Real Estate Finance Association names 2014 board of directors: O'Neill of Holland & Knight LLP named president

The Real Estate Finance Association has named their board of directors for 2014. John O'Neill of Holland & Knight LLP, will serve as President and Andrew Rosen of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will serve as the president-elect. O'Neill serves as co-chair of the firm's real estate finance team. He practices primarily in the real estate and real estate finance area. O'Neill is experienced in representing institutional and international investors, in a variety of investment structures, in the acquisition, financing and disposition of single-and multi-asset pools throughout the country. O'Neill regularly works with clients in structuring and negotiating joint venture agreements. In addition, he has substantial experience in representing financial institutions and borrowers in real estate financing transactions for commercial, industrial, hotel and multi-family projects and has developed a particular expertise in advising clients in the defeasance process. He also routinely represents tax credit investors and their advisors in modifications, dispositions and work-outs of existing transactions. REFA has also announced three new members of the board: * Ryan Bradley, Colliers International; * Sarah Lagosh, Eastdil Secured; and * Tim Mulhall, Colliers International. The following will continue to serve on the board for 2014: * Paul Ayoub, Nutter McClennen & Fish; * Bruce Bagdasarian, Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green; * Peter Brockleman, TD Bank, N.A.; * Travis D'Amato, Jones Lang LaSalle; * Tom Goodwin, DebtX; * Martha Faigen, Riemer & Braunstein LLP; * Bill Flynn, Net Lease Capital Advisors; * Natalie Herald, Fidelity Management & Research; * Michael Hussey, US Bank; * Thomas Landry, TA Associates Realty; * Paul Jakubowski, WilmerHale; * Jim Lerner, Goulston & Storrs; * James Magaldi, Boston Properties; * Gail McDonough, Colliers International; * Keith Munsell, Boston University School of Management; * Paul Nasser, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation; * Eric Nelson, Winstanley Enterprises, LLC; * Doug Novitch, Wells Fargo Bank; * James Partridge, Capital One Bank; * Tom Pereira, Boston Capital; * Timothy Schlitzer, MassPRIM; and * William Tanski, Realty Financial Partners. REFA's Annual Forecasting Luncheon - January 15th REFA's Annual Members Only Forecasting Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, January 15th at WilmerHale LLP's office in the city. This is the most popular members-only event of the year, as attendees are asked to predict where various economic indicators will stand at the close of 2014. In addition there will be a panel discussion moderated by Frank Petz, managing director, from Jones Lang LaSalle, and features three prominent industry leaders who will break down the economic outlook for real estate in 2014: * Shawn Hurley, executive vice president, Skanska; * Alicia Sasser Modestino, senior economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; and * Anthony Pangaro, partner, Millennium Partners.