Awards: 50 Under 40

GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum is profiling the best and brightest professionals of the next generation on the following pages. With a record number of submissions this year, the following 50 people under 40 years of age are making strides in the commercial real estate industry. You may well know them already: they are the superstars who have stood out from the pack and will likely be at the helm of the organizations of the future. The following individuals have a solid track record in the business, not just including transaction volume but also for their contribution to their company’s overall success. Here are this year’s 50 under 40.

BARBARA ARMENDARIZ  SHARPLINE COMMERCIAL PARTNERS As founder and president of Sharpline Commercial Partners, Barbara Armendariz is one of very few minority women in the industry have launched her own brokerage firm. She began her 15-year career without mentors or connections, relentlessly networking at industry events, before starting at Colliers and then eventually serving as VP at CBRE. Desiring more opportunity, Armendariz launched her Los Angeles firm in 2015, which continues to grow in one of the most competitive markets in the industry. She oversees all transactions, manages brokers, provides comprehensive research all the while steadily growing her client roster. She recently launched a property management division and aspires to incorporate office and multifamily business lines to create a full-service firm.

JAMES BARRY SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT SmartStop Self Storage REIT directly attributes its success to James Barry’s hard work and dedication, which led to his promotion to CFO at the age of 30. Barry was integral in the negotiations, calculations and communications for the sale of SmartStop Self Storage Inc. in 2015 for $1.4 billion, a return of more than 15% to investors, in which he negotiated $560 million in debt and equity. Barry currently plans cash flow, raises equity and spearheads the data analytics and revenue team. He is involved in the underwriting and reviewing of every acquisition at the REIT, as well as exploring technology that can better improve processes for the company.