2026 Women in CRE: Rita Lavoie, Quonset Development Corp.

 

 

What professional accomplishment or experience are you especially proud of?
I’m proud of my nontraditional career path, spanning community planning, GIS, environmental science, and public policy. I play a leadership role in real estate management and leasing, supporting the continued growth of Quonset Business Park. In 2025, Quonset reached its 15,000^th job milestone and added 26,000 s/f of new leases and 316,000 s/f of renewals and expansions. Most importantly, we support the economic vitality of Rhode Island by generating $6.98 billion in annual economic output – 8.4% of Rhode Island’s GDP. I am proud to be part of the team enabling that growth.

What has helped shape the way you approach your work and career?
I believe that real estate depends on the relationships behind the transactions. Successful development happens when people understand not only the property, but also the businesses themselves and the surrounding community. Developing personal relationships is what makes this industry so rewarding to me: every new industrial lease is ultimately about people working together to create something new.

What are you most excited about in your work or the commercial real estate industry right now?
I am excited about growth of advanced manufacturing and the blue economy. These industries require long-term planning, and close coordination among developers, tenants, and all levels of government. At Quonset, we heard from our business that there was a need for small research and development watercraft to have direct access to Narragansett Bay, so we constructed the Blue Economy Support Docks at the Port of Davisville. Designed to support smaller boats and short-term docking needs, the docks serve as a gateway to Narragansett Bay for small and growing maritime businesses.

What advice or perspective would you share with women building their careers in commercial real estate?
Your career does not have to follow a traditional path. My own path into commercial real estate has been shaped by diverse experiences ranging from environmental science, to non-profit, to local government work. The different perspectives I gained in those roles have become assets to being creative and finding unique solutions to obstacles in real estate.