Real Estate Finance Association Golf Tournament and gala honorees named

Boston, MA The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) has named this year’s honorees for the 30th Annual Gala event. David Manfredi, CEO and founding principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects and Elizabeth Lowrey, principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects, will be awarded with the 2018 Robert S. Swain Jr. award, REFA’s Distinguished Service Award. Manfredi and Lowrey join an elite list of past recipients including: Stephen Karp and Steven Fischman of New England Development in 2017; John Drew of the Drew Company in 2016; Bryan Koop of Boston Properties in 2015; Pam Herbst of AEW Capital Management in 2014; mayor Thomas Menino in 2013; and Joe Fallon of the Fallon Company in 2012.

In honoring Manfredi and Lowrey, Elkus Manfredi Architects becomes the first architecture firm to be recognized among a distinguished list of New England based companies. 

The REFA Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of the late Robert S. Swain, Jr. In his 33-year career in the real estate finance profession, Swain gained the admiration and respect of his colleagues throughout the real estate finance industry. He was a valued member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board for over 25 years and was an active member and leader of the mortgage finance committee, which developed into the present Real Estate Finance Association. This award is an annual recognition of an outstanding contribution made to the real estate industry either by lifetime example or specific achievement.

The 30th Annual REFA Gala will be held on Thursday, October 11 from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Marriott Copley Place. 

On July 23, REFA will host its 15th Annual Charitable Golf & Tennis Tournament at Dedham Country & Polo Club in Dedham, Mass., benefiting FamilyAid Boston and Rosie’s Place. FamilyAid Boston has been providing shelter, housing, and hope to families since 1916 and is the leading provider of solutions to family homelessness in Greater Boston. Rosie’s Place is the first emergency shelter for women in the United States. The mission of Rosie’s Place is to provide a safe and secure environment for poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Close to 130 REFA members and guests will participate in the golf outing, golf clinic and tennis tournament, followed by a reception and awards dinner. 

REFA’s second Fundamentals Education program of the year will be held on July 17 on the topic of “Acquisitions and Dispositions” with moderator Amanda Eckhoff, partner, Robinson + Cole LLP and speakers Eric Lemont, partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP and Eric Allon, partner, Bernkopf Goodman LLP. The panelists will provide an overview of key provisions of commercial purchase and sale agreements from both the seller’s and buyer’s perspective and also discuss what is “market” when negotiating such provisions. The program will be held as a luncheon from 12 - 1:15 p.m. at Sullivan & Worcester LLP, One Post Office Sq. in Boston.