CoreNet Global New England Chapter celebrate the 2025/2026 Leadership 2.0 Cohorts

Boston, MA At its Annual Awards of Excellence, the New England Chapter of CoreNet Global celebrated the graduation of the 2025/2026 Leadership 2.0 Cohort and the George M. Conti Young Leader Professional Development Program 2025 Cohort. Leadership 2.0 and the George M. Conti Young Leader Professional Development Program are the two professional development programs that the chapter offers to current members of the chapter.

The 2025/2026 Leadership 2.0 Cohort:

• Rebecca Bergstrom, Sun Life;
• Caroline Bishop, PTC;
• Katie Butler, Akamai Technologies;
• Carli Cabana, VVA Project & Cost Managers part of Drees & Sommer;
• Jennifer Foley, Manulife | John Hancock;
• Steve Gminski, Creative Office Resources;
• Walter Howell, McCarter & English LLP;
• Elizabeth Jackson, Gilbane Building Co.;
• Robert Kinlin, CBRE;
• Heather Long, Red Thread;
• Samantha O’Neil, SmithGroup;
• Ishan Raval, Cumming Group;
• Elvis Rodrigues, Manulife | John Hancock;
• Manny Venuti, Columbia Construction Co.; and
• Michael Zahornacky, Liberty Mutual.

“Since 2017, the Leadership 2.0 program has played a pivotal role in shaping the chapter’s leaders of tomorrow. I’ve seen firsthand how this program transforms participants, equipping them with the skills and confidence to drive meaningful change within their organizations and communities,” said Holyn Nickerson, co-chair of the Leadership 2.0 Committee.

The chapter is excited to offer the Leadership 2.0 program again, and applications for the 2026-2027 cohort, which will commence in September 2026, are set to open in early June 2026.

With a dynamic new board and a fresh cohort of Leadership 2.0 graduates, The New England Chapter of CoreNet Global is poised for a year of continued growth and innovation. The chapter remains dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where corporate real estate professionals can connect, learn, grow, and belong. As the industry evolves, CoreNet Global New England will continue to provide the resources, networking opportunities, and leadership development programs necessary to empower its members and shape the future of corporate real estate in the region.

The George M. Conti Young Leaders Professional Development Program focuses on elevating young professionals’ understanding of the various disciplines that make up the corporate real estate field and, through personal one-on-one coaching, allows the young leader to better understand his/her strengths and areas for improvement as well as how to enhance their personal brand and leadership skills.

The Program leverages senior members of the CRE community as faculty as well as outside professionals in the area of professional development. It focuses on elevating young professionals’ understanding of the various disciplines that make up the corporate real estate field and, through personal one-on-one coaching, allows the participants to better understand their strengths and areas for improvement as well as how to enhance their personal brand and leadership skills.

“As Co-Chair of the George M. Conti Young Leaders Professional Development Program, I’m continually inspired by the ambition and creativity our participants bring. Through our work at CoreNet to develop the chapter’s Young Leader Development Program, we focus on providing guidance and fostering growth for emerging real estate professionals. Beyond building soft skills, the program cultivates knowledge of many aspects of the real estate industry, encourages meaningful connections, and prepares the next generation to lead with purpose. We’re proud to offer a platform where young leaders can challenge themselves, learn from both industry leaders and their peers, and step into roles that will help shape the future of our communities and industries,” said Chris Petryshin, Co-Chair of the George M. Conti Young Leaders Professional Development Program.

The 2025 George M. Conti Young Leaders Professional Development Program Cohort

• Alan Kocher, Boston Consulting Group
• Clare Holland, CRESA
• Clare Kennedy, Lee Kennedy Company
• Frank Kelly, Structure Tone
• Grey Gettleman, Cushman & Wakefield
• Ipsitha Bayapu, Northstar Project & Real Estate Services
• Jenny Loughlin, Liberty Mutual
• Olivia Finocchiaro, HelmsBnB
• Ryan Levesque, Fresenius Medical Care
• Shannon Benoit, John Hancock
• Steven Gibree, The TJX Companies, Inc

The chapter will continue to offer the George M. Conti Young Leaders Professional Development Program, as the 2026 cohort is already underway, diving into their sessions with hands on guidance from co-chairs, Chris Petryshin and Sarah Abrams.