M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — 40 Executive Women in Business — October 26 - November 8, 2018 — 19C W omen I n B usiness Tell us about your current position and how you got to where you are today? I became a Partner in 2007 and have been at the firm for almost 20 years. Prior to this, I worked in the Attorney General’s office, and prior to that I was a law clerk to the presiding judge sitting in the Criminal Division. The unique work the firm focuses on in the energy, infrastructure, and environmental fields is what led me to seek a position at Rutter & Roy. What unique qualities do you feel make you successful and what inspiring word of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of law? I have a strong Type A personality. I am a task master in terms of getting the work done and making sure it is done on time with high quality. To a young woman considering a career in law I would advise: Have confidence in yourself and trust your judgment. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and to speak up about something.
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Christine Roy Partner Rutter & Roy
Jennifer Mazawey Partner Genova Burns LLC
M. Erin Lavelle Managing Director Real Property Capital
What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2018? I have been honored to serve as the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) NJ President in 2018. It has been such a rewarding experience, and I have been privileged to serve with other amazing women on the CREW NJ Board. CREW NJ has continued to solidify itself as the preeminent real estate organization in New Jersey, and remains dedicated to its mission to advance women in commer- cial real estate. I have also had the honor to serve on the CREW Network Nominating Committee, which allowed me to collaborate with others on the committee to shape the Network Board for the coming years. What was your most notable project, deal or transaction in 2018? In 2018, I have been able to work with a number of great clients to help bring their development projects to life. They have been cre- ative and focused on great projects, but the most notable project is Vibe. Vibe is a state-of-the-art, beautifully architecture high rise building that will bring 270 apartments to Downtown Newark. We have gotten to be very creative with this project, in particular due to some historic elements that we were able to reuse in the build- ing. It has been so well received and we are excited to bring it to fruition in 2019.
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in? I began my career in Real Es- tate as a Real Estate Attorney. I represented Owners/Sponsors as well as Lenders in both regional and national transactions I began working in house in the Title Industry and transitioned into Finance several years ago. I’ve been negotiating loan documents and advising on real estate investment opportunities for years, it has been a very natural progression . What unique qualities do you feel make you most successful in your profession? I enjoy listening to people’s stories, really listening. It’s a work in progress, really listening and understanding people. I have a lot of energy and used to think I needed to use that energy to carry the conversation with a client or in a negotiation. Listening actually requires more concentration and focus. I’ve learned to redirect that energy into listening.. at least I’m trying to. Who do you feel was the most influential person in your life when choosing this profession? My father. I worked with him early on closing real estate deals for the title company in his law firm while I was still in school. I went on to practice with him after law school for several years before coming to Philadelphia. My Dad is 72 years old, in the office every day in a suit and tie. He will never retire. He enjoys seeing his clients everyday as much as he does helping them.
Urszula Zoltek Principal Zoltek Realty
Melissa Sievwright Vice President of Marketing Levin Management Corporation (LMC)
Tell us how you began your career in the profession you are in? I started my career working for Marcus and Millichaps commercial investment services back in 2007. I found it very exciting as I love to negotiate . What is your current position? I’m a principal and Broker of Record in my own New Jersey based company Zoltek Realty. Why did you chose the field/profession you are in today? I chose it because I love what I do. It is something I enjoy very much. In additon, I love numbers, complicated challenges and finding dif- ferent ways to overcome them. What is your greatest professional accomplishment in 2018? Working with great companies like 7-Eleven Inc. What unique qualities and or personality traits do you feel makes you most sucessful in your profession? Be strong and focus on your goals. Don’t slow down, Don’t slow down, then you’d succeed. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young women about to go into the field of commercial real estate or allied field? Be a strong individual, you can accomplish anything you want if you set yourself to do so. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
What impact has social media/networking had on your business? For Levin, specifically, social media has become a great way to let our industry peers and clients know what we are up to. From new leasing andmanagement agencies, to property renovations, leases and store openings we are using social platforms – especially LinkedIn – to get our news out and highlight our properties. We also are seeing our retail tenants leveraging social as a key marketing tool. This is particularly true among smaller, mom-and-pop type businesses, which may not have big advertising budgets, to publicize experience events and for post- event coverage. Facebook is a clear favorite for our tenants. Instagram and Pinterest, since they are so visual, also are popular choices. Live broadcasts from events on Facebook are trending as well. What unique qualities and or personality traits do you feel make you most successful in your profession? When it comes to marketing properties, and keeping Levin’s company branding and image fresh, my creative side pushes me to continually try new things and seek inspiration for “what’s next.” My background as an artist, photogra- pher and graphic designer also is an asset when it comes to taking ideas and translating them into usable marketing tools.
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