GlobeSt.com Honors Companies, Individuals Who are Diversity Champions

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.

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.