The Roundtable’s Jeffrey DeBoer Honored at the Annual Lamplighter Awards

Roundtable President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer was honored this week with the Lamplighter Award by the American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), along with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, for their leadership and dedication to community and service.

Roundtable Leaders’ Comments

  • Coinciding with the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and approaching the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, the evening began with a moment of silence, followed by a tribute from the United States Marine Corps Color Guard.
  • Immediate Past Roundtable Chair and event chair, John Fish (Chairman and CEO, Suffolk), introduced House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who, alongside Rabbi Levi Shemtov, presented the Lamplighter Leadership Award to Speaker Johnson.
  • In his introductory remarks as the event chair and last year’s recipient of the Lamplighter Award, Fish stated, “On this important day, we are all reminded there is far more that unites us as Americans, than divides us.”
(L-R): Rabbi Levi Shemtov, John Fish, Jeffrey DeBoer, Norm Brownstein
  • After accepting his award, DeBoer commented,
  • “I am honored to support the American Friends of Lubavitch, particularly because of my deep respect and appreciation for the good deeds the Chabad does. But also because of my utter dismay and disgust by the rise of anti-Semitism in America and in many places around the world.

    Moreover, I am moved to provide assistance because of my deep distress over the violence that has been planted and allowed to grow on the campuses of our nation’s greatest universities. We must realize that speech is sometimes violent, but violence is never speech. One is allowed, up to a point. The other should never be allowed particularly on university campuses where young people are supposed to be learning.

    Together, we must continue to stand up against hate and bigotry in all its forms.” (Jeffrey DeBoer’s Speech)

Lamplighters

  • The American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) is part of the largest network of Jewish educational, cultural and humanitarian institutions in the world, with branches in all 50 states and over 100 countries on six continents.
  • The annual Lamplighter Awards honor exceptional communal, political, corporate and academic leaders.

Several hundred people attended the event, reception and dinner, including several Senators and House members; Gold Star families and members of the U.S. armed forces; and nearly two dozen ambassadors.

Roundtable Employee Nancy G. Pitcher Retiring After 47 Years

Nancy G. Pitcher will retire on June 28, 2024, after a distinguished 47-year career with the National Realty Committee and The Real Estate Roundtable.

  • Nancy began her career with NRC in 1977, as Office Manager. In 2001, she was promoted to Office Manager and Assistant Secretary, and in 2002, she was promoted to Director of Administration.
  • In recognition of her dedication, exceptional skills, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to The Roundtable staff, the Board of Directors honored Nancy with a gift and presented her with a Board Resolution, among other acknowledgments, at last week’s Annual Meeting. (Watch Presentation)
  • Roundtable President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer remarked, “We have worked together for 32 years and through it all, Nancy has always been someone the industry, our team and I could rely on. She has been an inspiration and a role model to all our employees. She is hard-working, caring, focused, team-oriented, and can’t be replaced.”
  • Nancy has earned the admiration and respect of The Roundtable members, her colleagues, and everyone she has worked with over the years.
  • The Roundtable is proud to acknowledge her significant professional achievements and extends heartfelt congratulations on her well-deserved retirement. We wish her continued success, happiness, and good health in the years to come.

We are honored to have called her a friend and colleague all these years and wish her a wonderful retirement.

Roundtable Announces FY 2025 Leadership; Kathleen McCarthy Takes Over As New Chair

Roundtable Leadership

  • Kathleen McCarthy, Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable (above), said, “I am incredibly honored to step into the role of Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable. The real estate industry touches every aspect of our economy—from affordable housing and shopping centers to warehouses and data centers. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors will enable the country to meet the challenges we face and capitalize on the opportunities ahead. John, Jeff, and the entire Roundtable team have advocated for policies to help drive growth and innovation across communities in the U.S., and I look forward to building on their important work.” (Press Release)
  • John Fish, Immediate Past Chair, stated, “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair during such a pivotal period for our industry. I am pleased to hand over the reins to Kathleen. Her expertise and leadership, along with Jeff DeBoer’s vision and guidance, will undoubtedly guide The Roundtable to new heights. The focus on recovery, resilience, and innovation remains crucial as this important organization works with our partners in government to advance our shared interests and strengthen the American economy.”
  • “The Real Estate Roundtable and its members have always risen to meet the challenges of the times, and I am confident that under Kathleen’s leadership, we will continue to make impactful strides,” said Jeffrey DeBoer, Roundtable President and CEO. “The real estate industry is a cornerstone of economic vitality, job creation, and community development. Kathleen’s extensive experience and strategic vision will be invaluable as we address critical policy issues and advocate for a shared, prosperous future.”

