Communications Co-Chair

Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Maria is currently CEO at Nortronics, Corp., a leader in service and technology for the security industry in the New York tri-state area. Throughout her university years, Maria was employed at Nortronics, learning the business from the ground-up. She earned a BA in Advertising and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology and also completed internships at public relations firms in New York and London, England.

Communications Co-Chair

Communications Co-Chair

As Vice President of Client Relations at B.R. Fries & Associates, Diane is responsible for developing business, managing client relations, developing collateral materials and public relations programs. Diane brings over 25 years of experience working in the design and construction industry for firms including Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, HLW, Kajima and J.A. Jones.
Prior to joining B.R. Fries, Diane served as Chief of Staff and Chief, Bureau of Agency Development for the New York City Department of Buildings. She is active in the AREW, NYCREW, IFMA and CoreNet Global's New York City Chapter. Diane received a B.A in Liberal Arts from Elmira College in 1973. B.R. Fries & Associates offers a full range of renovation, restoration and new construction building services including general contracting and construction management. It has extensive experience in renovating and retrofitting commercial, institutional and retail properties. Recent projects include construction of the Gateway School, Target stores, the landmark Argonaut Building infrastructure upgrade, offices for NBC Universal and, in addition to NYU Langone Medical Center, healthcare facilities for the Hospital for Special Surgery, EmblemHealth and HIP.

Membership Co-Chair

Membership Co-Chair

Jaclyn DiRenzo is a Senior Account Executive with Milrose Consultants, Inc, she has been with the company for six years. Milrose Consultants the industry leader in code consulting and municipal filing services with offices in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island.
Jaclyn is responsible for managing a team of Account Executives and key corporate accounts while coordinating marketing efforts, assisting with strategic planning objectives as well as maintaining and developing business relationships in both new and existing markets. Jaclyn attended Pennsylvania State University where she majored in International Business and Real Estate. In her spare time, Jaclyn enjoys traveling, running, reading, spending time with her family and painting. Jaclyn has been actively involved with AREW for the past four years serving as Membership Co-Chair and Secretary. In addition to AREW, Jaclyn is involved in IFMA, Corenet, Leading Ladies of Real Estate and she volunteers her time for Maji Mazuri headquartered out of Nairobi, Kenya.

Membership Co-Chair

Membership Co-Chair

Pat Hildebrandt has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development in the real estate industry and is recognized for her leadership and energy by clients and colleagues alike. At Jacobs, Feinberg, Katz & Michaeli Consulting Group, an MEP/FP engineering firm, Ms. Hildebrandt works closely with the partners directing the marketing and business development efforts to promote the growth of this 3 year old Women's Business Enterprise.
Ms. Hildebrandt contributes her time to the development of several professional associations and charities. She has been on the board of the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) for seven years and was responsible for spearheading the re-branding efforts of AREW as well as serving as Secretary and communications, sponsorship, special events and luncheons co-chair. Ms. Hildebrandt is an active member of the CoreNet Global NYC Chapter, serving on the programs committee. She was awarded the prestigious AREW Founders Award and was honored as a Capuchin Food Pantries Women of Valor as well as participating in fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics. Prior to joining JFK&M, Ms. Hildebrandt held positions as Director of Business Development and Marketing for architecture/interior design, engineering, project management and facility services firms in New York City. Ms. Hildebrandt holds a BA from Trinity College in Washington, DC and an MBA from Pace University.

Programs Co-Chair

Programs Co-Chair

Ms. Lyons has been a Partner at Rhodes Associates since 1998, specializing exclusively in the Real Estate Industry, and has completed more than 500 search assignments. Earlier in her career, Ms. Lyons worked in marketing and sales for the Wharton Business School and CBS, Inc. Ms. Lyons is a member of Urban Land Institute, Pension Real Estate Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, Commercial Mortgage Securitization Association, Cornell University Real Estate Council and is a participant in the ULI YLG Mentor Program. Ms. Lyons holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland.

