Bay Area CRE Rising Stars: Development & Construction Rising Star

Next Generation Leaders Shape Bay Area’s Built Environment Through Innovation and Execution

The Bay Area’s development and construction sector continues to evolve through the vision and execution of a new generation of leaders. Seven professionals have earned recognition for their exceptional work delivering transformative projects that address the region’s most pressing needs, from workforce housing and logistics innovation to healthcare facilities and mixed-use developments.

Courtney Bell

Courtney Bell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-bell-15467117/), Vice President of Development Management for Entitlements at Prologis, exemplifies the ambition and innovative mindset of the next generation of development professionals shaping Bay Area commercial real estate. Her leadership, strategic thinking, and commitment to her craft has fast-tracked her journey from development manager to vice president of development in under five years.

Bell’s achievements and impact are best demonstrated through her work leading Prologis’ SF Gateway project—a first-of-its-kind multi-story production, distribution, and repair facility in the Bayview Hunters Point submarket that reimagines how PDR uses can fit within an urban environment. As development lead, she guided the project through a challenging and complex entitlement process, with her leadership, expertise in real estate and energy, and tenacity for problem solving being pivotal to advancing the project through to Board of Supervisors approval in November 2025.

A champion for community-centric development, Bell led local engagement for the past five years, ensuring SF Gateway will be a transformative, enduring project that benefits the city’s residents and business community for generations. The project will bring 1.6 million square feet of space across two multi-story facilities designed to support a range of businesses. Its multi-level ramped design—among the first of its kind on the West Coast—will enable vehicles to access upper levels while maintaining active ground floor maker and retail spaces that enliven the street.

SF Gateway’s extensive sustainability and resilience features include a significant rooftop solar array, EV charging infrastructure, and energy-efficient design. The project is expected to generate 2,100 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent onsite PDR jobs at full build out, providing reliable workforce opportunities for residents and citywide economic benefits. It also invests in streetscape and infrastructure upgrades and funds programs for early education, small businesses, workforce training, and public art, further strengthening the community and the city’s economic growth.

Bell has also led entitlement efforts for projects spanning over 9.5 million square feet across more than 430 acres throughout Northern California. She recently took on a new team lead role within Prologis’ Entitlements department, where she oversees the team responsible for delivering complex entitlements for projects throughout Northern California, from infill logistics projects and data centers to business lines outside the traditional commercial real estate realm, such as mobility.

Bell’s impact on Bay Area commercial real estate extends beyond her tenure at Prologis. Prior to pursuing a master’s degree in real estate development and design from UC Berkeley, she served as a project manager working on the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of Pier 70’s historic industrial core buildings. An active member of NAIOP and BREAA, Bell gives back to her community through mentorship, thought leadership, and networking. While pursuing her master’s degree at UC Berkeley, Bell won the NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area Chapter’s 31st Annual Real Estate Challenge, a real estate development competition between graduate students at UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

Lizzie Deaver

Lizzie Deaver (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-sturr-deaver-9969b156/), Project Manager at Fifth Space (formerly Associate Capital), exemplifies the initiative and commitment required to deliver workforce housing in San Francisco. As project manager for The Sophie Maxwell Building, the very first building of the 29-acre Power Station redevelopment, Deaver demonstrated that delivering high-quality homes for teachers, firefighters, electricians, and nurses shouldn’t be exceptional—but today, it is.

The Sophie Maxwell Building provides 105 new residences offered to the people who make San Francisco function. As Sophie Maxwell herself states, it’s “essential housing” and a tangible commitment to the people of this city. The building finished three months ahead of schedule, and remarkably, the developer had no real incentive to finish early. A gating issue existed: residents couldn’t move in until surrounding streets and infrastructure were complete.

However, Swinerton, the general contractor, would benefit if the building delivered ahead of schedule. Deaver pushed—not because it was advantageous to her, but because she is a selfless partner who treats her contractor’s success as her own. With extensive expertise, having been involved in the delivery of more than 1,000 homes, and a disarming charm, Deaver set a tone of shared ownership, a quality that is all-too-uncommon today.

