Bryce Aberg, Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial

Jessica Beers, UGL Services

David Cheikin, Brookfield Office Properties

Maggie Coleman, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.

Ryan Kass, Newmark Knight Frank

Mark Manheimer, Cole Real Estate Investments

Brian O’Neill Jr., O’Neill Properties Group

Ryan Reid, CBRE Capital Markets

Jake Roberts, Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.

Rachel Rosenberg, RKF

Stephen Rosetta, Cushman & Wakefield Inc.

Larry Sloan, Behringer Harvard

Larry Sloan has real estate in his blood. With a family background in single-family residential sales in Texas, he grew up around real estate. He earned his own real estate license in his sophomore year of college at Texas A&M University. “After doing the math, I figured that part-time money in that field was better than a minimum-wage job,” he observed.

Knowing he had a taste for real estate, Sloan specialized in finance and took as many upper-level commercial real estate courses as he could as an undergraduate. He joined the Archon Group as an analyst, then moved into asset management, and in 2007 found his home at Behringer Harvard. “I’m proud that I didn’t take shortcuts,” Sloan said. “I put in the hard work to get the deals done, even when my instincts tell me to stay away from a deal. Sometimes the challenging, off-market deals are the most rewarding when you get them closed.”

That work ethic paid off as early as his first multi-family transaction with Behringer. In 2009, the $96 million purchase of an L.A. apartment complex was featured as the Wall Street Journal’s Deal of the Week. The article used the Gallery at NoHo Commons as an example of what buying distressed assets at the right time can do for a firm: “(It) could return more than 8 percent for its buyer,” the piece noted.

Last year, he was named a senior vice president & director of development, a role in which he spearheaded both multi-family sourcing and transaction activity in Behringer Harvard’s Southern region, while also directing the national multi-family development platform. He closed $160 million in multi-family acquisition and development transactions during the year, and has closed more than $700 million in deals in the past three years, more than 85 percent through industry relationships that generate those off-market opportunities.

Memorable Achievements: Last year, a short sale led Behringer Harvard to acquire an asset well below replacement cost from a lender and developer. The complex land assemblage required working with a lot of different lenders. Additionally, the firm completed the off-market purchase of a high-rise development in a core Texas market.

Goals: Continue to drive quality—not quantity—of transactions with clients. “It’s more important to push yourself out of your comfort zone and recognize that you’re always a student, that there’s always something to learn.”

What Others Say About Him: “He has proven to be one of the quickest learners in the space, someone who likes to get his hands dirty and learn something on his own rather than rely on others to figure it out,” said Mark Alfieri, COO of Behringer Harvard’s Multi-Family REIT I vehicle. “He’s a rare combination of a traditional deal guy, someone who’s outgoing and friendly, but he’s also an analytical type.”

Greatest Challenges: Staying on top of a region that has a very large transaction volume. “There are multiple disciplines involved, and it’s only possible because my team is extremely dedicated and detail oriented.”

Secrets to Success: “It’s important to stay humble, to remember those who have encouraged and helped you along the way. There’s no substitute for hard work—you have to get into the details to be successful.”

Best Advice Received: “You have to manage your time and relationships as if your success depends on it—because it does.”

Advice to Others: “Don’t be afraid to deliver bad news.” Also, remember not to just bring your boss a problem—bring a solution, too. “Think things through before you elevate them.” —Nicholas Ziegler

The son of an avocado farmer, Stephen Rosetta was exposed to real estate through his family’s involvement in land development. He earned a real estate license as a junior in high school, then an appraiser’s license while in college at Cal Poly—San Luis Obispo.

In 1996, he was hired into the career-development program at Cushman & Wakefield Inc. in the company’s Los Angeles office. Just a few months later, he found himself with his first great opportunity: to start an independent San Diego office that would use the Cushman platform. Its ranks today number more than 130, and Cushman purchased it back in 2005. Rosetta has since completed 15.3 million square feet of sale transactions with a total consideration of nearly $1.8 billion. Consistently among the top performers for Cushman & Wakefield nationwide, last year he closed 2.3 million square feet of sale transactions for a total of $773 million, and since 2005 he has completed 15.3 million square feet for $1.8 billion.

Volunteer work includes founding the HeadNorth Foundation to provide support to individuals and families affected by spinal-cord injuries and serving on the board of Junior Achievement.

