COSTA MESA, CA—NAIOP SoCal, the region's leading commercial real estate organization, and the Center for Real Estate (CRE) at UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business have selected Kristen N. Kelly, CPA, and an MBA Real Estate student at UC Irvine, as the 2012-13 recipient of the CRE-NAIOP SoCal Fellowship. The NAIOP SoCal Fellowship is designed to develop and prepare future real estate industry leaders through both a learning experience and a financial award.

Kelly has received a $7,500 scholarship award to support her academic endeavors. Kelly will also serve as a liaison to the NAIOP SoCal Board of Directors where she will have the opportunity to be mentored by some of the nation's top real estate executives. She is currently an assistant controller at MBK Real Estate, LLC.

“Kristen is a Miami University graduate, CPA and has gained solid real estate experience with KPMG, LLP and MBK Real Estate, LLC. Her work to date and commitment to building upon that foundation is a benefit to the Center for Real Estate and the future of our local real estate community,” said Lang Cottrell, president of NAIOP SoCal and regional director of Goodman Birtcher. Cottrell added that this program is another example of the chapter's commitment to education and fostering the next generation of real estate leaders.