Roundtable Board of Directors

  • The 26-member FY2025 Roundtable Board of Directors is elected from the membership and includes three elected leaders of national real estate trade organizations from The Roundtable’s 18 partner associations.
  • Joining The Roundtable’s Board of Directors as of July 1 are:
    • Conor Flynn, CEO, Kimco Realty Corporation; First Vice Chair, Nareit
    • Michelle Herrick, Head of Real Estate Banking, J.P. Morgan
    • Diane Hoskins, Global Co-Chair, Gensler; Chairman, The Urban Land Institute
    • Michael H. Lowe, Co-CEO, Lowe
    • Andrew P. Power, President & CEO, Digital Realty

  • Stepping down from The Roundtable Board as of July 1 are:
    • Michael D. Brown, Travel & Leisure Co. President & CEO, Immediate Past Chair, American Resort Development Association
    • Debra A. Cafaro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ventas, Inc., Immediate Past Chair, The Real Estate Roundtable
    • W. Matthew Kelly, CEO, JBG Smith, Chair, Nareit

The Roundtable will release its 2024 Annual Report: Dynamic Policy for Evolving Needs in the coming weeks, which highlights the organization’s advocacy efforts over the past year and future policy solutions.

NEWS: The Real Estate Roundtable Announces FY 2025 Leadership

Kathleen McCarthy Takes Over As New Chair Of The Roundtable’s Board Of Directors; John Fish Commended For Three Years As Roundtable Chair

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Real Estate Roundtable announced its FY2025 leadership today, with Kathleen McCarthy (Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate) beginning a three-year term as Roundtable Chair on July 1, 2024. Ms. McCarthy succeeds John Fish (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Suffolk) who has served as Roundtable Chair since 2021. The Roundtable’s membership also approved a 26-member Board of Directors.

Kathleen McCarthy, Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable, said, “I am incredibly honored to step into the role of Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable. The real estate industry touches every aspect of our economy—from affordable housing and shopping centers to warehouses and data centers. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors will enable the country to meet the challenges we face and capitalize on the opportunities ahead. John, Jeff, and the entire Roundtable team have advocated for policies to help drive growth and innovation across communities in the U.S., and I look forward to building on their important work.”

“The Real Estate Roundtable and its members have always risen to meet the challenges of the times, and I am confident that under Kathleen’s leadership, we will continue to make impactful strides,” said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, Roundtable President and CEO. “The real estate industry is a cornerstone of economic vitality, job creation, and community development. Kathleen’s extensive experience and strategic vision will be invaluable as we address critical policy issues and advocate for a shared, prosperous future.”

John Fish, the Immediate Past Chair, stated, “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair during such a pivotal period for our industry. I am pleased to hand over the reins to Kathleen. Her expertise and leadership, along with Jeff DeBoer’s vision and guidance, will undoubtedly guide The Roundtable to new heights. The focus on recovery, resilience, and innovation remains crucial as this important organization works with our partners in government to advance our shared interests and strengthen the American economy.”

About Kathleen McCarthy

Kathleen McCarthy is the Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally with a nearly $600 billion real estate portfolio and $339 billion in investor capital under management (as of March 31, 2024), owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, residential, office, hospitality and retail. Ms. McCarthy focuses on driving performance and growth for Blackstone’s Real Estate business.

Ms. McCarthy previously served as Global Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone Real Estate. Before joining Blackstone in 2010, Ms. McCarthy worked at Goldman Sachs, where she focused on investments for the Real Estate Principal Investment Area. Ms. McCarthy began her career at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.

Ms. McCarthy received a BA in Ethics, Politics and Economics from Yale University. She serves on the Boards of City Harvest and the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Roundtable and is the President of the Board of Trustees of The Nightingale-Bamford School.

