Meet CPE’s 2017 Stars to Watch: Sara Neff, Kilroy Realty Corp.

Each year, CPE features some of the commercial real estate industry’s top young talent. The high achievers selected as Stars to Watch represent a broad range of specialties, companies and geographic locations.

Following is a brief introduction to one of this year’s outstanding young professionals. Read here about all 2017 Stars.

Age: 36

On the job: Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Kilroy Realty Corp.

Notable Challenge: Building Kilroy Realty’s sustainability program from scratch, starting in 2010.

Notable Accomplishment: Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark named Kilroy North America’s No. 1 green real estate company in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Key Mentor: John Kilroy, chairman, president & CEO of Kilroy Realty.

Early Influence:  Sukanya Paciorek of Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. (a 2016 Star to Watch), who Neff met in 2012 at a NAREIT Leader in the Light event. Since then, Paciorek has advised Neff on strategies for incorporating sustainability in capital budgeting and other best practices.

Above & Beyond: Neff serves as an advisory council member with the U.S. Green Building Council and chairs the board of directors for the organization’s Los Angeles branch.

Goals: Making Kilroy’s interaction with the energy grid even more sophisticated; establishing the company as an industry leader on health.

What Others Say About Her: “I’ve reached out to Sara to invite her as a valuable member to join our recently formed Real Estate Sustainability Council (RESC) that has a mission to help guide and unite the REIT industry’s environmental social and governance (ESG) efforts and priorities while showcasing well-deserved recognition in sustainability leadership. Sara is always eager to help anytime I knock on her door for ideas and volunteering opportunities. She is a valuable and active member of NAREIT’s Real Estate Sustainability Council (RESC).”

—Fulya Kocak, Vice President of ESG Issues at NAREIT