Programs Co-Chair

Programs Co-Chair

Robin Fisher joined Newmark Knight Frank in 2004 as an associate. Ms. Fisher specializes in the tenant representation of financial service, legal, consumer, and business consulting firms, as well as domestic and international not-for-profit organizations. She also advises corporate portfolio operators on strategies for local and domestic asset optimization.
In her first two years at Newmark Knight Frank, Ms. Fisher completed a record number of transactions with clients throughout Manhattan and the tri-state area. She recently restructured a 500,000-square-foot domestic portfolio consisting of retail, office, and industrial assets that resulted in a 25% savings to the client. In September of 2007, Ms. Fisher completed the acquisition of approximately 20,000 RSF at 712 Fifth Avenue on behalf of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (a newly formed not-for-profit foundation) responding to immediate direction prompting the conclusion of the transaction in six weeks time. She is currently advising Sesame Workshop on its Headquarters real estate strategy involving approximately 140,000 RSF.
Ms. Fisher's clientele includes Hale and Hearty Soups, LLC; Russell Newman, Inc; ORT America; TheaterMania.com; The American Bureau of Shipping; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (national locations); American Liver Foundation (national locations); iDNA Inc (formerly National Auto Credit), Kreisberg & Maitland, and The Roth Law Firm.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Fisher worked at The Blackstone Group and Cushman & Wakefield. The Blackstone Group provided her with a background in both research as well as real estate investments that brings an invaluable perspective to her work. At Cushman & Wakefield she gained experience in market analysis and trend projection that is essential to creating long-term real estate solutions for her clients. Ms. Fisher is the recipient of the Real Estate Board of New York's Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year Award for 2008. She is an active member of REBNY and was elected to serve on the 2010 Board of Governor's for the YMWREA (Young Men's/Women's Real Estate Association) as Vice Chairman. She has served on the Board of the Financial Women's Association (Co-Chairing its Emerging Leaders Committee) and sits on the Board of the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW). Ms. Fisher volunteers her time to The American Liver Foundation and the Enterprise Foundation dedicated to raising awareness for local community development and affordable housing projects. She is also a member of the Greater Manhattan Area's Advisory Board of the American Red Cross. At Cornell University, Ms. Fisher double majored in Spanish and American Studies, receiving her B.A. in American Studies. She was a Dean's List student and is proficient in Spanish.

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Lucy Carter is Director of Marketing & Business Development for Ted Moudis Associates, a leading Architecture and Interior Design Firm with a national and international presence designing corporate and retail interiors. Lucy has over 18 years of experience in marketing, business development and corporate communications. At Ted Moudis Associates, Lucy oversees the marketing department, introduces and maintains client relationships and actively participates in industry related organizations and events. She helps to expand the firm's overall presence and expertise, highlighting its leadership in Workplace strategies and Sustainable design, while upholding its 20 year commitment to providing superior custom-driven design services.
Besides over 8 years of experience in the architectural design industry, Lucy's professional history includes firms such as Morgan Stanley, Polo Ralph Lauren and CMP Media allowing her to address today's changing, complex business environments. This knowledge along with her professional background and highly successful track record brings strength to both the marketing and strategic efforts of the firm as a whole. She is on the Board of Directors for both AREW; it's Charitable Fund as Communications Co-Chair and is involved with NYCREW as Membership Chair. Lucy is on the Board of Directors of the NYC Chapter of CoreNet Global Real Estate as Special Events Chair. Over the years, she has been involved with CoreNet's Communication and Membership committees and remains active with several other industry associations and charitable affiliations such as IFMA, The Capuchin Food Pantries, SHARE, The Architect's Regatta and Special Olympics New York.

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Kimberly Dowdell is a business development and public relations coordinator for HOK, a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design and delivery solutions for a diverse array of clients and communities, through its collaborative network of 23 offices worldwide. Kimberly joined the New York office of HOK in 2008, as an architectural technician. Upon receiving an opportunity to apply her design background with her writing and business acumen, she transitioned into a role that is focused on articulating and promoting the unique value that HOK brings to the design process. In 2010, Kimberly accepted an invitation to join the HOK firm-wide Marketing Board of Directors.
Kimberly's professional engagements include volunteering her time to the ACE Mentor Program and serving as the Northeast Regional University Liaison for the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Kimberly also is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a LEED Accredited Professional, a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and a CoreNet Global Young Leaders group member. Kimberly currently serves on the National Scholarship Endowment Committee for the CREW Foundation and holds the position of Sponsorship Co-Chair on the AREW Board of Directors.
Kimberly earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and remains actively involved in New York City alumni initiatives. She is a regular blogger on HOK's corporate blog, HOKlife.com and she has recently served as a visiting critic at Pratt Institute's Interior Design studio in Brooklyn. Corresponding with the NOMA International Conference and Exhibition, Kimberly organizes an annual service project for under-resourced communities through a strategic partnership that she has created between NOMA and HOK. In 2008, Kimberly represented young design professionals as one of six "Emerging Leaders" at the annual Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design. Hosted by the Design Futures Council (DFC), the summit facilitated the discussion of 100 delegates to address how the design profession can be more responsive to the needs of the environment. Kimberly has served as a juror in the selection process for the 2009 and 2010 DFC Emerging Leaders.
While Kimberly is committed to sustainability, she wants her position on the subject to be clear, "Sustainable design is really about the integration of social, economic and environmental factors to create the most productive design solutions." Kimberly co-founded an organization called SEED (Social, Economic, Environmental Design) to address "Triple Bottom Line" issues and to, “Advance the right of every person to live in a socially, economically and environmentally healthy community."

