The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) has named its Board of Directors for 2021. Bill Flynn, SVP, business development, Net Lease Capital, will serve as president, along with president-elect, Lauren O’Neil, senior managing director, JLL, and treasurer Nilesh Bubna, founding partner, Longpoint Realty Partners. 

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

• Heather Brown, CBRE

• Mike Caliva, Skanska USA Commercial Development

• Colleen Carey, Eastdil Secured

• Sandi Silk, Jefferson Apartment Group

The following will continue to serve on the board for 2021:

• Paul Ayoub, Nutter;

• Kristen Binck, Oxford Properties;

• Peter Bloomfield, KPMG;

• Gregory Bohenko, Samuels & Associates; 

• Steven Bonelli, Lighthouse Real Estate Investments;

• Robert Brown, Brookline Bank;

• Saeed Coates, The GPG Companies;

• Sam Crossan, JLL;

• Travis D’Amato, Walker & Dunlop;

• Megan D’Antonio, AEW Capital Management;

• Amanda Eckhoff, Robinson + Cole LLP; 

• Kathryn Kargman Holden, First Realty Management Corporation;

• 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, Hunneman;

• Paul Nasser, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation; 

• Douglas Novitch, Wells Fargo Bank;

• Claudia Piper, Webster Bank; 

• Ravi Ragnauth, The Davis Companies;

• Sean Randall, Citizens Bank;

• John Roach, US Bank;

• Andrew Rosen, Bank of America Merrill Lynch;

• Melissa Schrock, Hilco Redevelopment Partners;

• Kevin Stone, KeyBank Real Estate Capital;

• Amanda Strong, MITIMCo; and

• Lauren Sullivan, Related Beal. 

We hope you can join REFA in 2021 for our quality networking and educational programs, beginning with our Annual Forecasting Program on Thursday, January 28^th. The program will include a high-level overview of the state of capital markets and the dislocation of capital, liquidity, mergers, and acquisition activity from keynote speaker Donald McCree, vice chairman & head of commercial banking, Citizens Bank. Matt Pullen, executive managing director, Newmark, will moderate a panel discussion with industry professionals who will share their view on the current market, trends we saw in 2020, and repositioning strategies throughout different sectors. The program will also include the results from last year’s audience ballot questions.  

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. All of our education events are now being held as Webinars. Formed in 1988, REFA currently has over 700 members, 110 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 on Twitter @REFABoston.