Mindy Williams - McElearney

CHAIR

Mindy Williams-McElearney is the Head of Client Development for global professional services firm, Turner & Townsend, based in their New York office. In this position, Mindy leads the strategic growth program to expand the firm’s profile and market share within the Eastern United States. Mindy brings over 25 years of experience working in partnership with the real estate, design and construction industries. Her previous work experience at architectural firms and construction management companies, as well as her involvement with organizations like CoreNet and IFMA, gives her a unique perspective on industry trends and the challenges facing corporate enterprises.

Christian Bryan

PRESIDENT 

Experienced Real Estate Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the media, technology, software and the sports industry. Strong business development professional skilled in Operations, Project Management, Construction, Negotiation, Budgeting, Front Office, Customer Service, and People Management.

Sonya Dufner, FASID

VICE PRESIDENT

Sonya Dufner is a Principal and Director of Workplace Strategy at Gensler. She works with fortune 100 clients to conceptualize strategy for the future of hybrid work that aligns with their company culture and business strategy. With over three decades of experience, Sonya leads transformative projects for a diverse range of industry-leading clients, including Christies, L’Oreal USA, United Nations, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Thomson Reuters, Fidelity Investments, Paramount Global, Verizon, and Warner Music Group. She is sought after as a long-term strategic partner, helping clients to make decisions about not only their real estate portfolios, but how to best support talent through new policy language, as well as work-point analysis to redefine the physical space and support productivity when employees come into the office. Her design choices inform new service design strategies, rethinking amenities that make employees lives better, and location strategies to deliver impact to the business.

Sonya has been featured in various prominent articles and platforms. Her work has been featured in FastCo Design, Entrepreneur, and The Huffington Post, and she has been quoted in Forbes, Bisnow, and HR Outlook. She also frequently speaks at high-profile conferences such as Microsoft's "The Future of Work and Play" and the 2024 “Future of Work Summit”. She has also been involved in industry boards, such as CoreNet NYC, where she serves as Strategic Planning Chair.

Will Monaghan

TREASURER

Jason Aster

INTERIM SECRETARY

Jason Aster is a Managing Director at KBA Lease Services where he oversees firm management and operations, corporate development, new product ideation, business development, account management and strategic partnerships. Jason is also a subject matter expert with respect to lease administration and audit implementation, processes and negotiation strategies as well as real estate BPO organizational structure. Prior to joining KBA, Jason practiced in a big law corporate real estate and structured finance department as well as a litigation consultant to a boutique Wall Street firm, representing major international banks, federal agencies and private lenders with a focus on real estate and finance.

Sandra Yencho

SECRETARY

Will Monaghan

FINANCE & INVESTMENT

Jason Aster

INTERIM SECRETARY

Jason Aster is a Managing Director at KBA Lease Services where he oversees firm management and operations, corporate development, new product ideation, business development, account management and strategic partnerships. Jason is also a subject matter expert with respect to lease administration and audit implementation, processes and negotiation strategies as well as real estate BPO organizational structure. Prior to joining KBA, Jason practiced in a big law corporate real estate and structured finance department as well as a litigation consultant to a boutique Wall Street firm, representing major international banks, federal agencies and private lenders with a focus on real estate and finance.

Sandra Yencho

GOVERNANCE & NOMINATING

Jeremy Libby

INNOVATION AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Courtney Grill

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Courtney Grill is a Director of Business Development for Skanska USA Building’s Metro New York Region and is responsible for establishing strategic partnerships and strengthening client relationships. Prior to joining Skanska, Courtney worked on the owner’s representative, project and program management side of the industry for Faithful+Gould and their parent company, Atkins North America, an infrastructure-focused design and engineering firm. While at Faithful+Gould / Atkins North America, Courtney was a National Capture Manager for all sectors and previously a Senior Marketing Manager for the corporate real estate sector of the firm. Courtney assumed the role of Chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee in May 2021, having previously served as the Vice Chair and on other CoreNet Committees with various roles including the Vice Chair of the Public Policy Committee and as a member of the Young Leaders and New Year’s Party committees. Courtney earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elon University.

Ariel Zurad

MEMBERSHIP

Margaux Jaffa

PROGRAMMING & OUTREACH

Margaux is a dynamic workplace leader with 20 years of experience driving business growth across diverse market sectors, providing workplace strategy, consulting, and client relationship management to clients ranging from startup tech unicorns to Fortune 500 companies. She is skilled at leading cross-functional teams and executing strategic initiatives, and has successfully lead business development at a few of the largest architecture and interior design firms. Margaux has been an active member of CoreNet’s NY Chapter for over 12 years. In this time she has volunteered on multiple committees, and currently serves as an Executive Board Member and the Chair the Programming and Outreach Committee overseeing much of the programming for the NY Chapter.

