The Charlotte region continues to boom with development, both on the private side and the public side. While most of the time we see the stereotypical real estate developer, many of the minds behind the development are women. According to a 2020 Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) study, more young women are entering the industry. Additionally, 32% of women in 2020, 4% more than in 2015, are aspiring to achieve a position in the C-Suite. Currently only 9% of C-suite holders in commercial real estate are women. While these numbers suggest we're moving in a positive direction, some areas remain stagnant. Women make up 36.7% of the commercial real estate industry, which hasn't significantly improved since 2005. 

In Charlotte we are lucky to have many women leading the way in development. During our panel discussion we will hear from our panelist about their career, how they navigate the industry, and their advice on how to work with their organizations.
 
MEET THE PANEL

Rachel Russell Krenz: Panelist
Vice President of Development - Carolinas
RAM Realty Advisors

Rachel is responsible for managing and executing development opportunities in the Carolinas. She joined the company in 2017. She has a Masters in City and Regional Planning degree from the University of North Carolina with a specialization in real estate development and design. Her education also includes an undergraduate degree from Sewanne: The University of the South, a graduate-level certificate in Historic Preservation from Goucher College, and real estate-focused coursework at Kenan-Flagler Business School.
 
Her professional background in place-making includes her work at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and as Vice President of Real Estate Development for Grubb Properties and Milhaus. She is an active member of Urban Land Institute and the Founding Board Chair of Montford Park Partners. Rachel has served as a member/volunteer for several historical and community organizations, and is a regular guest speaker for local and national industry associations, universities and high schools.
 

Lilias Folkes John: Panelist
Public Private Partnership Advisor
City of Charlotte

Lilias serves as Advisor on Public Private Partnerships for the City of Charlotte.  In this role she strengthens relationships between the development community and the public sector. Under her leadership she shepherds large, transformative development projects like Camp North End, the River District and Ballantyne Reimagined through the city public approvals & contract process for public infrastructure funding. This includes capital improvement investments and tax increment grant financing where she directs City staff through negotiations and development agreements.

Her portfolio of projects leverages over $90 million of public infrastructure investments that will unlock more than $4 billion of economic development opportunities over the next 25 years thus increasing the overall tax base and revenues to the City of Charlotte. 

Lilias has a Master Degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University in New York City and a BA from Hunter College where she studied Economics and Filmmaking. She also studied Economic Development at Hunter College, Urban Planning and Policy Graduate Program.

Before joining the City of Charlotte in 2018, Lilias spent 7 years as the Owner's Rep/Project Manager for Columbia Business School's new campus expansion project in Manhattanville and 5 years in residential development & consulting.

Jennifer Sharabba: Panelist
Director of Development
Crescent Communities

Jennifer C. Sharabba joined Crescent Communities in 2010 and currently serves as Director of Development for the Commercial division. Jennifer is responsible for leading all facets of the development process from land acquisition, entitlements, design, contract negotiations, permitting, construction, leasing, asset management, through project stabilization and disposition. Throughout her twenty-five year career, Jennifer has monetized 650 acres of land and handled more than $850 million in leasing, acquisition, and disposition transactions. She has also negotiated more than 2 million square feet of lease transactions, developed seven office buildings, three industrial facilities and managed construction projects totaling more than $400 million dollars. Previously at Crescent Communities, Jennifer held the positions of Vice President and Director of Leasing for commercial projects.

Prior to joining Crescent Communities, Jennifer served as Vice President of Equity Partners for 12 years, a boutique full-service brokerage and development firm headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Jennifer is currently serving on the Executive Committee for University of Florida’s Bergstrom School of Real Estate Advisory Board.  Jennifer is a member of C.R.E.W. (Commercial Real Estate for Women) and serves as a leader in Crescent Communities Cares, an outreach initiative supporting local charitable collaborations. She is a frequent volunteer at the Humane Society of Charlotte.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and also in Small Business Management Entrepreneurship from Florida State University.  She has held a Florida Real Estate Brokerage License since 1998.

Anna Lynch, PE: Moderator
CEO/Owner
Lynch Mykins Structural Engineers

Anna found her love for structural engineering in high school while building a bridge out of popsicle sticks for a project. Though during her college years, she often doubted herself, she began her career in 2003 as a structural engineer at --then Stroud Pence. After 14 years of working her way up the ladder to Managing Director of the Raleigh office, Anna made a bold move by acquiring the firm. Jump ahead a year and Stroud Pence, a company in business for 40 years has become Lynch Mykins Structural Engineers. Her success has been featured in the Triangle Business Journal, TBJ's 2016 40 under 40 Leadership Awards, the Virginia Construction Journal, and TBJ's Executive Voices. Although you might think Anna never takes her CEO hat off, you can find her speeding the streets of Raleigh in her Maserati, salsa dancing late into the night, or paddle boarding on the weekends.

If you have any questions, please contact the Programs Director at [email protected].

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Cancellations made 72-hours prior to the event will receive a refund. Due to our commitment with the meeting facility for food and beverage quantities, all other cancellations or no-shows will be invoiced for the full cost of the event.