About John Fish

The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors was chaired by John Fish, who is Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. Under his vision and leadership, Suffolk has grown into one of the leading privately held general building contractors in the country with $5.6 billion in annual revenue; main offices throughout the country; and experience in high-growth sectors including healthcare, higher education, life sciences, data centers, aviation, gaming, government and commercial. Suffolk is ranked #25 on the Engineering News-Record national list of “Top 400 Contractors.”

He serves on numerous Boards focused on improving the economy, strengthening business, and creating jobs. He is a member of the Business Roundtable, serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York, and is a member of the Partnership for New York City.

Mr. Fish is a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering Technology Degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Regis College and Curry College.

About The Real Estate Roundtable

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending, and management firms with leaders of major national real estate trade organizations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and its important role in the global economy.

The collective value of assets held by Roundtable members exceeds $4 trillion. The Roundtable’s membership represents more than 3 million people working in real estate; 12 billion square feet of office, retail, and industrial space; over 4 million apartments; and more than 5 million hotel rooms. It also includes the owners, managers, developers, and financiers of senior, student, and manufactured housing—as well as medical offices, life science campuses, data centers, cell towers, and self-storage properties.

The Roundtable’s policy news and more are available on The Roundtable website.

Other Roundtable Leadership Changes

Joining The Roundtable’s Board of Directors as of July 1 are:

  • Conor Flynn, CEO, Kimco Realty Corporation; First Vice Chair, Nareit
  • Michelle Herrick, Head of Real Estate Banking, J.P. Morgan
  • Diane Hoskins, Global Co-Chair, Gensler; Chairman, The Urban Land Institute
  • Michael H. Lowe, Co-CEO, Lowe
  • Andrew P. Power, President & CEO, Digital Realty

See the complete list of the FY2025 Roundtable’s Board of Directors here.

Stepping down from The Roundtable Board as of July 1 are:

  • Michael D. Brown, Travel & Leisure Co. President & CEO, Immediate Past Chair, American Resort Development Association
  • Debra A. Cafaro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ventas, Inc., Immediate Past Chair, The Real Estate Roundtable
  • W. Matthew Kelly, CEO, JBG Smith, Chair, Nareit

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Commerce Department Announces Voluntary Industry Pledge to Increase Women in Construction Workforce

RER Chairman and Suffolk CEO John Fish, above, convened a meeting this week of leading construction company CEOS to sign on to the “Million Women in Construction Community Pledge,” led by U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo. (UPI, May 21 and ConstructionDive, May 22)

Committed to Workforce Expansion

  • Fish said, “The construction industry continues to face significant labor challenges due to the aging workforce and dwindling number of young people entering the construction field. There is a critical need to attract more talent and diversify our workforce to ensure we have the resources to build our cities and grow our economy.” (Commerce Department news release)
  • He added, “Suffolk is honored and privileged to be one of the first companies to commit to Secretary Raimondo’s inspiring Million Women in Construction Pledge. As an organization that has long been committed to rebuilding the ratio of women in the construction industry, we are proud to play a leadership role in inspiring other organizations to commit to this effort and help position our American workforce for future growth and success.”
  • The Million Women in Construction Community Pledge is a nationwide call to action for the construction industry to commit to bold steps aimed at increasing the number of women in the construction workforce. Secretary Raimondo launched the initiative after participating in The Real Estate Roundtable’s Spring 2023 Meeting. (Roundtable Weekly, April 28, 2023)
  • In addition to Suffolk, other leading construction companies committed to the Pledge include Baker Construction, Gilbane Building Company, McKissack & McKissack, Mortenson, Power Design, and Shawmut Design and Construction.

