Meet the Leadership Team
Providing the highest level of guidance and support for the Center's mission, our Advisory Board is composed of principals and senior executives from leading real estate firms and organization in the Washington, D.C., area.
Center Leadership
Board Chairperson
Board Members
Partner, The Christopher Companies
Craig Havenner retired as President, but remains Partner, in a locally owned and operated residential and commercial building and development company based in Oakton, Virginia.
Senior Vice President, ECS Mid-Atlantic LLC
Bryan C. Layman is Vice President for ECS Mid-Atlantic. A Professional Engineer registered in several states and the District of Columbia, and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, he is a Principal Engineer who manages geotechnical and construction materials testing services for ECS in the City of Alexandria and Southern Maryland.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Lessard Design
Chris Lessard is the founding Principal of Lessard Design, an architecture and planning firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Boston, and India. Throughout the Mid-Atlantic market, he is recognized as a design innovator which can be partly contributed to his uncanny ability to recognize and understand market trends.
Principal, Eyremount Investment Group
Roger Lin was the owner of Kinsey Properties, LLC and Managing Partner of Eyremount Investment Group, LLC, two small-scale real estate development firms in Northern Virginia he founded with his family. Since 2007 he has been investing in income producing properties and developable land in the Washington D.C. area.
President, NAIOP Northern Virginia
Martha Marks is the President of NAIOP Northern Virginia, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Partner, Baker Tilly
Brad Nicklin is a Partner in Baker Tilly’s D.C. office and has been with the firm since 1998. He serves as the team lead for Baker Tilly’s East Region real estate practice. He works closely with private equity investment real estate portfolio companies and privately held property owners all across the country.
Principal, The Peterson Companies
Jon Peterson is a Principal of Peterson Companies and serves as the Chairman of the Company’s Executive Committee.
Founding Principal, Equinox Investments, LLC
Scott Plein is the founding principal of Equinox Investments, LLC, a real estate investment, development, and management firm specializing in community planning and entitlements in Northern Virginia.
President and CEO, Shirley Contracting
Mike Post is the President and CEO of Shirley Contracting. Mike began his career with Shirley Contracting in 1981, and has over 30 years’ experience in heavy civil construction.
Saifaldin (Saif) Rahman is Managing Partner of JR Real Estate Group, and President of the Prince William Chapter of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA).