76 GLOBEST. REAL ESTATE FORUM JULY/AUGUST 2019
www.globest.com/realestateforum
KIMARIE ANKENBRAND
JLL
As managing director at JLL, Kimarie Ankenbrand is one of only three women in the US to hold such a title
in the industry. In her role, she leads business development and represents the office, achieving sustainable
financial results. In addition to representing high-profile tenants, she enables cultural and organizational
change, displaying passion for inclusion and diversity. Ankenbrand leads JLL’s first brokerage national diversity initiative and serves as a mentor in JLL’s national mentor/protégé program. She is accounting for the
future of brokerage by mentoring young talent to benefit the firm as the business continues to change.
MICHELLE DeBERGALIS
American Realty Group
With various awards in the industry and a
wealth of experience behind her, Michelle
DeBergalis founded the corporation,
American Realty Group. Passionate about
education, she works closely with SUNY’s
Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, as
a lecturer, mentor and part-time faculty
member, working to assist students and
develop strategic plans for success. She sits
on several community boards while mentoring young professionals. DeBergalis can also be found featured in the landlord agent broker category.
CHAR FORTUNE
Avison Young
Char Fortune has taken a passion for helping and teaching others and committed to it
as the principal and director of learning and
development at Avison Young. In this position, she is responsible for the company’s
internal training program, Avison Young
University, where she travels to different
offices, trains new brokers and conducts
workshops. Known within her company as a
selfless leader and mentor, she consistently
provides her undivided attention and thoughtful guidance and
input to not only young professionals, but established leaders as well.
YASSI GHASHGHAI
Greysteel
Yassi Ghashghai contributes to Greysteel’s company culture nationwide as VP of corporate services. She helps
establish and implement Greysteel University, an internal training program for onboarding new employees in
a personalized, comprehensive process. She assists with nationwide expansions and creating a positive company culture, through team-building events and volunteer activities. She also established an internship program for the company to provide mentorship and training workshops. She institutes employee recognition
awards and implemented a transparent platform for individuals to collaborate and share ideas. As a true asset
to the company, she is dedicated to providing growth opportunities based on mutual accountability.
PATRICIA ALUISI
MB Real Estate
Throughout her 35-year career in real estate, Patricia Aluisi often finds herself as the only woman in a
room full of men. As EVP and COO at MB Real Estate, she is inspired to influence gender equality, equally
distributing her duties to oversee operations and advocate for women. It is her mission to create a diverse,
unbiased culture as she generates progressive initiatives to support growth and education within the firm.
Aluisi appoints more women to the executive committee, and ensures equal pay as a priority. She offers
an open-door policy and urges to break tradition, demanding a voice for all women.
SUZANNE HOLLANDER
FIU Jerome Bain Real Estate Institute
Suzanne Hollander is a professor at Florida International University, teaching real estate law. As the only faculty
woman in her department, she makes it her mission to help open doors for women in the industry. She spotlights
women as speakers in her class and encourages her students to take on leadership roles in professional organizations. Through the yearly events she hosts, Hollander is able to act as a liaison to her students and the industry,
exposing and networking them with leaders, resulting in many job opportunities. As a previous attorney and
broker, she founded a company and blog to share her expertise and provide empowering real estate education to
the nation. She has also been recognized by the US Department of State as an Expert in Real Estate.
