MIAMI—Related Group founder and CEOJorge Perez just did something he's never donebefore—appointed a female as the president of a company division.Lissette M. Calderon is now president of Related'sInternational and Strategic Projects.

“The goal is to leverage our South Florida platform and expandit to national and international levels within our strategicframework,” says Calderon. “In addition to a very large push inSpain, we are pursuing opportunities in Mexico, India, Brazil,Panama, and other strategic opportunities within the US as wecontinue to grow our multibillion dollar portfolio.”

Earlier in her career, Calderon worked at Related as a projectmanager to senior project manager in the 1990s. Perez has plenty ofconfidence in her abilities to take the division to the next level.She will work directly with him to develop and expand the firm'sinternational and domestic presence.