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Sponsorship Co-Chair

Gail Goldberg serves as Vice President at J. Tucci Construction Corporation. She works to create and implement strategies to enhance J. Tucci's growth, expansion and brand. To that end, she builds relationships with new and existing clients and identifies new business opportunities, leading clients in developing and maintaining relationships with J. Tucci while providing resources to help clients meet their goals in the construction industry. Gail consults regularly with the firm's principles to assist in the company's day-to-day operations and overall strategic, tactical and development goals. She also works closely with other senior management to present new projects and partners with project personnel to oversee existing projects. She now leads the overhaul of the company's marketing approach, which includes both redefining and expanding the corporate brand, as well as spearheading broad-based corporate social responsibility and sustainability programs.
For over 25 years, Gail was principal and co-manager of Gale Woodworking, Inc.; and worked extensively with leading Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, law firm, real estate and development companies, and major corporations in the A/E/C sectors. She is also the Founder and President of Launch Solutions, Inc., a professional services firm specializing in strategic, tactical change management.
Through the years, Gail has built relationships quickly as a steadfast, trustworthy source for bringing value to a business. She has helped growing businesses in a variety of industries identify clients, attract business and implement change. Gail has a first-hand understanding of the financial and psychological realities that influence business decisions, bringing a combination of practicality, realism and creativity to the process. Gail graduated cum laude from Boston University and holds a Masters of Arts degree in Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. Over the years, she has taken programs at M.I.T and Harvard on Negotiation, and Dealing with Difficult People; at Wharton for Women in Family Held Businesses; and courses at NYU in Marketing, Real Estate, Public Relations, Executive Coaching, and Creative Writing.
Gail serves on the Board of the Association of Real Estate Women's (AREW) and is the Co-Chair of the Sponsorship Committee for the 2010-2011 Year. She is active on the CORENET–NYC Chapter Learning Committee and sits on the Advisory Board and the Membership Committee of the Greater New York Construction Users Council. An active participant in the NY Building Congress, she is involved in both the Communications Committee and the Environment Committee. A member of ICSC, she recently joined the 2010 NYC ICSC Planning Committee and will be working on two sub-committees. She actively participates in events to raise awareness and funds for the NYC Alzheimer's Association. In 2003, she was named U.S. Congressional Businesswoman of the Year.

Special Events Co-Chair

Special Events Co-Chair

Sonia is a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, an Atlanta-based law firm. She is a member of the firm's Real Estate Capitalization and Retail Properties groups. Her broad range of experience includes representation of retail companies, developers, landlords and tenants in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing and leasing of commercial properties. She has significant transactional experience involving numerous types of commercial assets, including mixed-use properties, co-ops and condominiums, shopping centers, hotels and industrial properties.
At Troutman Sanders, Sonia is an active member of the firm's Diversity Committee and is the current chairperson of the New York Recruiting Committee. A New York native, Sonia and her husband Chris enjoy living in DUMBO, Brooklyn, with their two sons, Caleb, age 5, and Janak, 2.

Special Events Co-Chair

Special Events Co-Chair

Laurie is Executive Vice President, of WB Wood, a premier contract service provider and a Certified Herman Miller Dealer. She is on the senior management team, and markets and target sales. Laurie's sales team is dedicated to maintaining existing clientele by facilitating transitions from initial projects to Day 2 requests.
WB Wood provides large and midsize corporate clients project management services related to furniture resources, asset management, reconfiguration of existing furniture, and procurement. Throughout Laurie's 25 plus years at WB Wood has been recognized as a leader in the industry, serving legal, financial, health, advertising and media professions in addition to nonprofit organizations.
Laurie joined WB Wood in 1980 as an account manager, servicing corporate accounts and A&D firms. She has proven invaluable to clients, knowing they count on her to guide them through the furniture selection process. Laurie provides accurate and helpful information to her clients and is involved at several levels of her projects including corporate, first meeting with the in-house team at the onset to assure the project plan is in place, and following move-in, she assures continuity through management of ongoing service activities. In addition to AREW, Laurie is a member of CoreNet, currently serving on the Membership Committee. She is also a member of WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate, and is the Vice President of the Board for her Co-Op located in NYC where she resides. Background: George Washington University Total Years of Industry Experience: 29

