Bisnow’s inaugural Twin Cities Power Women event was held on December 11, 2019. The core purpose of this event was to highlight the success of women in the commercial real estate industry and showcase initiatives which have been pivotal in driving change.  I had the pleasure to serve as the moderator for the event’s panel titled “Opportunity and Inspiration: The Key to Increasing Participation of Women in the Industry.” The event celebrated pioneers of change and those pushing for equal access in the industry for Twin Cities top female executives.

Keynote speaker Kari Broyles, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Real Estate Counsel, Lifetime Fitness, opened the program with the story of how she rose through the ranks in the legal profession and as a real estate attorney, both at Buffalo Wild Wings and Life Time, Inc.

My panel consisted of five honorees, Anne Behrendt, President and CEO of Doran Companies; Carrie Eggleston, Development Manager, United Properties; Jaci Bell, Development Executive, Mortenson; Jennifer Koehler, Vice President, Opus AE Group; Laurie Mahowald, Vice President of Real Estate, Target; and Ericka Miller, Senior Vice President, KimbleCo. They discussed initiatives that have been transforming the landscape of commercial real estate, an industry that has traditionally been male dominated.

Other honorees at the breakfast included Pat Wolf, President, Commercial Real Estate Services; Erin Fitzgerald, Principal, Transwestern; Maureen Michalski, Vice President, Development, Schafer Richardson; Barb Schuba, Principal & CFO,  Suntide Commercial Realty; Lisa Kro, CFO & CAO, Ryan Companies; Heather Weerheim, Director of Business Development, Greiner Construction; Shauen Pearce, Director of Economic Development & Inclusion Policy, City of Minneapolis; and Lori Larson, Executive Vice President, Dougherty Real Estate Equity Advisors.