Clockwise from top left: Marta Person Villa, Mindy Lissner, Kim Brennan, Aileen Brennan, Ron Ladell, Caroline Ehrlich, Mildred Tolentino and Jackie Chesler were among the featured speakers in the second annual Real Estate Rush event at the Basking Ridge Country Club.
By Joshua Burd
With the panel discussion winding down, the six female real estate and government leaders at the front of the room were asked what advice they’d give to their younger selves.
Mildred Tolentino jumped right in.
“I would say to be in a room like this,” she told the packed house at the Basking Ridge Country Club, the site of the second annual Real Estate Rush event. “The power of networking.”
She continued: “That’s what I would say to my younger self. I think the power of networking — and I tell that to all my young people in the office — is paramount.”
The answer struck a chord with those seated alongside Tolentino, the CEO and president of M To-Pros Development, and seemingly everyone else in the room Thursday morning. That’s no surprise for an organization built on making connections, knowledge sharing and business development among women in commercial real estate.
It also fueled a sold-out event that nearly doubled in size from its first year, with a crowd of 150 registered for the breakfast program.
Marta Person Villa
“It’s the whole premise of what we’re doing,” said Marta Person Villa, a senior vice president with CBRE, who founded Real Estate Rush amid a career that has spanned brokerage, local government and nonprofit leadership. “Networking has been a part of my job for 37 years.”
Once again, the energy was high. A live DJ pumped dance pop as attendees streamed in for registration and networking, many of them clad in the organization’s signature pink. The sit-down program began with Villa recounting the event’s origins — a concept modeled after Greek sorority recruitment — and the growth of a “sisterhood built for business.” She also presented several awards, a new addition this year meant to recognize some of the industry’s top talent, while teasing new events that she hopes to add in 2027.
That gave way to a panel discussion moderated by Ron Ladell, a senior vice president with Vivmark Residential and chair of the Rutgers Center for Real Estate’s executive committee, touching on everything from capital markets and leasing trends to artificial intelligence.
Mixed in were the panelists’ words of wisdom, not only to their younger selves but to the younger generation.
From left: Cushman & Wakefield’s Mindy Lissner, Woodbridge Township’s Caroline Ehrlich, Colliers’ Jackie Chesler, Cushman & Wakefield’s Kim Brennan and M To-Pros Development’s Mildred Tolentino spoke at the second annual Real Estate Rush event in Basking Ridge. Ron Ladell (far right), a senior vice president with Vivmark Residential served as moderator.
Aileen Brennan (counsel, land use, zoning and redevelopment, Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP)
Remember where you came from.
“When you’re dealing with other professionals in a very fast-paced, high-stress environment, people tend to mouth off, tempers flare quickly, and you have to take a step back, have to breathe and have to remember that we all started somewhere. And those kids that just came out of law school that are in their first job, that you’re relying on to get some paper or some research for you — you were them one time, and you didn’t know what you were doing. And you have to remember that, be sympathetic and try and guide them. Give them the tools that you wish you had had at that point in time.”
Kim Brennan (managing director, Cushman & Wakefield)
Have mentors in the office.
“I talk to anybody. I try to give back, because I think that’s the most important way to give people knowledge about the industry or even another industry, but I think it’s more important for you to have mentors … somebody that can usher you through the office politics, because we all work hard, we are all really smart. That won’t get you anywhere if you don’t understand the culture and what’s going on politically in your office. And the way you do that is to find mentors that understand that, or people that can guide you, because that’s just as important as getting promoted, as working hard.”
Jackie Chesler (vice chair, Colliers)
Jobs are given. Careers are developed.
“Anyone can give you a job 9 to 5 … (but) only you can give yourself a career.
“You really need to understand your craft, you have to be passionate and you have to network.”
Caroline Ehrlich (chief of staff, Woodbridge Township)
Build confidence and show appreciation.
“If only we had known 30 years ago, if I had had the confidence that I should have had, I think I might have done a lot better. So I spend a lot of time working with the younger people in our office and making sure that they know that they’re appreciated, that they’re doing a good job, and that’s very important.”
Mindy Lissner (vice chair · Cushman & Wakefield)
Be nice to people.
“Relationships are huge. (Colleagues) say, ‘How are you working with Michael Kohrs as a client?’ It’s a relationship that I had years ago, they came back to me. And you never know when someone’s going pick up the phone from years ago, that you had a good relationship with, that you were nice to, that you did good work for, that will come back to you and call you again.”
Mildred Tolentino (CEO and president of M To-Pros Development)
Meet people (to know people).
“Sometimes a client asks you for something — and it might even be completely outside of your scope of work — because you know people. It doesn’t even need to be because they’re going to get you the next job, but because you know people, you know who to call. And that will save you tons of time, money, whatever it might be. The power of networking is incredible.”