Luncheon Co-Chair

Luncheon Co-Chair

Julia has been in the contract furniture industry for over a decade. Prior to joining Teknion, LLC in 2006 as Architecture and Design Market Manager, she served as the Senior Architecture and Design Manager at Humanscale. With her years of experience in museum and not-for-profit work, she has been and continues to be involved in a variety of fundraising activities and special events, primarily while employed at The Museum of Modern Art and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Julia lives in Park Slope with her husband, Thom, and their children, Jack and Lily.

Luncheon Co-Chair

Luncheon Co-Chair

Karen H. Shaw is Principal at Shaw & Associates, LLC, a real estate advisory and consulting firm specializing in public/private development projects, economic development, project management and planning. Her background combines extensive experience in real estate, finance and planning, along with significant non-profit and public sector experience.
Previously, she was the President and CEO of the Union Square Partnership, a top-tier Business Improvement District and Local Development Corporation that fosters economic and real estate development, commercial and retail revitalization and business attraction in Union Square. Among the signature projects she advanced and led during her tenure, included the $20M ground up redevelopment and construction project for Union Square Park, which involved a significant redesign of the north-end of the Park.
Karen also served in high ranking positions in the Giuliani administration, where at City Hall, she was Senior Advisor for Real Estate, Economic Development and Finance, where she directed development projects including MoMA expansion, Governor’s Island redevelopment, Lincoln Center redevelopment, and 42nd Street Development; and Senior Vice President at the NYC Economic Development Corp. Earlier in her career, she was Assistant Budget Director at the NYC Office of Management and Budget during the Koch Administration. She was a Managing Director of Syndications, Sales and Trading at Westpac Banking Corp, and a Vice President at Chemical Securities, Inc. in Public Finance Investment Banking. Karen has an MBA in Finance/Accounting from the Stern School of Business at New York University, and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Policy Analysis from Hunter College. She is a graduate of Stony Brook University, where she received a B.A. in Political Science and Economics.
An AREW Member for 6 years, and four years on the Board of Directors, Karen is Co-Chair of the Luncheon Committee, and had served as Co-Chair of the Program and Membership Committees.

Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Mary Williamson is Director of Business Development for the New York office of HDR CUH2A, an architecture, engineering and planning firm specializing in the design of science and technology projects for higher education, corporate technology, and the public sector. Mary also serves on the Board of Directors of the AREW Charitable Fund and the Board of Directors for the ACE Mentor Program. She is also a Founder of the New York Businesswomen's Network, an organization committed to addressing issues facing women in business, as well supporting various philanthropic groups that support women in need of assistance. Before joining HDR CUH2A, Mary served as Director of Business Development for a variety of leading architecture and design firms, including BBG-BBGM and Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, following her many years as a practicing interior designer. This is Mary's second year on the AREW Board, and her second year as a member of the AREW Charitable Fund Board.

Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Theresa M. Nygard joined KTR Real Estate Advisors LLC in 2002 as a senior appraiser. She has more than 25 years of commercial appraisal experience and is in charge of litigation support activities, focusing on the appraiser's role in arbitration and court proceedings. Before joining the firm, Theresa spent 18 years at Jerome Haims Realty, where she developed a specialized practice involving land and transferable development rights valuation and other complex zoning and land use issues. Theresa also provided litigation support services for the 42nd Street Development Project condemnation proceedings, which involved hotels, historic theater properties, store, loft and office buildings and vacant land. Theresa has served as an expert witness in various ground rent arbitration proceedings and in bankruptcy and New York State Supreme Court.
Ms. Nygard is a member of the Appraisal Institute, holding the MAI designation and is a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. Theresa has lectured on the topic of the analysis and appraisal of transferable development rights at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and for the Metropolitan New York Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and on the topic of land valuation at Baruch College.
Theresa has served on AREW's Board as Communications Chair, Luncheons Chair and as Secretary and Treasurer. Theresa is also currently Second Vice President of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.