2025 Women in CRE: Kimberly Barresi, Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP

What has been the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in your career, and why?

A large part of my practice is SBA financing. During the pandemic, the CARES Act carried a huge benefit, with the SBA making loan payments for eligible loans. In some instances, borrowers saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in loan payments on top of buying or refinancing real estate at record low rates. The imposed deadline for eligibility resulted in a record amount of closings in one week. If we could close it, we did, and saved these companies a lot of money.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate?

It is a still a male-dominated industry but don’t let that intimidate you. Women can excel in this area, with our innate ability to “see the forest through the trees” and operate at a high level of coordination and communication. Women see everything, for better or for worse. We pay attention to all the details.