process. Equipped with 30 years of experience, she has a unique understanding of Texas capital market trends, as well as the skill set to underwrite and develop marketing strategies to drive pricing for investment properties. Through her knowledge and expertise, Carrie is able to provide value-added services for her clients through the real estate process.

  Cushman & Wakefield

  Sr. Director

  Carrie Caesar

  Sr. Director

  Cushman & Wakefield

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  Amanda Concha

  Principal

  Core Commercial

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  Alyssa Hartlage

  Alyssa Hartlage is a Senior Vice President at Broadway Bank with over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate financing. She has a proven track record of structuring and closing complex transactions while building long-standing client relationships. Alyssa holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from UT San Antonio. She is an active member of RECSA, CREW San Antonio, and ULI.

  Broadway Bank

  SVP

  Alyssa Hartlage

  SVP

  Broadway Bank

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  Lindsey Tucker

  Lindsey Tucker is a Partner at Partners. Lindsey is a commercial real estate industry veteran with more than two decades of experience, and is one of the best-regarded Office Agency Leasing professionals in San Antonio, Texas. Lindsey joined Partners from CBRE, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world. Lindsey has served clients in Greater San Antonio for more than 20 years. She joined CBRE in 2011, and prior to CBRE she began her career at Transwestern. Throughout her career she has specialized in leasing and marketing office, industrial and medical office properties on behalf of institutional and private owners. Since she began her career in 2001, Lindsey has completed more than seven million sq. ft. of transactions. Lindsey’s comprehensive understanding of design principles enables her to consult on asset renovations and improvements, and her sharp branding and marketing strategies produce a velocity of deal activity to ensure client success. Lindsey has represented some of the largest owners in the nation, including KBS, Weston Urban and KDC, Velocis, Entrada Partners, Bow River, Brookwood, Welltower and Hudson Advisors. Among her accomplishments during her time at CBRE included representing the new Frost Tower constructed by Weston Urban and KDC. Lindsey also brought Éilan’s Promenade One and Two office buildings to 100% occupancy in a 14-month timeframe, and City View, a highly recognized Class A office building, to 100% occupancy. Lindsey is an alumni of the University of Texas at San Antonio, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

  Partners

  Partner

  Lindsey Tucker

  Partner

  Partners

Innovator of the Year

A woman who has excelled in driving innovation in the commercial real estate field and used new or creative ideas to improve the industry

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  Bethany Babcock

  Bethany Babcock has worked in property management, leasing and investment sales for over 20 years. She founded Foresite Real Estate in 2014. In 2018 she was named by the San Antonio Business Journal as one of the “40 under 40”. Bethany is one of very few brokers in San Antonio to have received national awards in the categories of both top leasing agent and top investment sales agent. She has been published online with Forbes and featured in the Business Journal as well as been a guest speaker for the South Texas CCIM Symposium. Bethany also enjoys guest lecturing for the Real Estate Finance Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2020 Bethany opened up Foresite’s own training program to those outside of the company and created the “CRE Launch Program” which has worked with students from more than 10 universities and 12 different brokerage firms to develop and retain new talent in the industry. The unique culture at Foresite has lured industry veterans as well as developed exceptional talent internally and in 2022 Foresite was named #1 Best Place to Work for Small Businesses by the San Antonio Business Journal. Bethany graduated from UTSA double majoring in International Business and Finance. She went on to earn her MBA with a concentration in Finance from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, a board member for Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas and is a mother of three.

  Foresite Commercial Real Estate

  Principal, Co-Owner

  Bethany Babcock

  Principal, Co-Owner

  Foresite Commercial Real Estate

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  Beverly Baldwin

  From the small town of Helotes, Texas, Beverly attended the University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture. She is now a licensed Architect and is a Principal at Alamo Architects. Beverly specializes in multi-family design with involvement in over twelve thousand housing units since 2004. Her diverse experience in housing developments include single family, urban infill townhouses, affordable garden apartments, market rate mixed use projects, as well as historic renovation. Her focus over the last few years has been historic high-rise retrofits with a resume of iconic buildings such as The Blue Flame building in El Paso and the Tower Life building in San Antonio. With extensive experience in affordable and mixed income housing, Beverly has worked with numerous housing authorities and community development corporations. In addition to housing, she also has experience in retail, commercial, historic renovation and preservation, and religious project types. Her mission to build communities extends beyond housing and beyond the project realm. Beverly is active on many boards and committees serving her community in ways that promote gender equity, mentorship, and cultural awareness. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, leading the newly formed Adaptive Reuse Local Member Council. She also Co-chairs the AIA Historic Resources Committee.