Debra Cole

SPECIAL EVENTS

Debra Cole is Client Relations Director for the New York Office of HLW International, and builds industry relationships with a diverse range of clients including broadcast and media, financial corporations, technology, academic institutions and residential buildings. She is the New York industry face of HLW, with more than 30 years of experience connecting clients, architects and consultants. Prior to joining HLW International, Debra led business development efforts at Perkins+Will and prior to that at SOSH Architects. Debra also currently serves on the Executive Board for the New York City Chapter of CoreNet, as well as the Executive Board for both CREW NY & the Women’s Builders Council and is an active member of IFMA and New York Building Congress. In addition, she serves on the leadership event committee of SHARE (Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) and the event committee for the Special Olympics Real Estate and Construction Gala.

Holly Martin

INTERIM SPONSORSHIP

Laura Patel

SPONSORSHIP

With over a decade in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, I'm dedicated to promoting tools at the cross section of technology and real estate: PropTech.

An experienced sales and partnerships leader, I'm skilled at scaling sophisticated and transformational products with challenger-based sales models. I have a proven ability to build accomplished sales teams and am passionate about talent enablement, with a track record of hiring and developing top-performing business leaders.

A thought leader on AI, virtual reality and PropTech, I've spoken at nearly two dozen exhibitions and conferences around the world, including The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of New Champions (Dalian, China), Thin Air Festival (Park City, UT), The Art, Science and Bottom Line of Innovative Designs Technologies (NYC, NY), The Emerging Trends Summit (New York, NY), and The Office of the Future Summit (NYC, NY).

An active member of the New York real estate community, I serve as Chair for CoreNet New York’s Programming and Outreach Committee, and on Urban Land Institute’s Technology and Innovation Council. I’m also a proud board member at BUILD: NYC, a student mentor with Student Sponsor Partners, and a post-secondary coach with Syrian Youth Empowerment. A travel enthusiast, I've visited 40 countries— most recently exploring Taiwan, Bosnia, and Guatemala. 

Michael Martino

STRATEGIC PLANNING

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Head of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management for Brix Funding, dedicated DEI champion, vegan diva, and super-mom! 

Nishar Fatema

END USER FORUM

Anthony Cugini

LANDLORD CIRCLE

Suzette Rhodes

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Bill Mooney

STRATEGY & PORTFOLIO PLANNING

Bill Mooney is an Executive Vice President and leads the New York-based Transaction Management HUB in the Northeastern United States for CBRE’s A&T Brokerage-Occupier division.  Mr. Mooney is responsible for creating real estate advisory and process-driven account management solutions for large, global occupiers. Mr. Mooney's portfolio management approach to managing client real estate needs leads to optimum structuring of lease and investment transactions to meet their diverse financial operations and objectives.

Thomas Baade-Matheisen

SUSTAINABILITY

Thomas Mathiesen is Vice President at Altanova - Sustainable Strategy and Innovation, and oversees corporate engagements from concept through project delivery and further partnerships. In real estate, he currently advises a growing portfolio of companies on projects ranging from site selection to portfolio optimization and strategies for high profile build-outs. 

Calandra Cruickshank

PROPTECH

Andie Moeder

PUBLIC POLICY

Julie May

WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

Jack Macejka

YOUNG LEADERS

Jason Aster

ADVISOR

Jason Aster is a Managing Director at KBA Lease Services where he oversees firm management and operations, corporate development, new product ideation, business development, account management and strategic partnerships. Jason is also a subject matter expert with respect to lease administration and audit implementation, processes and negotiation strategies as well as real estate BPO organizational structure. Prior to joining KBA, Jason practiced in a big law corporate real estate and structured finance department as well as a litigation consultant to a boutique Wall Street firm, representing major international banks, federal agencies and private lenders with a focus on real estate and finance.

Larry Charlip

ADVISOR

Lou D'Avanzo

ADVISOR

Lou D’Avanzo is a Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield, one of the world’s largest real estate services firms and is one of the firm’s leading brokerage professionals. After beginning his career there in 1991, Lou has advised many of the world’s largest financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity firms, law firms and telecommunications firms on their real estate occupancy requirements worldwide. He received his Master of Business Administration in Real Estate and Corporate Finance from Columbia University.

