NAIOP’s 2025 Developing Leaders Award winners are poised to navigate an evolving industry.
Commercial real estate is a competitive industry and one that is constantly evolving to provide new opportunities and challenges. NAIOP’s Developing Leaders Award winners are ready for what’s next. This annual award recognizes the association’s top members ages 35 and younger for their outstanding professional accomplishments, strong leadership and significant community involvement.
NAIOP presented the 2025 award to four exceptional young professionals in September at the CRE.Converge conference in Toronto in front of more than 1,100 industry professionals. The award recipients shared their inspiring perspectives with Development regarding their ongoing growth as leaders, highlighting how they’re embracing continuous learning. They also revealed how they are weaving cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools into their daily work.
Growing as Leaders
MaryVictoria Montanari
National Market Leader, Hospitality
NELSON Worldwide
NAIOP Greater Philadelphia
I love the topic of leadership. I love reading about it and learning about it. Thinking about leadership and strategy could keep me busy for hours. Whenever I join an organization or volunteer as a member for a particular cause, I always raise my hand to serve on a committee or lead a particular effort to get thoroughly involved. These extra spaces are the perfect place to practice my leadership away from my corporate team, where I can fine-tune certain skill sets or try out a new approach.
Michael Tait
Leasing Representative
St. John Properties, Inc.
NAIOP Maryland
As a leader, I believe staying curious and asking “why” is key to growth. I actively listen and ask thoughtful questions to gain deeper insights and diverse perspectives. This approach clarifies challenges, fosters collaboration and sparks creative solutions. It keeps me adaptable and committed to evolving as a leader.
Alexander Vasileff
Vice President, Acquisitions
Bedrock
NAIOP Detroit
I continue to grow by learning from the strong leadership within my company and staying connected with peers through NAIOP who offer valuable insights and perspective. I also make time for reading and podcasts, which help me stay sharp and expand my thinking.
Jennifer Villalobos
Associate
Cushman & Wakefield
NAIOP Arizona
I make it a priority to put myself in situations that stretch me, whether that’s public speaking, emceeing for the first time or showing up in rooms where I might feel uncomfortable. I’ve learned the most when I’ve leaned in to those moments. I also learn from mentors, colleagues and the boards I serve on, such as Valleywise and Arizona Financial Credit Union, where I’m surrounded by strong leaders with different perspectives. Finally, I remind myself to always listen, ask questions and look for ways to invest in others — especially the next generation entering the industry.
Using AI in CRE
Montanari: As the leader of a hospitality design team, I am awed by the time and money AI saves our team during the proposal process for new hotel and casino projects. We showcase the creative boundaries we can push by generating a variety of renderings in a matter of minutes rather than the days it has historically taken. I see AI’s role in the future as continuing to be an aid for our industry, but I don’t believe it will ever totally replace the brokers, architects and engineers on whom our business relies. This industry is people-driven and relationship-driven at the end of the day, but I’m sure our recordkeeping and documentation will see an increase in efficiency with AI.
Tait: I think AI will be a supporting function that helps drive efficiency in the CRE world. It will provide individuals with the opportunity to be more productive throughout their day with automation of tasks. For example, AI can help draft an initial lease draft and ultimately review lease comments to help expedite a deal and get it across the finish line quicker. Also, AI can help facilitate deal analysis for both leasing and development decisions, allowing teams to make “go” or “no-go” decisions under a quicker timeline.
Vasileff: We’re using AI primarily to reduce friction and save time, whether it’s sourcing properties, creating materials or reviewing investment documents. Tasks that once took days can now be done in hours. While we haven’t yet applied AI to underwriting, I expect it will soon play a major role in reshaping that process. AI is poised to transform every aspect of commercial real estate, driving efficiency and accelerating outcomes across the board.
Villalobos: It’s a tool that has helped create efficiency in my day-to-day to better support my clients. I use it to compare numbers, build spreadsheets, analyze market data and simplify complex legal language so my clients have clarity. It also helps me draft clear communications quickly. Looking forward, I see AI transforming our industry by accelerating transparency, whether through predictive analytics on market trends, streamlining lease negotiations or making information more accessible to tenants who don’t always have the resources or expertise.
Marie Ruff is director of marketing and communications at NAIOP.