  Alamo Architects

  Principal

  Beverly Baldwin

  Principal

  Alamo Architects

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  Julissa Carielo

  Co-Founder & Partner

  DreamOn

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  Melissa Robinson

  CEO

  Hemisfair

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  Yesenia Smith

  Yesenia Marili Smith currently serves as a Senior Associate at Transwestern, representing entrepreneurs, agencies, and landlords in their commercial real estate strategy and decision-making. Her brokerage practice includes representation of more than one million square feet across San Antonio, Central Texas, and South Texas. Previously, Yesenia served as National Director of Learning & Development for the Transwestern Family of Companies, where she led professional development strategy, learning initiatives and career-pathing for more than 2,300 team members nationwide. She brings over 20 years of professional experience spanning mentoring, corporate marketing, branding, design, and sales. Building on this foundation, Yesenia founded All Y’all Consulting, LLC in 2022, a strengths-based people development firm offering bespoke workshops for teams that want to thrive. Grounded in more than a decade of leadership and mentorship across Central Texas, the firm has coached over 600 professionals within the commercial real estate industry.

  Founder & Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, All Y’all Consulting

  Senior Associate, Transwestern

  Yesenia Smith

  Senior Associate, Transwestern

  Founder & Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, All Y’all Consulting

Rising Star

A woman who has been in the industry less than 10 years and has made a significant impact on the market and/or has largely contributed to a major commercial real estate project

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  Elizabeth Araujo

  Elizabeth Araujo brings over six years of experience in commercial real estate, with a primary focus on acquisitions and tenant representation. As a partner in a full-service development firm, she specialized in land and small retail development projects and was heavily involved in the due diligence process for property acquisitions. This hands-on experience sharpened her ability to evaluate opportunities, mitigate risks, and position projects for success — skills she now applies in guiding her clients through their own transactions. Elizabeth is excited to join NAI as an Associate, where she looks forward to leveraging her background to provide tailored solutions and exceptional service to her clients. In addition to her professional work, Elizabeth is actively involved in advancing the industry through leadership and mentorship. She serves on multiple committees with CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and plays a key role in YCRAN (Young Commercial Real Estate Advancement Network), where she helped launch the organization’s Austin chapter.

  NAI Excel

  Associate

  Elizabeth Araujo

  Associate

  NAI Excel

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  Whitney Snell

  Whitney is a Director on the JLL Capital Markets Team, based in the San Antonio Office. Her specialization lies in Retail Investment Sales Advisory. Whitney focuses on retail investment sales advisory transactions across Central Texas. Her keen insight and analytical approach have enabled her to successfully manage and close real estate transactions worth over $1.2 billion. Experience Having joined JLL through the HFF acquisition, Whitney brings a wealth of experience to the table. Whitney received a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) and a Master of Real Estate, both from Texas A&M University.

  JLL

  Director, Capital Markets

  Whitney Snell

  Director, Capital Markets

  JLL

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  Sarah Sposato

  Sarah is a seasoned multifamily executive with over 15 years of experience leading operations, acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives across major U.S. markets, including Denver, Tampa, Orlando, Palm Beach, St. Louis, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. Her career began onsite, providing a strong operational foundation that has informed her leadership at the regional and portfolio levels. She has held senior leadership roles supporting acquisitions and due diligence for multiple management companies and real estate investment groups, and currently serves as a Regional Vice President of Operations at RPM Living. Sarah brings deep expertise in renovation and repositioning strategies, new construction, lease-ups, acquisitions, and comprehensive market analysis. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Sarah excels at building high-performing teams, cultivating strong stakeholder relationships, and driving sustainable performance and value creation across portfolios.

  RPM Living

  Regional VP

  Sarah Sposato

  Regional VP

  RPM Living

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  Roxanne Zinnermon

  With an effective combination of Southern charm, Northeastern tenacity, and an unmatched devotion to customer service, Roxanne is a San Antonio native that is dedicated to serving others and helping them to shape their future, a fact which truly resonates with Weston Urban’s vision to “Help build the city San Antonio’s children will call home.” Roxanne’s passion for people complements her position as Portfolio Manager, where she is fueled by real estate solutions and ideas in overseeing building functions, while most importantly, building bridges to create exceptional moments for tenants. Priding herself on great tenant engagement and never losing sight of helping property owners obtain value in the process, it is no wonder that she is a recipient of the 2020 Institute of Real Estate Management 30 under 30 award. Not only is Roxanne motivated to continue leading the way for ambitious young professionals, she also seeks to open doors for the city’s future generations.

  Weston Urban

  Portfolio Manager

  Roxanne Zinnermon

  Portfolio Manager

  Weston Urban