
About
Professional Summary
As Vice President, Marketing Operations & Strategy for the U.S. & LATAM Brand, Insights & Innovation Group (BIIG), I am responsible for strategic marketing operations nationally and regionally, with oversight over national service line and practice group marketing, events, and regional marketing. Operations of the team includes the oversight and development of platform resources, structure and connectivity, strategic brand awareness, organization of key industry events, development of thought leadership in partnership with research, as well as the creative compilation and dissemination of nationally and regionally driven marketing collateral and communications both internally and externally.
My team and I are committed to streamlining communication, centralizing organization and processes, optimizing team dynamics and leveraging an enterprise mindset.
Education
Kristin graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business Administration.
Services
Property Type
My Team
My Team
Kelly is the Marketing Manager for the U.S. Brokerage Services team. She serves as a strategic partner for the U.S. Healthcare Services and U.S. Office Agency Services platforms by leading operations and business development initiatives, organizing industry events and supporting national practice groups and the U.S. Executive Leadership Team.
Kelly joined Colliers in 2016 as a Project Coordinator on the US Brokerage Services team and worked strategically with the service lines and practice groups. Prior to joining Colliers, Kelly served as a Graphics Coordinator at HFF in Washington, DC working with regional teams on all platforms to create and execute the marketing and pitch materials.
In her role as Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing | West Region for Colliers, Vanessa Williams oversees a talented team of marketing and research professionals across the Western United Stats. Serving as business partner and advisor to the regional president, division leadership and local markets across the Southwestern Region, Vanessa is tasked with developing a highly effective salesforce to achieve organic growth and continuously increase market share for Colliers.
Collaborating with regional and local leadership teams and brokers, Vanessa is focused on developing and implementing marketing and research strategies to position the region as a leader in the commercial real estate industry through innovative and measurable tactics. Her goal is to elevate marketing and research teams to operate as strategic partners to Colliers’ brokers.
Working closely with key support functions, Vanessa assists in managing the business development process, the identification and qualification of opportunities, and the assignment of new opportunities to local or regional pursuit resources and/or the national Business Development Center. She is accountable for developing the structure and resources required to execute business development plans for the region.
Regional team:
The Colliers Regional Strategic Projects Team comprises the most talented and experienced professionals across the region. The team serves as strategic advisors to Colliers’ brokers and clients and partners with national marketing and research leaders to cascade regional initiatives and objectives to local markets.
Under the direction of the Director of Business Development and Strategic Resources, the regional team leads a network of marketing experts to develop actionable marketing initiatives, champion the adoption of new technology, and identify and implement best-in-class marketing processes and practices. The team is responsible for developing avenues to strategically partner with business line leaders to target and win new business.
The team’s approach blends the insight and imagination of incredible people who see endless possibilities. We foster a culture of innovation and collaboration that informs, connects and advances the interests of our clients and professionals through business development, property marketing, digital engagement, research and public relations. Our fully internal regional team takes advantage of a comprehensive set of tools and resources, with expertise in all areas of commercial real estate marketing. We create high-quality content that tells a story and is useful, relevant and thought-provoking.
Background:
Previously Vanessa served as marketing director for Colliers in Arizona and regional marketing ambassador for Colliers’ Southwest Region, where she fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration that informs, connects and advances the interests of clients and professionals through business development, property marketing, public relations and digital engagement.
As marketing director for Arizona, Vanessa led an innovative marketing team strongly focused on business development. Her young and innovative approach resulted in new strategies for commercial real estate marketing, focused on the growing influence of social media and the changing landscape of the new economy. As a vital client-facing professional, Vanessa has been actively involved with brokerage professionals in pitching new business. Throughout the creative process, she worked hand-in-hand with brokers and staff to develop highly effective marketing concepts and strategies.
As regional marketing ambassador for the Southwest Region, Vanessa partnered with regional and national marketing leaders to cascade regional initiatives and objectives to local marketing directors, managers and Colliers Centers of Excellence leaders. She guided a network of marketing experts to develop actionable marketing initiatives, champion the adoption of new technology, and identify and implement best-in-class marketing processes and practices. Working with local marketing managers and directors, Vanessa found avenues to strategically partner with business line leaders to target and win new business.
Her work with Colliers has allowed Vanessa to combine her passion for growing the company’s business through marketing with her commitment to values and ethics. She joined Colliers in 2015, with enthusiasm for the company’s unique value-based culture and is dedicated to moving that mission forward.
Vanessa demonstrates exceptional skill and expertise in several core components of marketing, including business development, branding, asset positioning, property-marketing campaigns, public relations and advertising. She brings more than 14 years of extensive experience and knowledge in all aspects of marketing, business development and graphic design.
