Boston, MA On October 17^th, over 500 REFA members and guests gathered at the Westin Copley for the 31^st Annual REFA Gala to celebrate and honor Jonathan Davis, founder and CEO of The Davis Companies, as he was awarded the Robert S. Swain, Jr. Award. In receiving this award, Davis joins a distinguished group of honorees who have all made great impact to the Greater Boston community through their work and philanthropic efforts. Attendees networked with colleagues, celebrated another successful year, and applauded remarks from Davis as he accepted his award.

On November 6^th, REFA hosted an education program on “The Orange Line Influence” at 225 Franklin St. Patrick Keefe, vice president – debt capital markets, Walker & Dunlop, moderated the panel discussion with speakers Debra Gould, executive managing director, Newmark Knight Frank, Young Park, president, Berkeley Investments, Inc., and Sandi Silk, senior vice president/development partner, Jefferson Apartment Group. The panel discussed how the Orange Line is now commanding a new respect and is influencing our changing region with a wave of job growth and development adjacent to its stations. Attendees learned about the projects and deals that the speakers managed along the Orange Line.

The 2019 REFA Mentorship Program pairs together young professionals (REFA’s Emerging Leaders) with senior leaders in the commercial real estate industry. The pairs meet with one another throughout the year so the mentors may provide insight and advice to their mentees. The 2019 program will be coming to a close on November 25^th with an event at Central Wharf Co. that will give the pairs a chance to connect once more before the end of the year. Directly following the event, members and guests will be invited to attend REFA’s Annual Holiday Party at the same location.

REFA’s last event of 2019 will take place on December 3^rd at WilmerHale and will feature a group of prominent owners and developers who sit on REFA’s board. The program will be moderated by Amanda Strong, director asset management, MITIMCo, and speakers will include Jessica Hughes, managing director, Tishman Speyer, Kristen Binck, vice president, legal, Oxford Properties, and Melissa Schrock, vice president, development, Boston Properties. 

To learn more about REFA membership and programs, please visit www.REFA.org and follow REFA on Twitter @REFABoston.