Memorable Achievements: In 2011, Rosetta worked on a lease for the biotech firm Illumina Inc., which eventually signed for 470,000 square feet, one of the largest transactions in San Diego’s history. Rosetta was one of Cushman’s top 10 brokers nationwide last year and was named a CoStar Group Power Broker.

Goals: Mentoring the next generation at the company. Rosetta is involved in Cushman’s training program for emerging brokers.

Greatest Challenges: “I think with every challenge comes opportunity. Down markets allow you to help clients in a different way. I focus only on what I can control, and I can’t control real estate markets or outside influences. I have to choose where to spend my attention.”

Secrets to Success: Creativity, passion and intensity. “But you can’t underestimate the importance of surrounding yourself with the right team.”

Best Advice Received: “During my career, I’ve heard the advice to only surround myself with clients who share my core values. I try and surround myself with people who will help work with me to create a more positive experience.”

Advice to Others: “Continuously learn every day and always do the right thing for the client. In our industry, reputation is really important, and you only get one shot. Treat people fairly.” —Nicholas Ziegler

Rachel Rosenberg discovered real estate at 19, but she developed a love for the restaurant business even earlier. From her first restaurant job as a dishwasher at 14 to waiting tables to prep cooking, managing the floor and bartending, she ran the gamut of restaurant jobs and loved it. She was waiting tables while attending college in Wisconsin when she met Polacek Co. managing partner Max Rosanski, who invited her to interview with the company the next week, leading to an internship canvassing for the brokerage firm.

She spent five years at the company, a year and a half as a retail broker, but a relocation to Los Angeles caused her to consider a career change. “(But) I just couldn’t turn it off,” she said. She landed at local brokerage firm Sachse Real Estate (since acquired by Kennedy Wilson International) and built a client base by taking on “whatever clients I could” and driving wherever they wanted so she could get to know the market. Still with a penchant for restaurants, she developed relationships with the likes of Le Pain Quotidien and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Two years ago, viewing a national platform as more advantageous, she moved to RKF’s L.A. office. She is currently the exclusive L.A. broker for Chipotle, Le Pain, The Veggie Grill, Fig & Olive, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Elevation Burger and Pei Wei Asian Diner and has worked with a variety of others. Last year, she leased more than $54.5 million worth of retail space.

Memorable Achievements: When Rosenberg started working on the Chipotle Mexican Grill account more than six years ago, someone told her she’d probably do 20 deals with the restaurateur. Her immediate thought: Just 20? She set her sights on 33. Her 33rd deal with Chipotle took two years to complete but placed the restaurant in a “great showplace,” now under construction at Melrose and La Brea next to Pink’s Famous Hotdogs. “She really helped put us on the map in L.A.,” observed Ginny DiBias, real estate manager for Chipotle. Now well entrenched in the L.A. area, Chipotle has tapped her for another effort: developing a presence on the Las Vegas Strip.

Rosenberg also took Fig & Olive to L.A. from New York and is now working on its third L.A. deal. And she expanded Veggie Grill from Orange County into L.A. with five deals, with a dozen more in the works. The restaurateur’s focus on vegan comfort food makes it tough to introduce to landlords, but she terms it a “labor of love” and is working on expanding its presence from San Diego as far north as San Jose.

Although restaurants are Rosenberg’s passion, she has also wanted to expand her scope of experience, and has worked with retailers like Gap Inc.’s Gap and Banana Republic brands and J.Crew. Always wanting to try her hand at a theater deal, she was excited to open Sundance Cinemas’ first site in L.A. “I wake up in the morning, and I can’t wait to get started,” she declared.

Goals: To help build RKF’s L.A. office to the size and scale of its well-entrenched New York office.

What Others Say About Her: Ginny DiBias, real estate manager for the Chipotle Mexican Grill, first encountered Rosenberg when she was representing the landlord of a project where the restaurant ultimately decided to locate. Rosenberg, DiBias noted, was “such a tough negotiator and I had such a difficult time cutting this deal. She was really sharp, and I decided I wanted her on my team.” DiBias finds her “super high energy,” honest, trustworthy, clever, engaging, someone who thinks very strategically and knows the market intimately. Rosenberg’s boss, RKF president of Southern California Robert Cohen, noted her “innate ability” and “amazing intuition” in understanding people—what he says it takes to be a great broker. He called her a “great listener, a student of the game in terms of being open-minded, listening, understanding clients’ objectives, what they need and how they like to be serviced.” He also praised her “incredible relationships” on both the landlord and tenant sides, in a relatively short period of time, and her “amazing” level of creativity.