One vignette from this project exemplifies her approach. A critical device required to complete the building’s phone line went missing in transit. UPS reported it as lost. Most people would have accepted that answer. Deaver didn’t. She got on a scooter—in the cold rain—and rode to the UPS warehouse near SFO to find it herself. And she did. It was the difference between a delay and an on-time milestone, and it happened because Deaver refuses to let obstacles become excuses.

Deaver is a highly contagious champion of culture: everyone on the construction site felt proud to be part of the project. She organized shared meals for the crew and created merchandise that acknowledged every subcontractor and consultant who made the building possible. When it came time to stage the units, she didn’t outsource the task. She selected each piece of furniture, curated the art—some from her own home—and walked the units herself to ensure the spaces are dignified and welcoming to those who would soon call them home.

Deaver possesses the complete toolkit: a design background, a builder’s pragmatism, and a developer’s strategic judgment. She is equally at home at a concrete pour as she is at a design charette or investment committee. She also makes time to serve on the board of Rebuilding Together San Francisco, further demonstrating her commitment to this city. At a critical time when San Francisco faces an urgent housing shortage, Deaver represents the next generation of development leadership.

Chris DeHaan

Chris DeHaan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdehaan/), Vice President at Sares Regis Group of Northern California, is an exceptional candidate for recognition as a rising star. His work reflects not only a deep mastery of the development process but also the vision and leadership qualities that will continue to shape the Bay Area’s built environment for years to come.

DeHaan has played a central role in delivering some of SRGNC’s most impactful projects across the region. His leadership on a wide variety of transformative developments—including the Colonnade apartments in Los Altos, The Ashton condominiums in Belmont, Firehouse Square affordable housing and market rate townhomes in Belmont, Capitol Square retail in Fremont, and 1001 Shoreline apartments (now Avelle) in Mountain View—demonstrates his ability to guide projects through every stage, from entitlements to construction, lease-up, and successful sale.

DeHaan led entitlements for the 505 East Bayshore townhomes in Redwood City and is currently spearheading financing for the next phase at 1001 Shoreline, known as Block B, in addition to contributing to two large-scale master plans that will further define the future of Northern California real estate. Each of these projects underscores his ability to deliver thoughtful, complex, and high-value developments that serve both his firm and the community.

Beyond his project work, DeHaan has built a reputation as a collaborative leader and mentor. Within SRGNC, he is recognized for balancing technical excellence with a supportive, team-oriented approach, helping colleagues grow while holding projects to the highest standard. He combines strategic foresight with a hands-on management style, enabling him to navigate challenges with creativity and professionalism.

DeHaan’s influence also extends well beyond his firm. He has been deeply involved with the Urban Land Institute for years, serving in leadership roles that amplify his impact across the Bay Area’s commercial real estate community. Currently Vice Chair of the Bay Area Programs Committee, he is slated to step into the Chair role next year and join the Executive Board of the ULI San Francisco District Council. He is also currently a member of ULI’s Silicon Valley Programs Committee. His prior service includes four years on the Young Leaders Group Steering Committee, where he capped his tenure as Co-Chair in 2022 and 2023.

DeHaan’s early involvement with the Housing Action Coalition, where he served on the Project Review Committee, reflects a long-standing commitment to addressing the region’s housing challenges and supporting responsible development. Looking ahead, his influence is set to expand significantly through his upcoming leadership roles at ULI, where he will help shape programming and thought leadership for one of the most dynamic commercial real estate regions in the country.

Derek Fitzgerald

Derek Fitzgerald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekfitzgerald/), Senior Vice President and San Francisco Business Unit Leader at McCarthy Building Companies, has shown a commitment to excellence, leadership, and inclusivity that marks him as a rising star in the development and construction industry. Throughout his decade-long career at McCarthy, Fitzgerald oversees 200 partners and significant projects up to 500 million dollars, driving more than 600 million dollars of revenue in the Bay Area annually.

