Fairfield, CT The March of Dimes has recognized Ed Tonnessen for his outstanding commercial real estate efforts and commitment to the Fairfield County community. Tonnessen will be honored at the Fairfield County Real Estate Award Breakfast on December 6 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel. 

Tonnessen is the managing director of JLL’s Stamford and Westchester offices, and has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate. 

While in college, Tonnessen became interested in real estate after completing an internship at Cushman & Wakefield in Hartford. He joined the commercial real estate firm full time after graduation before moving on to The Ashforth Company’s brokerage division, Albert B. Ashforth, Inc. In 1989 he took on an additional managerial role at the firm acting as executive vice president. In 2008, Tonnessen joined JLL. Over the decades he has successfully developed both his tenant representation business involving many of the significant transactions in Fairfield County and leasing several of the major office projects in the area.

Tonnessen previously served on the board of directors for the March of Dimes in CT and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ridgefield Sunrise Cottage. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the support that the Fairfield County real estate community has given to the March of Dimes over the last 20-plus years. This event is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the people and organizations whose continued dedication to our mission allows us to better serve this community,” said Deb Poudrier-Fafard, Associate Executive Director, Southern New England, March of Dimes. “We’re thrilled to honor our former board member Ed Tonnessen, who has proven to be just as dedicated to serving his local community as he is to his work in real estate.”

The annual Real Estate Award Breakfast is the premier event for the real estate community and one of the largest real estate fundraisers in the country. Funds raised help support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. In the United States, one in 10 babies are born prematurely every year. March of Dimes is committed to working together to improve the health of every mom and baby.  

The Fairfield County Real Estate Award Breakfast is made possible by our sponsors. Thank you to Title Sponsors, Building and Land Technology, The Ashforth Company, and JLL.