Her tenure in the commercial real estate industry began in 2007, when she served as a graphic designer at Grubb & Ellis. Vanessa left the commercial real estate industry for a few years to hone her skills at Campbell Fisher Design (now known as Fisher). She returned to commercial real estate in 2013, joining Cushman & Wakefield as manager of its marketing department for Arizona.
As the Director of Business Development & Strategic Resources for the Northeast Region, I serve as a business partner and advisor to the regional president, division leadership and local marketing and research experts for all offices throughout the northeastern United States. In my role, I bring management and oversight to the local office marketing and research teams, striving to deliver tools, resources, and best practices to optimize processes and final deliverables, all resulting in first-class client service. Whether it is bolstering creative collateral, preparing impactful content, or focusing on strategic business development, I am a team player truly energized by the opportunity to bring the right people and tools together for any given project.
Prior to commencing my regional role in October 2020, I served for five years as the director of marketing for Colliers in Boston, working alongside the brokerage, marketing, research, and operations teams to support business development pursuits, execute property marketing campaigns, drive public relations and team positioning efforts, and encourage internal communications for the benefit of enhancing workplace culture and relationships. Before the director of marketing role, I spent another five years working directly with Colliers Boston's suburban leasing team in a hybrid role that spanned a diverse array of marketing, research, brokerage, and operations type responsibilities.
Before Colliers, I spent four years as an associate with a real estate brokerage firm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, working with an elite industrial brokerage team in a true distribution hub market. I developed an interest in and appreciation for supply chain decisions and logistics management, learning that there is much more than meets the eye with what most would perceive as “gritty” warehouse buildings. This experience also afforded me opportunities to learn about different aspects of real estate above and beyond just leasing and disposition, including, but not limited to, property management, development, marketing and research – all invaluable exposure as I now interact with departments within Colliers specializing in each of these disciplines.
In this high energy, competitive industry, I strive to maintain a strong work ethic and calm temperament in my pursuit to provide the highest level of service and support to clients and colleagues. Beyond the office, I enjoy relaxing with family and friends, traveling, and tackling an endless list of home improvement projects.
Kris Mitchell
Director of Business Development & Strategic Resources, Southeast & Mid-Central Regions
Fort Lauderdale
Kris has over eleven years of experience in client service and marketing in the commercial real estate industry. As the Director of Business Development and Strategic Resources for the Southeast and Mid-Central Regions, he is responsible for supporting a team of more than 100 skilled marketing and research experts across the region in 16 markets. He serves as a strategic business partner and advisor to the regional president, division leadership, managing directors, and markets.
Through his partnership with local and regional leadership teams, Kris uses creative strategies to elevate service while providing a consistent client experience and improving on our ability to mobilize our client strategy and business development opportunities.
Meiyi Tang joined Colliers in 2021 as the Marketing Manager for U.S. Industrial Services. Meiyi's role is to strategically market the Colliers' U.S. Industrial platform, which consists of 600+ industrial professionals. She previously worked at Newmark’s Global Corporate Services in marketing and business development , where she led the development of solutions material such as proposals and presentations. Prior to Newmark, she worked as the Creative Manager at Marcus Millichap, overseeing marketing strategies for retail and office investment brokers.
Morgan Carden is the Marketing Manager for U.S. Valuation & Advisory Services. Shen provides advanced marketing support to enhance the service line’s offering to the marketplace. She assists in developing innovative marketing strategies with special focus on recruitment, business development, and brand awareness by utilizing a variety of outlets, including digital and social media marketing opportunities.
As a results-driven professional with 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, Morgan recognizes the value of a collaborative environment and strong relationships to support the success of the service line and its clients. She has built a unique skill set and knowledge base leveraging her comprehensive experience in real estate and marketing strategies.
Morgan joined Colliers in 2016, as Senior Client Services Specialist for the 10-member Arizona Retail Services Team, significantly elevating marketing services for the team. In 2018, she transitioned to supporting the top-producing office and education services team led by Todd Noel in the Arizona office.
Prior to joining Colliers, Morgan was a Senior Brokerage Coordinator for Capital Markets with Cushman & Wakefield in Phoenix, providing marketing and sales support to multifamily and retail investment brokers.
Morgan’s extensive background includes more than 10 years as a strategic business and property manager for high-profile property management firms. She honed a diverse skill set in leasing, sales, marketing, accounting, budgeting, bid review, asset evaluation, construction, and maintenance. Morgan consistently grew occupancy and returned properties to stable operations.