Fitzgerald’s leadership style—a blend of vision, dedication, empathy, and strategic thinking—inspires team members and fosters strong relationships with partners and clients. A significant achievement is his participation in developing JOIN software, a collaborative project delivery platform that provides cost transparency across the industry. Fitzgerald was instrumental in its creation, exemplifying a dedication to cost planning and transparency. The adoption of JOIN, which houses 250 billion dollars worth of projects worldwide, by McCarthy across over 400 projects fosters certainty and trust for clients dealing with high stakes and large-scale developments.

Another notable achievement includes Fitzgerald’s role in initiating and leading the first-ever Pride celebration at McCarthy. His past experience in an environment where he felt underrepresented as an LGBTQ+ individual was a powerful motivator for change in an industry that has historically and systematically had a lack of diverse representation. Not only did the initiative celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, but it also fostered meaningful conversations around inclusivity and representation. The continued success of the program’s annual celebrations showcases Fitzgerald’s ability to create lasting change at McCarthy.

Fitzgerald is actively involved in the BuildOUT for California initiative, which promotes sustainable growth for LGBTQ+ businesses in the industry. His advocacy extends further: Fitzgerald played a major role in kicking off McCarthy’s commitment to achieving 20 percent engagement and contracting with minority-owned businesses in Northern California. He leverages his position as Business Unit Leader to guarantee progress is being made towards this goal by making sure McCarthy pursues opportunities that include diverse spend with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise partners.

Fitzgerald’s belief in the power of diverse perspectives and dedication to authenticity and mentorship drive better outcomes by creating and inspiring cross-functional teams that deliver meaningful projects for clients and the community. These projects cover a wide range of spaces, ultimately benefiting people throughout the region. His forward-looking vision for a more inclusive industry, anchored by actionable initiatives and partnerships, shows that he is a thought leader and a role model for future generations of leaders in development and construction.

Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. His academic foundation, combined with practical experience, equips him to tackle complex challenges with confidence, and his impact reverberates throughout McCarthy. His commitment to lasting success is a testament to his unwavering dedication.

David Sharkey

David Sharkey (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sharkey-iii-90633675/), Project Executive at Skanska USA Building, is recognized for his innovation and leadership in the healthcare construction sector. With 12 years of experience at Skanska, Sharkey has consistently shown professional excellence and a significant impact on the commercial real estate industry, particularly in the complex healthcare sector.

Starting as a project engineer and advancing to project executive, Sharkey has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovative problem-solving in executing numerous large-scale healthcare projects across the Bay Area. His work on the Sutter Health Samaritan Court Ambulatory Care and Surgery Center is a prime example. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharkey and his team faced unprecedented supply chain disruptions. In response, they implemented advanced construction technologies, including Takt Planning, a scheduling method that synchronizes work across trades, creating a continuous and predictable workflow that minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency.

This groundbreaking approach ensured continuous workflow and adhered to strict social distancing protocols, leading to project completion three months ahead of schedule and nearly three million dollars in cost savings for the client. This achievement highlights his ability to navigate complex challenges with foresight and efficiency.

Sharkey’s expertise extends beyond project management; he is a recognized thought leader in driving process improvements and operational efficiencies within the construction industry. His proactive adoption of cutting-edge tools like Dusty Robotics, robotic and AI production tracking, and virtual punchlist tools has resulted in enhanced production management, accelerated project schedules, and significant cost reductions.

His commitment to sharing this knowledge is evident in his selection as a speaker to present a case study on Takt Planning at the 25th Annual LCI Lean Construction Congress in 2023. Sharkey’s dedication is further underscored by his active participation in various industry events and his influential memberships in the National Continuous Improvement Committee and the National Tech Enablement Concierge Network within Skanska.

