Welcome to our 2020 edition of Women of Influence. As we have been doing for many years now, we have based our selection of nearly 200 candidates on such criteria as career achievements, community outreach and mentorship within the industry. And as we experienced in previous years, we found it hard, to say nothing of humbling, to sift through the applications and select just the right nominees. As you will see as you flip through the following pages, these women come from diverse backgrounds with a wide array of specialities. What they have in common is they have all made a distinctive mark in commercial real estate.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
CHRISTINE CAVATAIO Christy Cavataio has built a reputation as a trailblazer and innovator in commercial design. She has worked on healthcare, urban planning, education and civic work projects totaling more than $8 billion in value during her impressive 29-year career. Last year, she was named president and COO of the Cuningham Group, where she guides the firm's strategic vision. She hit the ground running, leading a repositioning of the firm's brand to improve performance and develop new forward-thinking strategies. When she isn't pushing design concepts forward, she is mentoring the next generation and helping to cultivate young careers.
BLIMA EHRENTREU As the founder and CEO of The Designers Group, Blima Ehrentreu is an accomplished interior designer that has led more than 100 projects in the last three years and has expanded into the Florida market. But, her work surpasses simply design buildings. She is invested in the community and in supporting women in the construction industry. Last year, she launched TDG Gives Back, an initiative to offer complimentary design services to non-profits and charities. The program has already awarded interior design services to three non-profit groups. She serves as a Women in Construction ambassador and her business is a certified Women-owned Business Enterprise.
MITRA ESFANDIARI Mitra Esfandiari is a true trailblazer. As a senior principal at RDC, she is the first female principal and partner at the firm. In the role, she drives the firm's mixed-use design practice area forward, leading her team through every design phase, from conceptual design and entitlement to construction. In the last year, the platform has expanded with new significant projects that include transit design and encourage alternative modes of transportation. Esfandiari supports gender diversity and inclusion, and has launched flexible work schedules and onsite childcare for staff. As a result, three women are on track to achieve leadership positions.
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