What is your role at Avison Young?

Construction Manager/Property Manager and most recently, Vice President.

How did you get into commercial real estate?

I majored in Interior design and after college went to work for an architectural firm. I was intending to eventually get a Master's in Architecture - but realized, I preferred interior design and project management. Years later, after a few economic changes, I was hired as a downtown mall manager, which needed to be repositioned in the market. I was hired due to my project management, design, and retail management experience. From then on, I've been involved in CRE.

What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion is a seat at the table. Inclusion means to me that I am heard, appreciated, respected, and not just there to tick off a box.

Tell us about the accomplishments you're most proud of across your career.

I am most proud of how my career has evolved. I've been the designer, the project manager, the broker, and the landlord, and have been at the table within these various roles. This has enabled me to see all sides and to facilitate a satisfying project for all parties. I am also very proud of many of the projects that I've worked on over the years and their lasting impact. Early in my career, I was responsible for establishing the quality of finishes to be used in the Ronald Reagan Center in downtown DC. While I was downtown, I also worked on the repositioning of the National Press Building, bringing it out of the '80s and into the late '90s. This included new tenanting and a new streetscape.