The next installment of The ACREL Files is Jay Epstien’s interview of Mary Ann Tighe, the most prominent member of the “exceedingly small club of women who have managed to move to the top of the brokerage business” as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Crain’s New York Business named Mary Ann the most powerful woman -- across both the public and private sectors -- in New York, and chose her for induction to the Crain’s Business Hall of Fame, observing that she “has a history of…transforming the face of Manhattan.” Among her most significant projects, Mary Ann played a catalytic role in the revitalization of Times Square and the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan after 9/11. Mary Ann has conceived, structured and negotiated virtually every form of deal including ground leases, air rights acquisition and disposition, net and gross leases, government incentive packages, and a range of equity transfers from partnership and condominium interests through fee simple sales.

Mary Ann currently serves as the CEO of the NY Tri-State Region of CBRE Group (an ACREL Gold Level Sponsor). She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including REBNY’s Deal of the Year Award for ingenious brokerage (9 times -- a record number of wins since the award was created in 1944); REBNY’s Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Achievement Award; and the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Urban Leadership Award (the first woman to receive that award).

Prior to entering the world of real estate, Mary Ann served as a Vice President of the American Broadcasting Companies, where she launched the A&E cable channel. Recognized nationally for her expertise in the arts, Mary Ann was also formerly the Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Advisor to Vice President Walter Mondale, and a staff member of the Smithsonian Institution.