Greatest Challenges: Youth: She landed the Chipotle Grill when in her 20s, finding that the majority of brokers working on such national accounts are much older. Although her early start in business meant she had equivalent experience, she had to prove she was “hungry” and knew what she was talking about.

Secrets to Success: “I always say I was born lucky but have an innate sense of someone’s purpose, their goals.” An ability to cut to the chase very quickly. “I don’t like to waste people’s time.” An ability to assess clients’ needs and requirements quickly. Energy and passion. “I don’t mind working 16-hour days; it’s a 24/7 business. No matter where I am, what I’m doing, I’m always thinking about it—no matter what I’m shopping for. People say, ‘Don’t you feel like you’re always working?’ Yeah. I love it!”

Best Advice Received: Robert Cohen, president of Southern California for RKF, advised her to continually set her goals far enough out on the horizon that she is always reaching, stretching and growing. Also, don’t just look at the deal at hand—look at the tenant more broadly: What else are they doing, where else are they going to grow, what do they need, who else do you have in your Rolodex that you could introduce them to.

Advice to Others: “You can’t go after a deal for money”—you need to be able to see beyond the immediate deal. If you do, people will respect and trust you, and that will bring more business. “The beauty of our business is that you never know who you’re going to meet, where you’re going to meet them and how they’re going to bridge you to the next deal,” so you should maintain an open mind when walking into a new situation. —Suzann Silverman

One of the hallmarks of a financing guru is the ability to find a way to make a deal work—no matter what roadblocks get in your way. In July 2011, Jake Roberts had one of those deals: A client needed financing for a project involving nine properties in Manhattan, and its preferred lender’s terms just were not good enough. Working through his New York City connections, Roberts was able to get the rates on a 10-year fixed loan down to 5.5 percent—40 points lower than the previous lender— with a debt service coverage of 1.15 times.

Roberts has amassed an impressive list of achievements, given his age. During his undergraduate years at Texas A&M University, he worked as an intern for a pension fund advisor, where he learned the industry’s ins and outs as an analyst. After graduation, he took a job with Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P. in Los Angeles, remaining there for two years before moving to Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.

The top originator of the $1.5 billion arranged by Marcus & Millichap in 2011, he earned a prestigious 2012 National Achievement Award for his accomplishments as a loan originator, his fifth such award. Having joined the firm in April 2004 as a loan originator in the West Los Angeles office, he was promoted to senior associate status in June 2007 and made senior-director level in July 2007. In January 2008, he was elevated to associate vice president of capital markets, and in July 2010, was named vice president. Roberts became a member of the firm’s prestigious Seven-Figure Club in August 2007, and including 2011 has earned eight consecutive sales-recognition awards.

“When I was getting into the business,” Roberts said, “a guy told me that if you can add value for your clients, if you can make them money or if you can save them money, you’ll be successful.”

Memorable Achievements: In addition to last year’s financial juggling, Roberts cites his first deal with Marcus & Millichap in 2004 as one of his most memorable. The deal required providing preferred equity to a client that owed on $1 billion worth of assets. “People told them they couldn’t get preferred equity,” he said, “but we found a way around the $15 million shortfall we were facing.”

Goals: “I’m not a guy driven by money. My goal is to continue to honor my faith and my values—to have integrity and to continue to add value for my clients. To have a business spurred 100 percent by repeat clients and referrals is the best kind of business you can have.”

What Others Say About Him: “We were impressed with his business acumen and his forthrightness. He has considerable ability,” said Stuart Falkin, principal of Falkin-Platnick Realty Group.

Greatest Challenges: In 2004, Roberts had to prove himself to a client, as the capital side of Marcus & Millichap hadn’t yet been established. “The client wasn’t sure about using the new guys at M&M, and we were able to make up a $15 million shortfall on the acquisition, even when other people told them they couldn’t get preferred equity.”

Secrets to Success: “I’m very strong in my faith, and I believe God has blessed me. In the end, my team and I work together to bring a team approach to the clients.”

Best Advice Received: When he was getting into the business, someone told him, “If you can add value for people by making them money or by saving them money, and you do it with integrity, you’ll be successful.”

Advice to Others: “Always have integrity and be above reproach. Always add value for clients. Don’t be afraid to work hard, and don’t be afraid to be told, ‘No.’ ” —Nicholas Ziegler

It is not always the big-money deals that do the most good for a long-term relationship. Ryan Reid remembers a relatively small transaction at Purdue University that closed in 2004. “We convinced an institutional capital source that student housing was a good investment,” he recalled. As recently as this past January, I heard from the ownership group that they’re still talking about it, still using it as an example.”

