B
OSTON - The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) has announced that Paul J. Nasser, President of Intercontinental Real Estate, will be honored at the 36th Annual REFA Gala on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Omni Seaport in Boston. Mr. Nasser will receive the prestigious Robert S. Swain Jr. Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his leadership roles in civic and charitable causes, professional achievements, and his unwavering commitment to REFA, the commercial real estate industry, and the greater Boston business community.
Ravi Ragnauth, CEO of Berkshire Residential and current REFA President, expressed his delight in honoring Mr. Nasser with the highly coveted Boston Harbor Bowl. He highlighted Mr. Nasser's leadership as a prominent figure in the Greater Boston commercial real estate space and his embodiment of leadership, collaboration, and integrity.
Mr. Nasser joins an esteemed list of previous award honorees who have made significant contributions to the greater Boston community. These include Steve Samuels, Founder and Chairman of Samuels & Associates; Paul J. Ayoub, Chair of Nutter; Jon Davis, CEO and founder of The Davis Companies; Pam Herbst, Managing Director of AEW; Tammy Jones, CEO and founder of Basis Investment Group; Bryan Koop, EVP of Boston Properties; Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects; David Manfredi, CEO and Founding Principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects; Kirk Sykes, Co-Managing Partner of Accordia Partners; and Mayor Thomas Menino.
Paul Nasser, President of Intercontinental Real Estate, expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating that he is humbled to be included among such accomplished individuals who have had a significant impact on their industry and community. He also shared his admiration for Robert Swain Jr., whom he looked up to during his early banking career.
Elizabeth Lowrey, a previous recipient of the Robert S. Swain Jr. Distinguished Service Award, returns as Co-Chair of the REFA Gala for the fourth consecutive year. She emphasized the importance of recognizing individuals who are making important contributions to their communities.
Paul Nasser's professional background encompasses various aspects of the real estate finance industry. As President of Intercontinental Real Estate, he oversees the firm's resources across investment and operating disciplines. Prior to joining Intercontinental in 2000, he was Senior Vice President and Team Leader in Fleet's Real Estate Finance Group, managing a real estate portfolio of over $1 billion. Before joining Fleet in 1991, he held several senior management positions in the banking industry.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Nasser is actively involved in many civic, industry, and charitable organizations. He is a previous President of the Greater Boston Board of REFA and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Chapter of NAIOP and the Board of Trustees for Tufts Medical Center. He holds memberships with REFA, the Treasurer's Club of Boston, NCREIF, NAREIM, and PREA. He has also served as Chairman of the NAIOP's Massachusetts Chapter, Director of the National Board of Directors of NAIOP in Washington, D.C., Chairman of the Advisory Board for St. John the Evangelist School, Beverly, MA, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for St. John's Preparatory School, Danvers, MA, and a member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts. In 2015, Mr. Nasser was named CFO of the Year for Midsize Private Companies by the Boston Business Journal. He is a guest lecturer at several universities, including the University of New Hampshire, Boston University, and Roger Williams University, and holds a BA in Urban Planning from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from Suffolk University.
