The last twelve months have been good for the people who work in finance. Capital markets have been robust and the cost of capital has been relatively low. The latter, at least, will be changing this year to a certain extent requiring the men and women in this space to bring their best game to the table. We have no doubt that the people we have selected for this year's Rainmakers are more than well positioned for the task.

INDIVIDUAL INFLUENCERS

VAL ACHTEMEIER Val Achtemeier gets things done and is regarded as one of the top industrial debt brokers in the U.S. Previously serving as EVP at CBRE capital markets, Achtemeier was recently promoted the vice chairman at the firm. She holds 34 years of industry experience in both institutional and private entrepreneurial positions, focusing on debt and equity procurement, joint-venture formations, ground leases, development, investment acquisitions and dispositions, and all aspects of capital markets activities. Prior to joining CBRE in 2009, Achtemeier served as VP and director of capital markets at Majestic Realty Co., where she raised debt and equity capital for industrial, retail, office, data center, hotel and gaming assets. During her career, Achtemeier has originated, structured and closed more than $46 billion of real estate financing transactions throughout the U.S. with an emphasis on portfolio loans and larger loans, as well as construction loans and JV equity. Achtemeier is consistently recognized as a top producer at CBRE with a total debt volume that will exceed $6 billion this year, and she has played an integral part in some of the most significant deals in the U.S. Although Achtemeier considers her greatest accomplishment raising her daughter, who herself has embarked on a career in CRE, she counts many professional accomplishments as well, including an $805 million CMBS loan for an industrial portfolio in Phoenix with 2,200 tenants; a $461 million loan for a national industrial portfolio loan that moved quickly; and expanding the firm's data center financing business to close up to $2 billion in loans this year. Described as resilient, collaborative, hardworking and determined, Achtemeier also advocates for opening doors for other women in the industry. Achtemeier is involved with ULI, USC Lusk Center for Commercial Real Estate and City of Hope Los Angeles Real Estate Council.