Newmark Global Corporate Services expands team

New York, NY Newmark Group, Inc. announces the continued expansion of its Global Corporate Services (GCS) business with new hires, augmenting the service lines’ growing team and further expanding its capabilities to address complex client requirements in any location. 

“GCS bench strength continues to be a priority as we structure our team with the specialized operational and business transformation experience necessary to address complex client requirements,” said Newmark GCS CEO Rick Bertasi. “Building out this collaborative and highly skilled group of commercial real estate professionals enables us to continue to provide even more customized client solutions that address the transition, integration and ongoing flexibility that is essential to the current workplace environment.”

Joining the GCS team are five commercial real estate experts, with specialties ranging from transition and integration to procurement to operations:

• Debra Mitchell-Ruranga, managing director of Transition and Integration, GCS, based in New Jersey

Mitchell-Ruranga specializes in the oversight of transition, integration and continuous improvement projects on behalf of large, multi-service GCS clients. Prior to joining Newmark GCS, Mitchell-Ruranga most recently held senior roles as the managing director of TIAA’s Practice Management and Engagement function and the vice president of Planning and Strategic Business Engagement for Prudential Financial, where she was instrumental in creating a shared services delivery model to support the business internationally. She has also held positions at Bridgewater Associates and UBS, driving group-wide change programs in Corporate Real Estate, IT and HR services.

• Marisa Austin, director of Procurement, GCS, based in New York

Austin–an experienced global procurement and supply chain expert–supports the procurement initiatives of GCS clients through contract negotiation, vendor management and cost reduction. Prior to joining Newmark, Austin was senior manager of Supply Chain and Sourcing Management for WeWork. Austin has led extensive vendor consolidation programs and delivered sourcing solutions to support both office and retail assets, including business services such as travel, legal, IT and finance. 

• Jessica Baldassare, director of Operations, Global Strategy & Consulting Practice, GCS, based in Connecticut

Baldassare enhances financial and operational performance of the GCS Global Strategy & Consulting practice through day-to-day oversight as well as resource planning, process innovation, project management and project tracking. She has previously served in roles as director of Office Services with Aramark and chief of staff for Real Estate and Facilities for Bridgewater Associates. Baldassare has led clients through transformational change programs, including outsourcing of multiple integrated back-office functions and significant safety and security delivery changes brought on by the global pandemic. 

• Taylor Kwasniewski, director, Workplace Management Solutions, GCS, based in North Carolina

Kwasniewski specializes in driving strategy and operational stability in workplace experience and space design across all corporate hospitality functions for GCS. Prior to joining Newmark, Kwasniewski held manager of Hospitality and Events positions with Bridgewater Associates and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, achieving hospitality and employee experience standards of excellence. 

• Emily Richardson, director of Performance Management, GCS, based in New York

Richardson oversees the Newmark GCS risk management program and leads the operational risk management client service. She was previously head of cost control for Global Investment Operations at Knotel, having worked in Digital Product and Technology Research prior. Richardson’s diverse real estate experience—including in the flexible office market—has enabled her to design progressive operational methodologies that deliver business goals.