BOSTON—Boston magazine, a monthly magazine covering life in the Greater Boston area and has been in publication since 1805, has named 14 real estate professionals among 150 Most Influential Bostonians.
Boston Magazine said that it expanded this year’s list from 100 to 150 people, reflecting the more-diffuse nature of power across the city as the former old boys’ network becomes more diverse and inclusive.
The top 10 most influential Bostonians are:
- Maura Healey, Massachusetts Governor
- Ayanna Pressley, US Representative
- Lee Pelton, President & CEO, The Boston Foundation
- John Fish, Chairman & CEO, Suffolk Construction
- Bob Rivers, Chairman & CEO, Eastern Bank
- Katherine Clark, US Representative
- Jim Canales, President, Barr Foundation
- Linda Pizzuti Henry, CEO, Boston Globe Media Partners
- Michelle Wu, Boston Mayor
- Thomas O’Brien, Founding Partners & CEO, HYM Investment Group.
4. John Fish
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION
“Never mind its growth nationally, Suffolk still builds more of the Bay State’s buildings than any company—more than $2 billion worth a year. And in Boston, where there’s nowhere left to go but up, the construction king still has his say in every political and civic aspect of the city,” said Boston Magazine.
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Thomas O’Brien Thomas O’Brien
FOUNDING PARTNER AND CEO, HYM INVESTMENT GROUP
“The vacant lot across from Boston Police Headquarters in Roxbury has been known only as Parcel 3 for the past 50 years. Partnering with Reverend Jeffrey Brown, O’Brien is building housing and a Martin Luther King Jr. museum on the site. Meanwhile, he’s broken ground on the massive Suffolk Downs redevelopment project, another key part of O’Brien’s role in remaking and shaping the new Boston,” said Boston Magazine.
- James Arthur Jemison
DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF PLANNING, BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
“Whatever Mayor Wu does when it comes to reconfiguring the BPDA, developing city-owned parcels of land, and creating more housing, one thing is certain: Jemison will be her man in charge. That was made clear when she maneuvered to give him the legally dubious status of holding two key planning positions in the city. The physical future of the city is entirely in his hands,” said Boston Magazine.
- Jeremy Sclar
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, WS DEVELOPMENT
“The 2,000 Amazon employees who moved into the Boston Tech Hub last summer? They’re working in one of Sclar’s latest projects. But it’s not just about buildings for the mega-developer. Sclar also led the first round of investments at Stackwell Capital, providing seed money for the platform’s goal of eliminating the racial wealth gap. And he made his first big local political contribution in 2022: $50,000 to a committee supporting Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll,” said Boston Magazine.
- Kevin Phelan
BOSTON OFFICE COCHAIRMAN, COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
“Yes, he remains at the forefront of many big real estate deals, but it’s what he does during his off-hours that makes Phelan one of Boston’s leading lights. He plays a part in too many philanthropies and associations to list—and in a town where power is less centralized than ever, his breakfast group comprised of economic and civic powerhouses is more vital than ever,” said Boston Magazine.
- Kimberly Sherman Stamler
PRESIDENT, RELATED BEAL
“This developer seems to be building, or planning to build, nearly everywhere in and around Boston: a million square feet at Fort Point, a lab in South Boston, three South End buildings, and One Kenmore Square, among others. Stamler, who is putting these deals together, also recently received a Social Leadership Award from the Boston Business Journal,” said Boston Magazine.
- Darryl Settles
PRESIDENT, CATALYST VENTURES DEVELOPMENT
“Settles has been a leader in the community for years through his restaurants, housing developments, business mentorship, and activism. Now, add his involvement with the Builders of Color Coalition and the Boston Real Estate Inclusion Fund, and you have one of the most respected movers and shakers in town,” Boston Magazine said.
- Stephen Davis
PRESIDENT, DAVIS COMPANIES
“As Davis has stepped up his role in the giant real estate company his father founded—he became president late last year—he has also stepped up his public role, cochairing the housing committee on Governor Healey’s transition team. Looks like he plans to be a big part of the housing solution, too: He is currently developing a four-building, 500-unit apartment and condo project on Soldiers Field Road,” said Boston Magazine.
- Sam Slater
MANAGING PARTNER, TREMONT ASSET MANAGEMENT
“A billionaire developer, philanthropist, film producer, and sports-team owner who may have recently bought the Playboy Big Bunny luxury jet—is this really a Bostonian? Yes, and Slater isn’t slowing down—he’s now trying to build a 19-story apartment tower in the Fenway,” said Boston Magazine.
- Peter Palandjian
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, INTERCONTINENTAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
“Last year, his company bought the “Yard 5” development nearing completion in Hyde Park; made major West Coast moves, including a nine-story Seattle life-sciences tower; and picked up a Corporate Citizenship Award from Boston Business Journal. Personally, Palandjian was recently honored, along with former Mayor Marty Walsh, by 3Point Foundation for his contributions to local education in Boston,” said Boston Magazine.
- Elizabeth Lowrey
PRINCIPAL, ELKUS MANFREDI ARCHITECTS
“The city’s rapid growth and attempted return to new-normal office life have provided plenty of opportunity for Lowrey’s sought-after interior design work. That includes projects for AEW, Simmons University, Emerson College, St. Regis Residences, and Encore Boston—just a few of the spaces she and her team are designing or redesigning within the city,” said Boston Magazine.
- Lauren O’Neil
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF PRIVATE EQUITY, AEW
““A powerhouse in Boston’s real estate community,” says Boston Real Estate Times of O’Neil, who served last year as president of the Real Estate Finance Association. The praise makes sense when you consider O’Neil’s role heading up private equity deals for AEW, a global company with nearly $100 billion in assets under management,” said Boston Magazine.
- Herby Duverné
FOUNDER AND CEO, RISE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
How’s this for range: Charlie Baker appointed Duverné to the Commission on Judicial Conduct, and Maura Healey named him to her transition team on housing. It’s not much of a surprise, considering the Haitian-born risk management leader is not only the CEO of Charlestown-based Windwalker Group but also RISE Development and Construction, which has been called a “pathbreaking” firm by Banker & Tradesman since its founding in 2019.
- Maggie Gold Seelig
FOUNDER, MGS GROUP REAL ESTATE
“Yes, she’s the one who sold Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s amazing Brookline mansion. Lots of other high-end homes in and around Boston as well. Seelig is also serving on the American Repertory Theater Board of Advisors,” said Boston Magazine,” said Boston Magazine.
