LAURA CATHLINA
As a director at Berkadia, Laura Cathlina focuses on positive experiences for both her clients and her team, resulting in successful, rewarding projects. Cathlina treats every relationship with great importance and credits her success to her team's valued culture. Cathlina is consistently recognized at Berkadia among the top mortgage banking advisors in the country, as she negotiates creative solutions and advises commercial property owners to ensure financial success. While at Berkadia, she has closed more than 160 transactions totaling nearly $4 billion. Cathlina is also a chair on the Freddie Mac Optigo Advisory Council, and a member of Snow City Arts.
MAGGIE COLEMAN
Maggie Coleman quickly became one of the JLL's top leaders as head of international capital for the Americas, where she focuses on global transactions, international investors and creates strategies for business development. She has been involved with more than $20 billion in transactions at JLL and assisted in winning $3 billion in mandates just this year.
Coleman is credited with being a strong force for change at JLL, where she sits as a chairman for diversity recruiting efforts, advocating for an inclusive workspace. Coleman is said to lead by example, as a constant force for positive change, often mentoring young women in the industry.
ALLISON HIGGINS
George Smith Partners
Allison Higgins holds the highest production title for female brokers in George Smith Partners history. As SVP of the firm, Higgins has experience in capital market, real estate development and commercial real estate, closing more than $3 billion in financing across more than 100 transactions. She creates meaningful relationships with her clients and follows her deals from start to close. She also has a teach-as-you-work philosophy, helping young associates find solutions and overcome financial obstacles while explaining complex deals. Higgins spends her spare time fighting homelessness in LA, as the founder of Affordable California, and as a board member of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corp.
LAURIE MORFIN
Bellwether Enterprise
As SVP of loan origination at Bellwether Enterprise, Laurie Morfin is consistently a top producer in her office. She founded the Western Region Bellwether Enterprise office in Irvine, CA with three people in
2015 and has since closed more than $700 million in loans. Morfin provides personal attention and guidance from start to finish on each loan and acquisition, and excels at crafting the best financial options for her clients. Morfin is a member of the Fannie Mae DUS Advisory Committee and a member of ULI.
SHARON PLATTNER
Since recently joining NorthMarq as managing director, Sharon Plattner is already considered a key player in the company's growth, providing a visible impact of 44% in the company's first quarter results.
Plattner works as a liaison to increase production for Freddie Mac's origination team. With 20 years of experience, Plattner has the in-depth knowledge to educate colleagues, create simplified solutions and clearly identify important components of deals to offer the best programs and support client's goals. An inspiration in more ways than one, Plattner co-founded RENEW, a non-profit to empower and advance women in the male-dominated industry, which has raised more than $250,000 since 2017.
SHERI N. THOMPSON
Walker & Dunlop
As SVP and FHA finance group head at Walker & Dunlop, Sheri Thompson oversees all aspects of the firm's multifamily and healthcare lending through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. She works closely with the company to drive for positive change and serve as a mentor, while strongly advocating for a diverse, inclusive culture within the industry. Thompson brings more than 25 years of industry experience to the company and has been involved in the credit and origination of $9 billion in transactions over the past 36 months.
Outside of the office, Thompson also devotes her time to organizations such as RENEW, Code of Support Foundation, and the US Army Reserve.
CATE AGNEW
Natixis CIB
With 25 years in the industry, Cate Agnew is unparalleled in deal-making and business development. She is the only woman in the world to hold FRICS, CRE, CCIM, and MAI designations, and has experience in all sectors of the market. As the executive director and head of valuation at Natixis CIB, she helped bring the firm's book of business to $10 billion in 2018, ranking Natixis at #10 of top contributors to US securitized loans.