Reid brings a calm understanding to his approach to commercial real estate. He took a job with CBRE upon graduating as a finance major from the University of Texas at Austin and has spent his entire 13-year career there. Focused on student housing before other firms took it public, he began looking at the sector in the late ’90s, and in the early 2000s split his time between the local apartment market and student housing nationally, establishing a student housing group within three years of joining the company.

“He was the first broker to recognize developers needed to market assets in (student housing),” declared Bill Baxter, his retired mentor and former CBRE executive vice president, crediting one of Reid’s early deals as a contributor to student housing’s becoming an industry segment.

Under Reid’s leadership, the group has sold more than $2 billion worth of student-housing assets in over 100 cities across the United States. Following this success, he was appointed to lead the firm’s multi-housing practice in Texas.

Memorable Achievements: In 2007, Reid was named to the Colbert Coldwell Circle, showcasing the top performers throughout CBRE. He ranked in the top 100 companywide. In both 2010 and 2011, he ranked among the top 225 performers. His deals last year included sales of a 512- bed complex at the University of Southern California for $70 million, a 641-bed complex, the Grandmarc at the Corner, at the University of Virginia for $45.5 million and a 528- bed complex, Sterling Palms, at the University of California-Riverside for $43.5 million.

Goals: Be excited to go to work every day; be a mentor.

What Others Say About Him: Bill Baxter, a retired vice president with CBRE and his mentor, noted his “engaging, likable personality” and “ability to approach and strategically plan a course of action that will benefit all clients in a deal.”

Greatest Challenges: Working in an uncertain environment. “We can’t predict the future, but the challenge in a down market is that no matter how good you are, the market may move against you. In nine out of 10 situations, it comes down to communication. You have to tell the client on a daily basis that change is happening and what they should expect.”

Secrets to Success: “My team and I try to give our clients good information and to be their advisors. It’s not just the next deal we’re focused on; it’s the long term. We don’t just look at the transaction; we help our clients make decisions.”

Best Advice Received: Baxter, his mentor, told him that the market and the competition are constantly changing. “We have to constantly adjust plans and reinvent ourselves. You’re dead if you stay stagnant.”

Advice to Others: “It doesn’t matter what you do in the first year or two with regard to transactions in this industry. You need to be a sponge; you need to soak everything up. Learn the fundamentals; learn what drives investment decisions.” —Nicholas Ziegler

Brian O’Neill grew up attending open houses with his developer father and even interned in his office, but real estate was not his first love. High school jobs included working as an emergency medical technician, and while earning his bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University he worked as an investigator for the Public Defender Service and became interested in justice enforcement. Then his father interceded, and O’Neill agreed to try working for him.

O’Neill was immediately assigned to a huge undertaking. Since acquiring a 453-acre parcel in Sayreville, N.J.—formerly occupied by National Lead Industries—in October 2008, the brownfield redevelopment specialist has been working toward developing a $2 billion mixed-use project there to be named The Point. The 8 million-square-foot project will include a 3 million-square-foot mall and entertainment district, 2,000 residential units, 650,000 square feet of office space, high-end hotels and two luxury marinas (it sits on the Raritan River, at the intersection of the Garden State Parkway, Route 1 and Route 49).

O’Neill gradually assumed more responsibility for the project and now handles all aspects. Last June, he signed Bass Pro Shops as the first major anchor in phase I, which will commence construction this summer. At press time, he was anticipating a movie theater tenant, as well. The toughest challenge was convincing prospective tenants the project really was going to move forward, he said. “It’s definitely been a lot of work.” But Dan Busch thinks he is up to it. “He’s probably the smartest client I’ve ever dealt with,” observed the site’s project manager, the principal for Maser Consulting P.A.

Memorable Achievements: The team’s signing of Bass Pro Shops to 200,000 square feet as the first anchor tenant.

Goals: Keeping the company’s projects moving forward, going on to the next one and continuing to build on that.

What Others Say About Him: Dan Busch, principal with Maser Consulting P.A. and the project manager for the 453-acre Sayreville, N.J., parcel that is destined to become The Point, termed O’Neill the “smartest client” he has encountered in his 27 years in business—despite his age—and also praised his ability to work with political officials and to interpret and negotiate with contractors.