Call for Greater Industry Participation

Left to Right: RER Chairman John Fish, Commerce Sec. Raimondo, RER President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer
  • Secretary Raimondo is seeking more industry companies, unions, and training organizations to sign the Pledge. She emphasized the need for the industry to recruit, train, hire, and retain thousands of new and non-traditional workers as the next generation of skilled laborers and leaders—and prepare them to rebuild U.S. infrastructure and supply chains to complement the Federal government’s investment.
  • Secretary Raimondo said, “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is creating a construction boom all over the country, and with that boom comes a huge increase in jobs and opportunities for workers in construction and the trades. But right now, women make up less than 11% of jobs in construction and only 4% in skilled trades.”
  • She added, “Many of these are good-paying, quality jobs you can get without a college degree, and women deserve equal opportunity for these jobs. I’m calling on everyone—contractors, labor unions, training organizations—to join our Community Pledge to commit to solutions and support proven strategies that help overcome barriers faced by women and underserved communities in construction and the trades.”

For questions about the program or to pledge, email WomenInConstruction@doc.gov

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Roundtable Members Featured in Commercial Observer’s “Power 100” List of 2024 Most Influential Leaders in CRE

Commercial Observer's Power 100 list for 2024

This week, the publication Commercial Observer released their “Power 100” list of prominent industry influencers, which includes Real Estate Roundtable Chair-Elect Kathleen McCarthy (Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate, Blackstone), Chairman Emeritus (2015-2018) William C. Rudin (Co-Executive Chairman, Rudin), Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, and nearly 30 other Roundtable members. (Power 100 2024 – Commercial Observer)

CRE Industry Leadership

  • Commercial Observer notes that the industry has been through a great deal of turbulence this year. “For better or worse, the biggest cliché that seeped into the commercial real estate conversation over the last year was: ‘Survive until ’25.’ This year’s honorees have shown the pluck, the determination, and the fortitude to make their ways onto this list.” (Power 100 2024 – Commercial Observer)
  • The article also notes how The Roundtable effectively represents the industry while partnering with 18 national trade associations to educate Washington, D.C. policymakers on national issues impacting the industry.

The Roundtable’s Role

Commercial Observer's Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in CRE for 2024
  • DeBoer comments within his profile, “Helping federal regulators understand the whiplash of very quickly moving from the historically long period of artificially low interest rates to a much higher interest rate environment was critical to the flexibility they ultimately provided to banks to modify or extend a great deal of the roughly $1 trillion in maturing commercial real estate loans.”
  • He also notes that significant stress on CRE remains, especially the pressures of remote work. Yet, “a systemic crisis for the banking industry and real estate markets seems to have been averted,” DeBoer states. (See DeBoer’s listing)

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Real Estate Roundtable Leaders Discuss Market Conditions, Policy Issues Facing CRE

Real Estate Roundtable Chair John Fish (Chairman & CEO, Suffolk)
Real Estate Roundtable Chair John Fish (Chairman & CEO, Suffolk) on Bloomberg’s Wall Street Week.

This week, Real Estate Roundtable Chair John Fish (Chairman & CEO, Suffolk) and Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer discussed market conditions and policy issues impacting commercial real estate with Bloomberg’s Wall Street Week and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL).

Markets and Federal Actions

  • Roundtable Chair John Fish addressed how current economic challenges facing commercial real estate, cities, communities, businesses and individuals have led to a somewhat “somber” mood in his Feb. 26 Wall Street Week interview.
  • Fish emphasized the importance of CRE to the overall economy and the need for policymakers to work with the industry to ensure a soft landing. He also discussed the wave of maturing CRE debt coming due at higher interest rates as remote-work continues to press the industry—and the ramifications of a large number of environmental regulations moving forward in a compressed time period.
  • The Roundtable’s chair noted, “Back in June of 2023, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC in the OCC issued forward guidance on working with borrowers, and that was credit worthy borrowers. I would encourage them to continue with their policy and reinforce that policy. It’s extremely important to the industry as a whole because creditworthy borrowers should not get hurt through this process.” (Roundtable Weekly, June 30, 2023)
  • He added, “We need the Federal government to work with us on interest rates. We also need the federal government to ask workers to come back to work. That’s one of the reasons why some of our buildings in downtown urban areas are 25, 30 percent vacant today. As an industry, we need to work together, collaborating with the government to try to solve these problems.” (Bloomberg’s Wall Street Week)

