Women on the Rise in Delaware’s Commercial Real Estate

By Linda Brown and Reneé Nichols, LMT Commercial Realty, LLC

Commercial real estate in Delaware is evolving, and so are the people driving it. What used to be a mostly male-dominated industry is now seeing more women step into key roles across brokerage, development, sales, leasing, and property management. These women bring a diverse mix of skills and perspectives to the table, handling market launches, managing business relationships, lease proposals, due diligence, and more. They blend deep knowledge with creativity, adding value at every stage of a project or transaction.

In brokerage, they’re negotiating deals that work for both tenants and landlords, buyers and sellers, and investors. In development, they’re driving projects from the ground up by managing budgets, meeting deadlines, and navigating regulatory requirements. Women are not only participating, but they’re also key contributors.

Women in CRE are also driving a cultural shift, prioritizing cooperation, strategic partnerships, and a holistic approach to client service. Instead of operating strictly in silos, they often bring together various groups like legal, financial, and operations to work more collaboratively. This approach doesn’t just benefit their companies, it benefits the entire ecosystem of property owners, developers, and tenants.

At LMT Commercial, Linda Brown has built a strong reputation for keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, improving communication, making sure operations stay on track, and prioritizing the client relationship. Reneé Nichols leads the marketing charge, leveraging her previous experience developing international brands, she’s has applied these skills to raise the profile of commercial properties and opportunities across three states. By obtaining their real estate licenses, they’ve expanded their roles beyond administration and marketing, deepening their impact on both the business and the broader industry. Mary Ann Heesters focuses on property and business sales, retail leasing, and tenant representation. As former Deputy Director of Delaware’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, she streamlined licensing processes, led multiple agency units, and launched server training initiatives. Mary Ann brings deep expertise in contract negotiations, particularly related to liquor license transactions, and her background in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries adds significant value to LMT Commercial and its clients.

Together, they demonstrate the significant value women contribute to commercial real estate.

We recommend joining industry groups like Delaware Real Estate Women (DREW) and Commercial-Industrial Realty Council of Delaware (CIRC) which have been pioneers of this shift, offering women training, leadership roles, professional development, and a seat at the table in major industry conversations. These organizations are creating opportunities for mentorship and leadership that didn’t exist at this scale a generation ago. Across Delaware, women in CRE are also embracing new trends, using technology and fresh ideas to expand the commercial real estate business.

Momentum is building, and women are proving that when barriers fall, innovation and growth rise. Across Delaware and the country, women are proving that success in commercial real estate depends on talent, vision, and hard work, not gender.