Greatest Challenges: “Development is one big challenge! Coming out of college, I used to think I knew a little bit about real estate, and now I realize I know absolutely nothing. “There’s no playbook you can read that’ll tell you exactly what you need to do … in development. … There’s always a new challenge that comes up.”

Best Advice Received: The big theme in the company’s office, handed down from his father, Brian O’Neill Sr., is to “always be persistent.” Their mantra is “CFM: constant forward motion.” The No. 1 thing his father has taught him, personally, is, “Even when things don’t go your way, you’ve got to keep pushing through it.”

Advice to Others: “Keep pushing forward—it’ll get done.” And “it’s never going to get done the way you think it’ll get done, and nothing’s ever the way you plan it.” —Suzann Silverman

Mark Manheimer has an impressive skill set and strong work ethic, but he also has a mind for trivia. In fact, during Cole Real Estate Investments’ first-ever Cole Cup trivia contest last year, he placed second companywide. That mentality has served him well throughout his career. After earning an MBA at Notre Dame, Manheimer joined Realty Income Corp.’s underwriting team. Nearly three years ago, a colleague from Realty Income, Kim Kundrak, moved to Cole and tapped Manheimer to join him. “He had a great personality and a sharp, analytical mind,” said Kundrak, now chief acquisitions officer & a senior vice president.

In the less than seven years ago since he entered the commercial real estate business, he has closed more than $2 billion in deals. In 2010 and 2011 combined, he sourced, structured and closed $853 million in deals, the only one on Cole’s 11-member acquisitions team to top $450 million during that timeframe, including work with a $266 million Albertsons portfolio of grocery stores. In 2011, he closed about $400 million in transactions, with his signature closing a sale-leaseback with BJ’s Wholesale Club, assisting CVC Capital Partners and Leonard Green & Partners L.P. in a portfolio transaction worth $225 million.

Memorable Achievements: At Realty Income Corp., Manheimer led underwriting efforts on more than $1 billion worth of sale-leaseback transactions, focusing on the convenience & gas, restaurant, automotive service, and health & fitness industries.

Goals: Achieve a senior management position “where I can continue to build a great company.”

What Others Say About Him: Kim Kundrak, senior vice president & chief acquisitions officer for Cole, particularly likes his work ethic. “He is a hard worker and is a bright guy with a sharp analytical mind. His ability to create relationships, combined with that analytical side, makes him a very strong acquisitions director,” he observed.

Greatest Challenges: “It’s challenging to stay positive and not to miss opportunities. At Cole, we have access to capital, so it’s easy to think that things will always go your way with hard work. But that’s not always how it goes.”

Secrets to Success: Luck. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be exposed to smart people in many different industries during my career.”

Best Advice Received: His father, a salesman, once told him, “A deal is only successful if both sides feel that it was a good deal for them after the transaction closes.”

Advice to Others: “You have to pay your dues. Learn the industry and what your company is trying to do—your time will come.” — Nicholas Ziegler

It doesn’t get more high-profile than leasing the Empire State Building. But Ryan Kass is up to the job, according to Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Holdings, which supervises the iconic Manhattan skyscraper. Terming him a “thoughtful, hardworking, diligent and very competitive professional,” Malkin noted that Kass lives up to his very high standards. When Kass’s team won the contract two years ago, he canceled a vacation in New Zealand and spent the Christmas holiday “walking every single space in the building repeatedly” and reviewing records so he was ready to jump right in after New Year’s, Malkin related. He finally took that vacation this past holiday season. Kass’s seven-member team, led by Billy Cohen, had already established a track record at One Grand Central Place, a property it continues to lease for Malkin Holdings. It also represents 292 Madison Ave., 1040 Avenue of the Americas and 20 W. 55th St. in Manhattan. Last year’s deals totaled 1.4 million square feet.

Kass grew up making deliveries for his father and grandfather’s supply company, but realized early on he was more interested in the buildings where he made the drop-offs. An eight-year Newmark veteran who joined the firm right out of Cornell University, Kass, who likes repositioning, devotes about 70 percent of his time to the landlord side. Last year, he transacted more than 1 million square feet of leases at the Empire State Building alone—about a third of the building—including three larger-scale transactions. as well as a pre-built campaign to lease 25,000 square feet divided into five units. “We want to have something for everybody,” Kass explained of the iconic skyscraper’s current positioning plan.

In addition, Gerard Nocera, partner with Herald Square Properties, hired his team at 292 Madison following an ownership change to reposition the property, smooth relations with existing tenants and lease up vacant space.