The Roundtable’s Policy Role

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, right, with Jay Epstein, former president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, left.
  • Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer spoke with Jay Epstein, former president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers on the Feb. 26 edition of the ACREL Files podcast about The Roundtable’s policy advocacy role in Washington and compelling issues now facing the industry. 
  • DeBoer explained that The Roundtable is a unifier between industry and lawmakers on policies that benefit the economy and communities by using a non-partisan, data-centric, asset-based approach.
  • DeBoer also said the industry is at an inflection point as issues—including post-pandemic remote work and CRE needs, office-to-residential property conversions, affordable housing, building energy usage, insurance costs, and xenophobic attitudes to foreign real estate ownership—are “all rushing forward on top of the market challenges.” (ACREL Files podcast)

“By and large, the industry has stepped up to challenges, met them, and helped the economy and the country move forward.” He added, “Today there are other problems with financing and remote work, but I have no doubt the industry will overcome those challenges and emerge stronger.”

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RER President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer Recognized with Commercial Property Executive’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer

A “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the national publication Commercial Property Executive recognized the accomplishments of Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, who spoke about current policy challenges facing the industry, The Roundtable’s evolution, and the industry’s historical effectiveness in Washington. (Watch the Jan. 18 webcast | Read DeBoer’s written comments | CPE article, Jan. 19)

  • DeBoer noted that real estate is entering a period of increased national public policy risks, which include issues such as liquidity, energy and resiliency, tax policy, and more.  
  • DeBoer stated, “[The Roundtable’s] job is to focus on these policy risks, gather the facts, prepare the analysis, develop sound messages, and fine-tune our messages and our message delivery system.”
  • DeBoer added, “It’s very important that everyone in the industry recognize that to ignore Washington in the coming years is to increase business risk.”

Current and upcoming challenges facing the industry will be the focus of The Roundtable’s Jan. 23-24 all-member State of the Industry Meeting in Washington, DC.

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RER President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer to Receive Commercial Property Executive’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Jeffrey DeBoer, President and CEO of The Real Estate Roundtable

Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, above, will receive Commercial Property Executive’s Lifetime Achievement Award during CPE’s virtual 2023 Influence Awards on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 1 pm ET, when he will deliver the keynote address. (Register here for the event)

As the founding President and CEO of The Real Estate Roundtable and in previous Washington-based positions, DeBoer has been at the forefront of national policy affecting the real estate industry for the past 40 years.

The prominent Capitol Hill publication, The Hill recently recognized DeBoer as one of the “Top Lobbyists” in Washington, DC for 2023. This was the sixth consecutive year DeBoer has been included in the list. (Roundtable Weekly, Dec. 8)

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Roundtable Chair John Fish Honored at Annual Lamplighter Awards

Roundtable Chair John Fish (Chairman and CEO, Suffolk), right, was honored this week with the Lamplighter Award from the American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kurt Newman, President and CEO of Children’s National Medical Center. (Photo: Mr. Fish with Rabbi Levi Shemtov, left. | Watch Mr. Fish’s powerful comments)  

Lamplighters

  • The American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) is a part of the largest network of Jewish educational, cultural and humanitarian institutions in the world, with branches in all 50 states and over 100 countries on six continents.
  • The annual Lamplighter Awards honor exceptional communal, political, corporate and academic leaders. Several hundred people attended the Oct. 24 event reception and dinner, including 8-12 U.S. Senators; House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and several House members; 20 Ambassadors from foreign nations; and seven family members of hostages now held in Gaza. 

Roundtable Leaders’ Comments

  • Mr. Fish commented, “It pains me to discuss the reality that many of us have discussed here this evening. There is, unfortunately, a rise in anti-Semitism and hate in the world today. A reality that played out tragically several weeks ago.” The Roundtable issued an Oct. 13 statement condemning the violence and urging humanitarian aid.
  • Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, above, gave introductory remarks as the co-chair of the event, stating that each one of the three honorees exemplified a unique combination of leadership and optimism. DeBoer added that Mr. Fish is a selfless person who provides The Roundtable with steady guidance, positive advice, and consistent support in his role as Chairman of the organization.

DeBoer asked the Lamplighter audience “… for a moment of silence to internally pledge that each of us will do our part, every minute, hour and day to reject evil, to help those in need, and to embrace the goodness of ethnic and religious diversity worldwide.” (Read DeBoer’s remarks and watch Mr. Fish’s comments)

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