Sharkey’s ability to cultivate robust client relationships is especially noteworthy. Over the past seven years, he has built a close and lasting partnership with Sutter Health, managing multiple projects through diverse phases and demonstrating a deep understanding of client needs and a commitment to long-term success. These projects include medical office buildings, ambulatory surgery centers, tenant improvements, and adaptive re-use, ranging from small remodels to large-scale new construction.

His contributions and influence were formally acknowledged when he was recognized as one of GlobeSt.com’s 2023 Healthcare and Senior Housing Influencers, a clear indicator of his standing as an emerging leader in the field. Further underscoring his impact, his work on the Samaritan Court Project for Sutter Health recently earned the annual LCI Engineering Design Award.

Garrett Walton and John Meany

Garrett Walton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-walton-a5204533/), Project Executive at Presidio Bay Ventures, and John Meany (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-meany-94262bb5/), member of Presidio Bay Ventures’ Acquisitions & Development team, have demonstrated exceptional leadership in Bay Area commercial real estate development.

Walton guides projects from concept through completion, overseeing design development, permitting, preconstruction, and construction management. His work spans ground-up developments, multifamily communities, and tenant improvement projects, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes that enhance both the built environment and the communities they serve.

In 2025, Walton led the completion of 388 Cambridge, a ground-up premier class-A office and retail development in Palo Alto, and played a pivotal role in launching One Montgomery, EMPIRE’s new headquarters and a symbol of San Francisco’s commercial real estate recovery. Acting as Owner’s Representative, he guided the design launch and preconstruction general contractor selection, setting the foundation for what will become a landmark workplace.

Walton also managed the buildout of Causwells’ newest location at Springline in Menlo Park and previously supported the delivery of 777 Industrial, a class-A life science and R&D building in the heart of San Carlos. Beyond project delivery, Walton contributes strategically to financial planning, budgeting, lease negotiations, and tenant improvement decisions, showing a rare combination of construction expertise and business acumen. With over twelve years of experience leading high-impact development projects, he has proven himself as a trusted and innovative leader.

Meany has swiftly emerged as one of the Bay Area’s most promising young leaders in real estate development. Since joining the firm in 2022, he has demonstrated exceptional vision, technical acumen, and strategic insight across some of the region’s most complex and high-impact projects, helping shape Presidio Bay’s growing portfolio and advancing transformative investments throughout Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

In just two years, Meany has played a pivotal role in acquiring, repositioning, and entitling assets that exemplify Presidio Bay’s forward-thinking approach to placemaking. He led the acquisition of 345 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park, a 17-acre campus formerly occupied by the U.S. Geological Survey, setting the foundation for its next chapter as a vibrant mixed-use innovation hub.

Meany also oversaw the lease-up and recapitalization of Ventana Residences, a 193-unit apartment community in San Francisco that underscores Presidio Bay’s commitment to high-quality urban living, and guided the acquisition of Olume, a 121-unit multifamily property in the city’s Mid-Market District, further expanding the firm’s residential platform.

Most notably, Meany is managing the entitlement of Sequence (formerly Charleston Plaza) in Mountain View—an 11-acre former big-box retail site being reimagined as a dynamic mixed-use destination. Under his leadership, the project successfully advanced through Mountain View’s highly competitive Gatekeeper process in September 2024, securing authorization to proceed with formal planning. This milestone positions Sequence as one of the city’s most significant redevelopment efforts in the coming years.

Before joining Presidio Bay, Meany served as Assistant Vice President in Newmark’s Multifamily Capital Markets Debt & Structured Finance group, where he originated and underwrote loans through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other institutional capital sources. This foundation in capital markets provides him with a rare dual fluency—bridging the financial and physical dimensions of real estate development—and distinguishes his approach to navigating complex transactions.

Meany holds a master’s in real estate from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Virginia. With a clear eye for opportunity, a collaborative leadership style, and an unwavering commitment to thoughtful, community-driven development, both Walton and Meany exemplify the next generation of innovators shaping the future of the Bay Area’s built environment.