In preparation for our Women of Influence special feature and retreat, GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com together is putting a spotlight on the achievements of women in commercial real estate.
This year, we collected nominations across a number of fields, and will celebrate the winners at our GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference in Park City, UT. This year's amount of entries was our biggest yet.
In addition, there was one category we were also seeking men as well as companies to add to our list. The particular category of diversity champion was open to companies who have set a precedent, not only throughout the CRE field but across the entire business community and have excelled their efforts to advocate for and support women and diversity.
Recommended For You
The companies chosen in this particular category understand the benefits and the importance in offering diversity initiatives, such as gender inclusion programs, transparent hiring practices, engaging workshops, diverse employment goals, open discussions, equal opportunities for advancement, diverse executive teams, etc. These are companies who have prioritized and champion for gender equality and in doing so, are continuing to see proven results and superior performance, due to a more diverse staff and varying experience.
Individual candidates chosen in this category (male nominees included) are some of the people who are leading diversity efforts at their company. The following individual candidates excel in innovative, internal diversity practices, unites its workforce toward mutual diversity goals, offers a wide range of beneficial programs and have proven to relentlessly support gender equality and cultivate change. The top companies chosen in the category of diversity champion are as follows:
Avison Young
Bozzuto
CBRE
CREW Network
Duke Realty
Newmark
Shawmut Design and Construction
Trepp
Walker & Dunlop
Wildcat Management
The top females chosen in the category of diversity champion are as follows:
Suzanne Abair, Northland Investment Corp.
Kimarie Ankenbrand, JLL
Nadine Augusta, Cushman & Wakefield
Susan Bands, Marcus & Millichap
Laura Bush, Lendlease
Debra A. Cafaro, Ventas Inc.
Barbara E. Champoux, Champoux Law Group PLLC
Rachele Downs, Downs Diversity Initiatives LLC
Jill Marie Ferrari, Renovare Development
Theresa Fesinstine, Sage Realty
Toni Harris , Avanath Realty
Deryl McKissack, McKissack & McKissack
Rebecca R. Rosario, Full House Marketing
Jill Sharif, First American Title-National Commercial Services
Audrey L. Sokoloff, Skadden
Peggy Van Eepoel, Thornton Tomasetti
Genevieve West, Howard Building Corp.
Deborrah A. Willard, Foundation for Affordable Housing Inc.
The top males chosen in the category of diversity champion are as follows:
Vivek-Anand Dattani, Trepp
Winston Fant, JPMorgan Chase
Mark E. Rose, Avison Young
As always, our seasoned editorial team was seeking the best of the best across the commercial real estate spectrum. In evaluating the entries, we took into account a number of factors. The Annual GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference celebrates the women who drive the commercial real estate industry forward. These influential leaders will discuss the critical issues facing CRE now and in the future, what it means to be a woman in business today and CRE's place in the #MeToo era. They will discuss what they are doing to promote diversity in the upper levels of management and what the industry can do to position itself for a more inclusive future.
Keep checking GlobeSt.com for more winners from other categories and be sure to keep an eye out for the July/August issue of GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, which will further highlight these individual's accomplishments.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