Dan Fishbein

ADVISOR

Sheena Gohil

ADVISOR

Sheena Gohil is an Executive Director based in Colliers International's New York City office. With more than 12 years of experience as a broker, Sheena provides brokerage and advisory services to corporate, multi-market clientele. Sheena originally started her career in Boston, where she graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Accounting and Finance.

Alison Kwiatkowski

ADVISOR

Alison Kwiatkowski is the Global Head of Workplace Experience for Warner Music, overseeing real estate, project delivery, facilities and operations, sustainability, health and safety, and internal events.  Prior to her current role, Alison served as the Americas Business Partner for Deutsche Bank’s Global Real Estate Division, as well as the Business Strategy Lead for the Bank’s Americas Headquarters Relocation to the newly rebranded Deutsche Bank Center at One Columbus Circle. Alison holds a Masters in Real Estate Development from New York University and a degree in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Fueled by a passion to foster the professional development of emerging talent in the New York real estate industry, Alison has previously served as the Vice President, Programming and Outreach Chair, Communities Committee Vice Chair, and Young Leaders Committee Chair for the CoreNet New York City Chapter.

Lou Nowikas

ADVISOR

Tommy O'Halloran

ADVISOR

Tommy O’Halloran is a Vice President in the New York headquarters of Structure Tone, where he drives the strategic direction of the firm’s client relations on local and global levels. For the last 13 years, he has spearheaded new business opportunities for the firm and maintained relationships with the firm’s clients, including high-profile commercial landlords and tenants. During this time, he has been responsible for the procurement of new clients representing millions of dollars in revenue streams. Prior to joining Structure Tone, Tommy was an Associate Director and licensed NYS Real Estate broker in the Midtown office of Cushman & Wakefield. Tommy is a graduate of Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Tommy is an active volunteer in his local and professional communities, having served charitable causes such as the Archdiocese of New York, the CYO of Westchester/Putnam Counties, Little League Baseball and The Boy Scouts of America, among others.

Marcus Rayner

ADVISOR

Marcus Rayner has more than 30 years of real estate experience and is a recognized leader in our industry. He specializes in strategic planning and execution for tenants and has completed transactions for more than 10 million square feet of space in New York alone, including some of New York’s largest and most successful tech companies. Marcus is a former Chair of the New York City Chapter and a former Member of CoreNet’s Global Executive Board. Prior to joining Colliers, Marcus was a Managing Principal of Cresa from 2001 to 2014. He began his career as a Chartered Surveyor in the United Kingdom. Within the Chapter, Marcus focuses on Public Policy issues, the Landlord Circle, Programing and Mentoring.

Gina Rizzo

ADVISOR

Gina Rizzo is Global Client Relations for Herman Miller and has 30 years of experience in providing solutions to the changing workplace environment. Gina is responsible for the marketing and new business efforts globally within the corporate real estate community and concentrates on building and maintaining relationships early in the process with top decision makers. To assure a strong partnership between Herman Miller and the client, Gina teams with Herman Miller’s global resources to bring an effective and long-term solution for the corporate environment. Gina led the CoreNet NYC Chapter as Chair and President 2009-2011 and served on the CoreNet Global Executive Board 2011-2014.

Dale Schlather

ADVISOR

During his 32 year career at Cushman & Wakefield, Dale Schlather has been responsible for the financial structuring, analysis, and negotiation of major corporate and institutional relocations involving the assessment of current leasehold interests and the feasibility of lease/equity transactions, development opportunities and joint venture partnerships. He has played an integral role in the implementation of more than 40 million square feet of lease/purchase transactions in over 50 cities across the United States and internationally, as a tenant representation broker. Dale joined the Midtown office of Cushman & Wakefield as Senior Director in 2001. In 2012, he was promoted to Executive Vice Chairman and was the top producing broker. Dale is also the chairman of Cushman & Wakefield’s tenant advisory group globally.

Pay Wu

ADVISOR

Pay Wu is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years in corporate estate management and advisory. As the Executive Managing Director for Strategic Consulting, she heads consulting services for the Tri State region, Cushman & Wakefield’s largest region of corporate clients. Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Pay served as Senior Vice President, Head of North American Real Estate Client Relationship Management for TD Bank’s Corporate portfolio, where she gained extensive experience solving complex challenges across portfolio, workplace and location strategies. Pay brings her deep operational experience in commercial real estate when navigating Cushman & Wakefield’s broad real estate brokerage. Pay drives value for clients with her vast experience in business service. Pay is a frequent speaker in industry events and published author of numerous articles. She is an MCR workplace and technology instructor on the CoreNet MCR faculty and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Executive Board for the NYC Chapter of CoreNet Global.