A Conversation with Top Executives in Real Estate and Business:
Raymond Edwards, '84, is the Executive Vice President, Retailer Services Kimco Realty Corp.
Raymond Edwards joined Kimco Realty Corporation in 2001 and is currently Executive Vice President, Retailer Services. In that role, Mr. Edwards focuses on strengthening Kimco’s relationship with its national retailers. He is also involved with the Executive Chairman in developing opportunities directly with real estate-rich retailers by making investments, lending, and providing strategic real estate solutions. Transactions include the Montgomery Ward designation rights to over 300 stores; conversion of Frank’s Nurseries from retail operation to a stand-alone real estate company; participation as part of the consortium that acquired the 650-store Albertson’s grocery chain in 2006; and in 2013, the 850-store Shaw’s, Acme, Jewel banners, along with the balance of the Albertson stores not previously controlled. In 2015, Albertson’s merged with Safeway to create the second-largest grocery chain in the country, with over 2,300 stores. Mr. Edwards is also a member of Kimco’s Investment Committee.
Mr. Edwards graduated from Queens College in 1984 with a BA in political science and from St. John’s University School of Law in 1992.
Frederick Peters, '79, is the Chief Executive Officer of Warburg Realty. A graduate of Yale College with a master’s degree from Queens College, Frederick entered the real estate business as a residential agent in 1980 and has since brokered approximately $1 billion in New York real estate. After working as a Sales Director at Albert B. Ashforth for a number of years, he acquired and renamed the 95-year-old firm in 1991. Since that time, Frederick has expanded the company from 40 to 130 agents and from one to three locations.
Frederick’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, and expertise has helped to position Warburg as one of New York’s few major independent residential brokerage providers. He is the most frequent contributor to Warburg’s blog and one of the most quoted experts on real estate in both Manhattan and national media. He serves as a co-chair of The Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Board of Directors- Residential Division, as a member of REBNY’s Board of Governors, and as the Vice President for Residential Brokerage on REBNY’s Executive Committee. In January of 2010, Frederick received the prestigious Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award, which recognizes meritorious service to the community by a REBNY member. He was also a recipient of REBNY’s 1996 Henry Foster Award, given for a lifetime of achievement and contribution to the residential industry.
Mark E. Rose, '85, is Chief Executive Officer of Avison Young and Chair of the Board of Directors of Avison Young (Canada) Inc. He manages all strategic, financial, and operational activities of this full-service commercial real estate company, which provides solutions to real estate investors, owners, and occupiers throughout the world. In his ten years with the Toronto-based firm, Mark has overseen its growth from 290 real estate professionals in 11 offices in Canada to more than 2,700 professionals in 85 offices in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.
Deloitte has named Avison Young one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the past seven years in a row, and the firm achieved Platinum status in 2018. Real Estate Forum magazine named Mark the commercial real estate industry’s Best Boss for 2017 and ranked Avison Young as the Fastest-Growing Company in the commercial real estate industry (Large Companies Category) in 2015 and 2016. Real Estate Forum also named Avison Young one of the Best Places to Work in Commercial Real Estate in 2018 and featured Mark among the industry’s “Elite 70” in 2016.
In addition, Commercial Property Executive (2015) named Mark as one of the 13 most innovative executives worth watching and Queens College presented its Alumni Award to Mark in 2015. The award honors individuals whose successful careers and dedication to philanthropy and public service serve as models for Queens College students. A frequent industry keynote speaker and author, Mark also received an honorable mention for Commercial Property Executive’s Service Executive of the Year Award in 2015.
Mark joined Avison Young after holding executive positions at two global, publicly-traded commercial real estate firms. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE:GBE) from 2005–2008 and was previously Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Americas for Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL). Prior to his 12 years at Jones Lang LaSalle, he ran Metropolitan Realty Advisors, the brokerage and investment firm that he founded in 1993. Previously, he was Chair, Chief Executive, and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Real Estate Investment Trust of British Coal Corporation Pension Funds.
Mark holds a BA in accounting from Queens College. He serves on the Queens College Foundation’s Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors of LiquidSpace. Mark coaches developing leaders throughout the industry, including through the NAIOP Greater Toronto Chapter Mentorship Program. He has also served as a board member of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Botanic Garden, and the real estate advisory board of the University of Miami (FL) Business School.