A busy start to 2025: REFA brings exciting events to the CRE community

Boston, MA REFA is pleased to be supporting Breaktime and FamilyAid Boston as their Charitable Partners for the third year! Breaktime and FamilyAid are the designated charities of REFA’s signature events, including the Charitable Golf & Tennis Tournament, Gala, Programs, and community service activities.

On January 22^nd, REFA’s Annual Events Committee hosted its highly anticipated The Annual Forecasting Luncheon, at WilmerHale, 60 State St. The sold-out event featured leading economist, Richard Barkham, global chief economist, head of global research & head of Americas research, CBRE, who provided a comprehensive overview of the CRE industry, sharing key insights on 2024 trends and projections for 2025. The market analysis set the stage for a dynamic discussion led by Lauren O’Neil, chief operating officer, AEW, and a panel of industry professionals, Joshua Israel, chief financial officer, Davis; Marci Loeber, managing principal, Griffith Properties; Matthew Pullen, vice chairman, Newmark; and Emily Rush, managing director, First Citizens Bank.

REFA’s Programs Committee hosted their first sold-out program  of the year, Changing Tides: The Evolution of Boston’s Life Science Real Estate Market, on February 4^th, at PwC, 101 Seaport Blvd. Moderator, Mark Bruso, director, Boston Research, JLL, led the intriguing discussion that featured speakers, Rob Albro, chief investment officer/partner, King Street Properties; Maggie Dore, director of leasing, Breakthrough Properties; Colleen O’Connor, executive vice president, market lead U.S & UK, BioMed Realty; and  Morgan Weinstein, executive vice president, northeast, Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, Inc.

REFA hosted a membership-wide community service fundraising activity to Benefit the charities – The Winter Walk! Hosted on Sunday, February 9^th at the Boston Common.

REFA’s president Jill Sharif, vice president-national business development, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company – National Commercial Services, along with all division presidents and Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) leadership, were sworn in on February 5^th, at the GBREB Soiree – Installation of Officers, at WilmerHale, 60 State St. They welcomed in:

GBREB Officers

• Chair - Bill Tanski, president, Outlook Capital Partners;

• Chair-Elect - Dino Confalone, CIPS, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty;

• Treasurer - Sarah Mathewson, regional SVP, property operations, AvalonBay Communities; and

• Assist. Treasurer/Clerk - Nilesh Bubna, founding partner & CFO, Longpoint Realty Partners.

Division Presidents:

• BOMA Boston - Jennifer Christakes, LEED AP O+M, regional director, executive managing director, JLL;

• CBA - Robert Byrne, executive vice president, CBRE;

• GBAR - Mark Triglione, broker/owner, Premier Realty Group, Inc;

• MAA - Jeremy Ouellette, vice president of portfolio operations, Samuels & Associates; and

• REFA - Jill Sharif, VP-national business development, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company - National Commercial Services

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