“The list of prior Helmsley Award recipients is filled with my industry heroes, past and present. Notably, the list is lean on brokers, so I consider my selection for this recognition not just personal but also an acknowledgement of the contribution that brokers make to New York City’s real estate ecosystem. Brokers generate demand, and, especially in hard times, the role of brokers is critical.” Mary Ann Tighe, Chief Executive Officer of CBRE’s New York Tri-State Region.

During her remarkable career of more than three decades in commercial real estate, Mary Ann Tighe has been at the forefront of the transformation of New York’s skyline. She has played a catalytic role in the rezoning that is strengthening and renewing East Midtown, the westward expansion of Midtown, the rebuilding of downtown after 9/11, as well as revitalization of Times Sq.

Mary Ann has conceived, structured and negotiated virtually every form of deal, having been responsible for more than 120 million s/f of commercial transactions. Moreover, her deals have anchored more than 14.4 million s/f of new construction in the New York region.

Mary Ann has been CEO of CBRE’s New York Tri-State region since 2002. She is a nine-time winner of REBNY’s Deal of the Year Award for ingenious brokerage. For a three-year term starting in January 2010, Mary Ann served as chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York, the first woman to hold this position in REBNY’s then 114-year history.