Memorable Achievements: Last year, he leased 31,000 square feet in the Empire State Building to LinkedIn, as well as closing renewals and expansions of almost 200,000 square feet for Coty Inc. and 490,000 square feet for a client he declined to name but who the New York Post reported to be Li & Fung. At 1040 Avenue of the Americas, he placed Update Legal, East West Bank Corp., Living Cities, Relizon Co. and New World Travel in a total of 50,000 square feet. He also represented Greystone & Co. in its renewal and expansion of about 20,000 square feet at Carnegie Hall Tower and Charmer Sunbelt in its renewal and expansion of approximately 30,000 square feet at One Grand Central Place.

Goals: “Continue to get better at what I do so I can add more value to clients throughout the process.” Expand volunteer work, which currently includes the Pajama Program and the Achilles Group.

What Others Say About Him: Gerard Nocera, partner with Herald Square Properties, who hired his team to lease up 292 Madison Ave., termed him “very focused, (exhibiting) attention to detail and great with tenants.” The result: “Tenants want to do business with him.” He is also “deeply knowledgeable about the asset (and) willing to go the extra step,” Nocera said.

“The assignment he has is the most important thing in his business life,” observed Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Holdings, for whom Kass’s team handles leasing of the Empire State Building and One Grand Central Place. Malkin praised his “ability to understand all of the moving pieces that go into a deal,” adding, “he is able to understand and communicate and take direction in a very complex transaction.”

Greatest Challenges: Not getting too high or too low about any transaction or any day’s performance.

Secrets to Success: His work ethic, honesty, an ability not only to admit mistakes but to learn from them, constantly being on the lookout to learn from new ideas, and surrounding himself with a great team.

Best Advice Received: His parents taught him always to take the high road and never compromise his ethics. “It may not be the easiest thing to do, but in the end it’s the right thing.”

Advice to Others: “The harder you work, the more luck you’ll create for yourself.” —Suzann Silverman

As part of Jones Lang LaSalle’s special asset services division, Maggie Coleman had a busy 2011. She was involved in transacting $4.6 billion in loan sales and valuing more than $12 billion in loans for global financial institutions, many with tight timelines—including a two-month window to structure financing on a $1 billion portfolio. But with focus, determination and a belief in not turning down any opportunity, Coleman makes sure her deals get done no matter what the challenges—and she always shows the client a calm exterior, according to Michael Schopin, principal of Chaifetz Group L.L.C., a client for four years during his previous role with a private equity group.

Perhaps her academic side helps. Six years ago, the former intern in the office of Vice President Al Gore Jr., investment broker and technology consultant was pursuing a Ph.D. in political economy from the University of Chicago. Thinking back on a mentor’s advice to consider how she wanted to spend her days, she left to pursue real estate finance. “I love the analytics of real estate finance, but it’s also such a dynamic industry,” she said.

She joined the Midwest capital markets group of The Staubach Co., mainly transacting sale-leaseback deals for private equity firms and other groups. When the company was sold to Jones Lang LaSalle, she saw a chance to expand her capacity through its global platform, and two years ago seized on an opportunity to join its Special Asset Services division, where she focuses on note sales, structured finance solutions and investment banking for institutional clients and banks. Last March, she relocated to New York, where the majority of the group is officed.

With her volume up last year from $2 billion the prior year, Coleman expects to close even more this year. She also expects this year to be “very, very active” for valuations. Work is starting to involve a larger number of banks, particularly those from outside the United States.

Memorable Achievements: Helping to grow the SAS platform in the past year.

Goals: Reach the managing director level and build a team where people love to come to work and be working on deals with you. Active in the company’s Leadership Council, she wants to mentor others.

What Others Say About Her: “It’s very nice to work with somebody who always delivers,” observed Michael Schopin, principal with the Chaifetz Group L.L.C., who worked with Coleman for about four years while with a private equity group, noting that knowing you’re going to get a high level of service every time is a nice feeling.

Greatest Challenges: Delegating and finding time to support other women and junior-level colleagues.

Secrets to Success: Having very strong mentors, who have been advocates, given high-level guidance and gone out on a limb to provide access to opportunities. Focus and dedication. Being focused on an area that has had a lot of growth.

Best Advice Received: Don’t turn down any opportunities to work on new and interesting transaction;, always be looking to focus on what’s new in the market and be ready to pursue that in a very hungry way.

Advice to Others: “Don’t turn down any opportunity, especially to run a deal or to be in front of a client as the lead. Anytime you can do that, you’re advancing your career.” —Suzann Silverman