The ACREL Files continues with Jay Epstien’s interview of Mark Rose, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Avison Young, a global leader in providing comprehensive real estate solutions to investors, owners and occupiers across the globe. During his 16 years at Avison Young, Mark has transformed the firm into the commercial real estate services company of the future: data-driven, tech enabled and grounded in a belief that strong culture can advance business goals. Under Mark’s leadership, he and his team have spearheaded the company's expansion from 290 real estate professionals in 11 Canadian offices to approximately 5,000 professionals in 100 offices worldwide. Before Avison Young, Mark served as CEO of Grubb & Ellis and COO and CFO of the Americas for Jones Lang LaSalle. Over the past three years, Mark has been a regular contributor and participant at the World Economic Forum and a proud member of the Davos Baukultur Alliance. Mark currently serves on the Boards of Deskpass, the WEF Real Estate Governors Board and the Queens College Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

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.

Join us for the 25th episode of The ACREL Files where ACREL Past President Jay Epstien interviews Alex Nyhan, the Chief Executive Officer of First Washington Realty, a fully integrated firm that specializes in the ownership of convenience, necessity and experience-oriented retail real estate. First Washington currently owns interests in nearly 150 shopping centers in 22 states and the District of Columbia, totaling nearly 22.4 million square feet with approximately 4,000 tenants and a value of over $9.1 billion. Prior to joining First Washington, Alex was an executive at Forest City Enterprises where he led development activities for major projects in the District of Columbia including The Yards. He has been involved with over $10 billion of real estate investments, developments and initiatives, including housing, retail, office, hotel, and mixed-use projects. Alex also worked for the Deputy Mayor of DC in the Office of Planning and Economic Development, and has served as an advisor to the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of ICSC. Alex holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and an undergraduate degree from Macalester College.