CREFC recognizes rising leaders helping shape the future of commercial real estate finance

NEW YORK, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The CRE Finance Council (CREFC), the trade association representing the over $6 trillion commercial and multifamily real estate finance industry, today announced its 2026 class of accomplished ’20 Under 40′ honorees. Each year, CREFC’s ’20 Under 40′ program recognizes outstanding young commercial real estate finance professionals who are reshaping the industry through their ideas, leadership, and execution. The recipients will be recognized at CREFC’s Annual Conference in New York City next week.

This year’s recipients have come of age during one of the most demanding and rapidly evolving market environments in recent memory. They have navigated market dislocation, embraced new technologies, and brought increasingly sophisticated analytical and operational expertise to every corner of the business. Their work is helping to shape the future direction of the commercial real estate finance industry.

The honorees contribute across every segment of CRE finance, including balance-sheet and securitized lending, bond investing, private debt and equity, loan servicing, credit ratings, and advisory services. In addition to their professional accomplishments, many are active participants in CREFC committees, events, mentorship efforts, and industry initiatives, helping ensure CREFC’s Young Professionals (YP) programming remains relevant, engaging, and impactful for the next generation of industry leaders.

“The members of CREFC’s 2026 ’20 Under 40′ class have already distinguished themselves as exceptional professionals and emerging leaders within commercial real estate finance,” said Lisa Pendergast, President and CEO of CREFC. “They have built their careers during a period defined by market volatility, shifting capital flows, and rapid industry transformation, yet they continue to bring fresh thinking, innovation, and leadership to the market.”

Pendergast added, “Their contributions extend well beyond their day-to-day roles. Through their active engagement with CREFC and the broader industry, these professionals are helping strengthen the future of CRE finance and shape the next generation of industry leadership.”

CREFC’s annual ’20 Under 40′ awards are part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting and recognizing emerging leaders in commercial real estate finance through education, mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities.

2026 ’20 Under 40′ Honorees

KAREN ANZALONE
Partner
Katten Muchin Rosenmann LLP

KATIE BASKIN
Associate
McGuireWoods LLP

SEAN BASTIAN
Senior Director, Capital Markets | Institutional Advisory
Walker & Dunlop

RAVI BELSARE
Principal
Apollo Global Management

STEVEN BERNSTEIN
Managing Director
Harbor Group International

DARREN BREDA
Managing Director
Affinius Capital

ZACHARY CION
Managing Director
Hudson Bay Capital

JONATHAN COHEN
Senior Director
MONTICELLOAM, LLC

MARCELLO CRICCO-LIZZA
Managing Director, Principal, and Head of CRE Lending
Balbec Capital LP

ALLISON DELONG
Managing Director
Greystone Servicing Company LLC

MICHAEL DILLON
Vice President, CMBS Trading & Analytics
Prime Finance Partners

SANG KIM
Director, Investments
Lionheart Strategic Management

DANIEL LIM
Investment Director
AustralianSuper

ALISON MACKENZIE
Senior Associate
King & Spalding LLP

NEEL MUNOT
Senior Director, CMBS
Kroll Bond Rating Agency

GABRIELLE NEISS
Commercial Bank Counsel
Capital One

CHRISTOPHER PRATT
Director
JLL Capital Markets

SAMANTHA ROTCHFORD
Managing Director
BDT & MSD Partners

WILL STILES
Director
Citi

SAMIR TEJPAUL
Head of Investments
Madison Realty Capital

To learn more about CREFC’s 2026 class of ’20 Under 40′ recipients, click here.

About CREFC
The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) is the trade association for the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry with a membership that includes more than 400 companies and 19,000 individuals. Member firms include balance sheet and securitized lenders, loan and bond investors, private equity firms, servicers, rating agencies, and borrowers. For over 30 years, CREFC has promoted liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in the commercial real estate finance markets, and acted as a legislative and regulatory advocate for the industry, playing a vital role in setting market standards and best practices, and providing education for market participants. For more information, visit www.crefc.org.

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SOURCE CRE Finance Council