N
ational Development will receive the Swain Distinguished Service Award at the 37th Annual REFA Gala, taking place on Monday, November 3 at Boston’s Omni Seaport. The gala, Boston’s leading commercial real‑estate awards dinner, will honor the firm for more than four decades of service to the Greater Boston community and its leadership in demonstrating that social responsibility is essential to building and sustaining vibrant neighborhoods.

    The award recognizes National Development’s holistic approach—integrating best practices across its projects, supporting the communities it serves, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to REFA, the commercial real‑estate industry, and the broader Boston business ecosystem. The firm’s leadership team—CEO Brian Kavoogian, President Ed Marsteiner, CIO Andrew Gallinaro, CFO Steve Kinsella, and COO Charlie Rollins—has guided the company through a new chapter following the retirement of co‑founder Ted Tye, the last of the original partners. Under their direction, National Development has evolved into an institutional investment manager, deploying capital through a series of closed‑end funds while preserving an entrepreneurial spirit.

    REFA 2025 President Jill Sharif, VP of National Business Development for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company and National Commercial Services, will present the award. Co‑chairs of the gala, KPMG partner Peter Bloomfield and Elkus Manfredi Architects principal Elizabeth Lowrey, will also be present. The firm will receive the coveted Boston Harbor Bowl, designed by Shreve, Crump & Low, as a symbol of the honor.

    CEO Brian Kavoogian expressed his pride: “It is a great honor for National Development to be recognized by our peers in the Boston real‑estate community. On behalf of all our employees, I am incredibly proud of the culture we have built, our role in the community, and of our talented people who tackle complex challenges and deliver outstanding results that make a real impact.”

    National Development supports nearly 60 nonprofit organizations each year through financial contributions, pro‑bono services, and volunteerism. Its leaders serve on the boards of many of Greater Boston’s most influential nonprofits, reinforcing a strong culture of civic engagement. Long‑standing involvement with groups such as the Community Foundation for MetroWest and Heading Home exemplifies the firm’s commitment to giving back to the neighborhoods where it lives and works.

    Jill Sharif highlighted the firm’s transformative projects and vibrant communities: “National Development has been involved in some of the most transformative projects over its 40‑year history, creating vibrant communities. Whether in investment, development, or management, they are a partner in all aspects of commercial real estate. Their commitment to corporate responsibility is truly inspiring, as they consider the social impact of the communities they build and seek long‑term solutions that foster social and economic growth.”

    Elizabeth Lowrey, a previous Swain Award recipient and co‑chair of the gala for five consecutive years, praised the firm: “I couldn’t be prouder to present this year’s award to National Development. They are big thinkers, doing provocative and innovative development work—from creative programming to financing—and they are committed to building community. At the same time, they are down‑to‑earth, humble, and gracious partners.”

    National Development joins an elite list of past Swain Award recipients who have made outstanding contributions to the Greater Boston community, including Paul J. Nasser (Intercontinental Real Estate), Steve Samuels (Samuels & Associates), Paul Ayoub (Nutter), The Bulfinch Companies, WinnCompanies, Jon Davis (The Davis Companies), Pam Herbst (AEW), Tammy Jones (Basis Investment Group), Bryan Koop (Boston Properties), Elizabeth Lowrey (Elkus Manfredi Architects), David Manfredi (Elkus Manfredi Architects), Kirk Sykes (Accordia Partners), and former Mayor Thomas Menino.

    For more details on the 37th Annual REFA Gala, visit https://www.annualrefagala.com/. The Swain Distinguished Service Award, named in honor of the late Robert S. Swain, Jr., recognizes an outstanding contribution to the real‑estate industry—whether through lifetime example or specific achievement—reflecting Swain’s 33‑year legacy of respect and leadership in the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and the Mortgage Finance Committee that evolved into REFA.