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Member Spotlight

Virginia Luther
The Spectrum Companies

Current job:  Managing Director 

Summary of your role in the company:  I am responsible for overall success of the Charlotte office team, including growing the office, mixed-use sector through development opportunities, office acquisitions and overseeing the health and profitability of leasing & management assignments.

How I chose my occupation: I am a 3rd generation commercial real estate practitioner. Although I never thought I would be in the industry, it’s something that was in my blood ultimately.

Years in the business: 17 

My specialization is:   Office and Mixed Use Development and Leasing 

A good lead for me is:  Someone who ones an urban piece of land or company looking to move offices.

The most satisfying part of my job is: I have a hand in the creation of our skyline and where people spend a majority of their day in the office.

Best leadership advice I have been given:  Get some grit. Get uncomfortable. And treat everyone with respect, be an advocate and always be transparent.

Greatest professional achievement:  The lease up and delivery of Vantage South End, a 635,000 SF mixed use development.

Number of years with CREW: 10+

Most significant CREW connection: Sallie Jarosz. When I was trying to get into brokerage, she introduced me to my future mentor and boss, Mark Ayers.

Place of birth/hometown: New Orleans, LA 

Number of years in Charlotte: 17

Family: Jeff Luther, Beau Luther (6YO), Liza Luther (4YO)

My ideal vacation spot: Thailand. Give me a place where the culture and food and experience is completely different than I am use to or know. I like to experience the world in ways that excite me and push me.

Hobbies/Interests: Wine, shopping, and travel 

Other professional organizations I belong to: CRCBR 

I wish I could: Hire a full time chef, driver, and housekeeper.

Kirsten Peterson
Womble Bond Dickinson

Current job: Commercial Real Estate Attorney

Summary of your role in the company: As a commercial real estate attorney, I focus on advising clients on all aspects of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, due diligence,  leasing, financing, and development. I work closely with my clients to gain the benefit of their thoughts and concerns in order to structure a deal in a way that addresses their unique legal and business needs.

How I chose my occupation: I always wanted to be a part of a fast-paced career where my daily work could make a difference in my community.   As a transactional attorney, I have the opportunity to be the drafter of documents that are ultimately the catalyst and guardrails for development that brings grocery stores to food deserts or for the lease that gives a start-up business a place to excel.  As a former litigator, I saw where things went wrong in the contract negotiation phase and thrive on identifying potential issues early on in a deal to offer creative solutions that mitigate risk for my clients.  My interest in commercial real estate is energized each day as I see the significant impact my deals have on communities, businesses, and the economy. I always wanted to be a part of that.

Years in the business: 6 years

My specialization is: Commercial Real Estate Transactions, specifically leasing (including experience drafting science lab leases, office leases, industrial leases, and medical and dental office leases)  acquisitions, dispositions, development, and financing.

A good lead for me is: A business, broker, or developer seeking legal expertise for commercial real estate transactions, whether it’s structuring complex deals (from the contract negotiation to the closing and everything in between from title review to financing)  or leasing your first commercial real estate space. I’ve negotiated and drafted leases from rent at one million dollars a month ($1,000,000.00) to one thousand five hundred ($1,500.00) a month.

The most satisfying part of my job is: Helping my clients achieve their business goals and offering practical solutions to complex legal challenges that make their businesses thrive. Being a small part of their success is incredibly fulfilling.

Best leadership advice I have been given: “Lead by example, and always stay true to your values.” It’s about showing others that hard work, integrity, and kindness are paramount.

Greatest professional achievement: The closing on a development offering critically needed affordable housing near uptown Charlotte.  It is incredible to see our hard work come to light as the development unfolds.

Number of years with CREW: 2.5 years

Most significant CREW connection: CREW Network Convention. I can’t get enough of it!

Place of birth/hometown: Mercy South, Pineville, NC. I’m from Fort Mill, SC but it didn’t have a hospital at the time!

Number of years in Charlotte: I’m from Fort Mill, but moved to Greenville, SC after law school before returning to Charlotte 3 years ago.

Family: I’m married to the best man I’ve ever known and am fortunate to also have 6 of my siblings and parents nearby!  My family, especially my dad who is also a real estate attorney,  is a huge source of support and inspiration for me both personally and professionally.

My ideal vacation spot: Bora Bora 😊 An ideal vacation spot actually within budget would be a mountain town where I can unwind, read, run (badly), learn Italian (also badly) and spend quality time with my family.

Hobbies/Interests: I love training for the occasional marathon,  reading long form journalism,  and pro bono work as my firm’s liaison to Legal Aid of North Carolina with a focus on representing women and children in critical need.

