Real Estate Finance Association names 2022 board of directors - O’Neil named president

Boston MA The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) has named its Board of Directors for 2022. Lauren O’Neil, managing director COO, private equity at AEW Capital Management will serve as president, along with president-elect, Nilesh Bubna, founder and CFO of Longpoint Realty Partners, and treasurer Ravi Ragnauth, CFO and CCO at The Davis Companies.

REFA has also named nine new members who will join the Board of Directors:

• William Foley, Citizens Bank;

• Colleen Fonseca, Builders of Color Coalition;

• Melanie Herald, State Street Corporation;

• Hisham Kader, GID Investment Advisers;

• Martha Nay, JLL;

• Ryan Parker, CrossHarbor Capital Partners;

• Deke Schultze, Lionstone Investments;

• Jill Sharif, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company – NCS; and

• Lucy Zhang, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The following will continue to serve on the Board for 2022:

• Paul Ayoub, Nutter;

• Kristen Binck, Oxford Properties;

• Peter Bloomfield, KPMG;

• Gregory Bohenko, Samuels & Associates;

• Heather Brown, CBRE;

• Mike Caliva, Skanska;

• Colleen Carey, Eastdil Secured;

• Saeed Coates, The GPG Companies;

• Sam Crossan, JLL;

• Travis D’Amato, Walker & Dunlop;

• Amanda Eckhoff, Robinson + Cole LLP;

• Bill Flynn, Net Lease Capital Advisors;

• Deepa Krishnamurthy, Harvard University;

• Chris Legocki, Greystar;

• Israel Lopez, The Gutierrez Company;

• Elizabeth Lowrey, Elkus Manfredi Architects;

• Adrienne Maley, REFA;

• Naomi Mayeux, National Development;

• Ian McKinley, GFI Partners;

• Claudia Piper, Webster Bank;

• John Roach, US Bank;

• Sandi Silk, Jefferson Apartment Group;

• Kevin Stone, CrossHarbor Capital Partners; and

• Lauren Sullivan, Greatland Realty Partners.

We hope you can join REFA in 2022 for our quality networking and educational programs. REFS began the year with a timely webinar on Uncertainty in Construction: The Impact on Real Estate Development on Wednesday, January 12^th. Tod McGrath, VP, finance, Boston Properties moderated the discussion with Teri Ford, director of development, Greatland Realty Partners, George Gaughan, VP, development manager, Turner Construction, Claudia Piper, SVP, Webster Bank, and Jason Tilley, VP, Development, The Davis Companies. These real estate experts discussed how they are navigating today’s development environment, as well as how their organizations are adapting to these unique headwinds while continuing to acquire, lend, develop, and lease.

REFA, a division of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB), is a commercial real estate business association providing members with high quality networking and educational opportunities. REFA strives to maintain its reputation for excellence by promoting the exchange of information between professionals in the real estate finance community, fostering a platform for growth and development for its emerging leader membership and maintaining a central role within the commercial real estate industry – one that is at the center of it all.

Real estate professionals from a variety of institutions join REFA to network and exchange ideas through educational programs, networking events and committee participation. From forums featuring senior-level executives to the Annual Gala, REFA programs are well attended with leaders from the industry and provide excellent opportunities for industry updates and networking. Our education events are currently being held as Webinars. Formed in 1988, REFA currently has over 700 members, 100 corporate sponsors, and hosts over 30 educational and networking events per year.

To learn more about REFA, including membership, events, and ways to get involved, please visit us at www.refa.org. Follow REFA LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram @REFABoston.