that Downtown’s financial sector tenancy won’t disappear but
the neighborhood will evolve into “a much more diverse population.” A few weeks after the long-awaited Conde deal was
announced, Tighe herself took the role of pioneer. Having
already become the first female chairman in the Real Estate
Board of New York’s 114-year history, in June of this year she
became the first woman to receive the Urban Leadership Award.
an annual tradiiton since 1971, from the NYU Schack Institute
of Real Estate. “This is particularly special for me now because I
feel more and more engaged by our industry and the city’s civic
affairs,” Tighe said in accepting the award.
Cedar Shopping Centers
Port Washington, NY
As COO for a public REIT which has grown
from four properties and $13 million in
assets to 130 properties and $1.6 billion in
assets during the last seven years, Walker
has been in charge of all aspects of property management and operation across the nine-state portfolio. The 30-year industry veteran also supervises 50
employees, including property managers, regional managers
and on-site staff. Over the past 12 months, she has overseen the
acquisition of properties valued at more than $250 million, dispositions of a dozen assets and the integration of management
and reporting for more than 20 joint venture properties.
Looking ahead, Walker remains focused on continued success
and achievement for Cedar in the public markets, along with
promoting the enhancement of opportunities for women in
general, and women of color in particular, in senior management positions.
LISA WARD
Vice President of Leasing
IDI
Atlanta
It’s unusual to find a woman in a leadership role within the industrial sector, let
alone one who tops the list of producers.
Ward is IDI’s only female leasing executive, and she was recognized as the top
industrial landlord producer in Georgia by both
NAIOP and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors for 2010.
No other female was among the 10 leading finalists for either
organization. In 14 years with IDI, she has leased more than 13
million square feet of IDI and third-party institutional grade
industrial space. About 10% of that tally—more than 1. 3 million
square feet—was amassed during the past 12 months despite a
still-lagging real estate market. The accomplishment led to
Ward’s dual honors as top industrial producer. by NAIOP and
the commercial realtors’ board. During the same period, Ward
also brought occupancy in IDI’s metro Atlanta portfolio to 94%.
In order to help keep her firm top of mind to industrial tenant
reps, Ward recently created a “Broker Opportunities” incentive
program for build-to-suits and acquisitions and rolled it out in a
roadshow to the top 12 commercial real estate brokerage firms
in Metro Atlanta.
Cox Castle & Nicholson
Los Angeles
Co-lead partner of Cox Castle’s public pension fund practice, Wells coordinates the
firm’s services to some of the largest pension funds in the country. These include
the California State Teachers Retirement
System and California Public Employee
Retirement System, the New York Common Retirement System,
the New York City Pension Funds, the Washington State
Investment Board, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and
the Arizona State Retirement System. She is the co-chair of the
alternative investments section of the National Association of
Public Pension Attorneys, and was appointed Special Attorney
General for the State of Washington for her work acting as real
estate, alternative investments and infrastructure counsel to the
Washington State Investment Board.
SERENA WOLFE
Partner, Real Estate Assurance Practice
Ernst & Young
New York City
Wolfe is an acknowledged authority on
enormous changes to lease accounting and
revenue recognition currently being
debated by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board and International
Accounting Standards Board. Anticipating regulations that many consider to be “game changers,” Wolfe has
spent considerable time with industry organizations, market
participants and E&Y’s national accounting team to ensure that
the real estate industry’s viewpoint is being considered. Wolfe is
also committed to mentoring young women in real estate. She
runs the Professional Women’s Network for the New York real
estate practice at E&Y. “Women often make up a large proportion of real estate agents and asset managers but we are seeing
women becoming more and more prevalent as CEOs and CFOs
of US real estate companies,” Wolfe says. “I believe as more
women see that the glass ceiling is breaking, they too will strive
for those higher-level positions.” u
Did You Know?
• Seven of this year’s Women of Influence founded or cofounded their
organizations
• Seven are law firm partners/shareholders
• Eight are leasing professionals
• Six are finance professionals
• Seven are property management executives
• Two are sisters