Other professional organizations I belong to: NC Bar Association, Haynsworth Perry Inn of Court, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, Charlotte Housing Triage of Legal Aid of North Carolina

I wish I could: Spend more time traveling the world. I’ve visited 23 countries, but the travel enthusiast in me has a long list of places I’d love to explore!

Additional information: I am fully dedicated to delivering exceptional results for my clients through meticulous preparation and top-tier work product. I strive to always be the most prepared person in the room. I’ll never forget the early days of my career, as a fresh law school graduate preparing for trial against a seasoned litigator who not-so-jokingly told me he had more years of experience than I had years of life. My mentor advised me to tune out the noise and that with impeccable preparation, I could overcome any challenge. I won that trial, and while I no longer litigate, the experience became the foundation of how I approach each representation of my clients through their commercial real estate transactions.

Silvia Balan
Northwood Office

Current job:  Senior Property Manager 

Summary of your role in the company: As a Senior Property Manager, I often juggle a variety of tasks throughout the day from engaging with customers and vendors to assisting with oversight of customer upfits, preparing financial reports, and addressing emergencies or customer concerns alongside operations staff. While it’s sometimes difficult to juggle so many responsibilities, I enjoy the unpredictable nature of the industry and I am passionate about achieving customer satisfaction, mentoring colleagues, and finding new ways to challenge myself each day.

How I chose my occupation: I stumbled upon the real estate industry by chance, and I instantly fell in love with it.

Years in the business: 30 years 

My specialization is: Retail and Office building management.

A good lead for me is:  An empathic person

The most satisfying part of my job is: The most satisfying part of my job is delivering exceptional service to my clients and customers.

Best leadership advice I have been given:  Speak less, listen more.

Greatest professional achievement: My greatest professional achievement was being part of a team that led the repositioning of a shopping mall. This project was expansive, impacting nearly every aspect of the building while businesses continued to operate smoothly. From the initial concept to securing funding and executing the plan, the entire process took about three years. The results were highly successful, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see both the positive impact on the community and the business’s continued success.

Number of years with CREW: 5

Most significant CREW connection: I had the privilege of meeting an incredible group of women in the Authentic Leadership Program. Each one holds a special place in my heart.

Place of birth/hometown: Bucharest, Romania

Number of years in Charlotte: 10

Family: Married with 2 kids (daughter and son), 3 pets (1 dog and 2 cats) 😊

My ideal vacation spot: Discover new cities and cultures.

Hobbies/Interests: Travel, reading, hiking

Other professional organizations I belong to: IREM

I wish I could: Travel the world

Dawn Royle
Investors Title

Current job:  VP Market Development (Charlotte/Asheville) 

Summary of your role in the company:  My role is to continually look for and develop new business relationships. I am also responsible for maintaining and deepening existing client relationships.

How I chose my occupation:  It sort of chose me.  I was working as the Director of Business Development for the Allen Tate Companies.  The President and CFO came to me and let me know that they were starting a title agency.  I was asked to do marketing to attorneys one or two days a week.  Things really started to take off.  I was asked if I would have any interest in marketing full-time for the title agency and the rest is history.

Years in the business:  21

My specialization is:  Building lasting relationships is what I do.   The bonus is I  love my clients, my co-workers and my company!

A good lead for me is:  Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Developer, Commercial Brokers and Commercial Lenders

The most satisfying part of my job is:  Being able to be a trusted advisor to my clients.   I don’t have all the answers, but I know where to find them within my company.

Best leadership advice I have been given:  A former boss said, “There is no limit to what you can do.”  I believed him!

Greatest professional achievement:  Building a great reputation in my industry.  That has enabled my professional success and happiness for 21 years.

Number of years with CREW: 20

Most significant CREW connection:  After 20 years there are too many to list!  I will say that Nancy Olah is the person who suggested that I get on the leadership track for the CREW Charlotte President’s role.  I was fortunate to hold that position in 2012.

Place of birth/hometown:  Pottsville, Pennsylvania (Home of Yuengling Beer! 😊)

Number of years in Charlotte:  34 years

Family:  My husband Scott, my daughters Devin (24) and Abby (21) and our two wild Aussiedoodles…Zoey (12) and Hank (1 ½).

My ideal vacation spot:  New Zealand…We went before children and I would LOVE to go back.  I’ve done a lot of traveling and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been.

Hobbies/Interests:   I love traveling,walking, pilates, cooking, and drinking wine/dining with my girlfriends!

Other professional organizations I belong to:  NAIOP Charlotte & CIRA Asheville

I wish I could:  Make time stand still!  This is such a great time in my life for so many reasons.

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