NEEDHAM, MA—NAIOP Massachusetts has elected Sara Cassidy as its new president. Ms. Cassidy, a director at AEW Capital Management, will become the second woman to lead the commercial real estate organization since 2004, when NAIOP was headed by Maryann Gilligan Suydam.
This will be the first time, however, that the top leaders of NAIOP Massachusetts are all women: Ms. Cassidy: President; Leslie Cohen, principal and chief operating officer of Samuels & Associates: President-Elect; Tamara Small: CEO; and Reesa Fischer: Executive Director.
“This female-driven team is reflective of the increasing role of women in commercial real estate and the importance of diversity and inclusion to the organization,” NAIOP said in a statement.
Added Ms. Small: “It is truly exciting to have Sara beginning her term as president while Reesa and I begin our tenure leading the organization. As more women excel in our industry, it is only appropriate that our leadership reflects our membership.”
Here is the list of new NAIOP Executive Committee members for 2019:
Chairman: Ed Marsteiner, National Development
President: Sara Cassidy, AEW
President-Elect: Leslie Cohen, Samuels & Associates
Treasurer: Charley Leatherbee, Skanska U.S. Commercial Development
Secretary: Tom Andrews, Alexandria Real Estate
Vice President Chapter Affairs: Michael Wilcox, The Bulfinch Companies, Inc.
V.P. Developing Leaders: Alex Shultz, Davis Companies
Asst. V.P. Developing Leaders: Sam Campbell, HFF
V.P. Diversity & Inclusion: Taidgh McClory, CBRE
Asst. V.P. Diversity & Inclusion: Amanda Strong, MITIMCO
V.P. Government Affairs: Kathleen Brill, Foley Hoag LLP
Asst. V.P. Government Affairs: Bryan Connolly, DLA Piper
V.P. Membership & Marketing: Marsha Miller, Vanderweil Engineers
Asst. V.P. Membership &
Marketing: Tina Snyder, DivcoWest
V.P. Programs: Allen Breed, MITIMCO
Asst. V.P. Programs: Robert Borden, JLL
Asst. V.P. Programs Abby Middleton, Oxford Properties
Special Chair, Communications: Wendy Goldstein Pierce, Goldstein Pierce PR
Special Chair, Golf Tournament: Kerry Hawkins, HFF
Strategic Development Chairs: Dan McGrath, Berkeley Investments
Kathy McMahon, National Development
Lauren O’Neil, HFF
Adam Weisenberg, Sullivan & Worcester LLP
NAIOP Massachusetts, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association, represents the interests of companies involved with the development, ownership, management, and financing of commercial properties. NAIOP’s over 1,700 members are involved with 240 million plus square feet of office, research & development, industrial, mixed use, retail and institutional space and more than 50,000 apartment units in the Commonwealth, valued at around $40 billion. In addition to providing outstanding education and networking opportunities, NAIOP advances the interests of the industry and advocates for effective public policy. For more information, visit www.naiopma.org.
