Lissette M. Calderon

Lissette M. Calderon was recently named President of International and Strategic Projects, making her the first female divisional president for the global real estate group.

Calderon will work directly with Jorge Perez, Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, to develop and expand Related internationally, pursuing opportunities in Spain, as well as Mexico, India, Brazil and Panama. The group is also looking for strategic opportunities to develop and expand its domestic presence and provide benefits to the company’s stakeholders. Perez, who appointed Calderon to the position, commented on Calderon as a real estate professional.

“I am very pleased that Lissette has rejoined our team in this important executive position,” said Perez “She has had an outstanding career and is a brilliant, energetic and visionary real estate professional.  I am looking forward to opening and developing new markets together.”

Calderon worked as Project Manager and then Senior Project Manager at Related in the 1990s before founding her own company in 2002 and developing NeoLofts, the first residential project on the banks of the Miami River that prompted the transformation of a neglected warehouse area into a now-vibrant urban neighborhood. After finding success in the real estate industry on her own, Calderon is proud to return to Related.

“I am proud to return to Related after all these years as President of International and Strategic Projects,” said Calderon. “Jorge is one of a few men to place a woman in this capacity at such a high-ranking executive position within a global real estate investment and development company. He is a true visionary.”

In addition to real estate development, Calderon expanded her interests to invest in technology and construction-related firms, based primarily within Florida. A LEED Accredited Professional, Calderon graduated cum laude from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in finance, real estate and multinational management. In 2003, she was named South Florida’s “Up and Comer” for the real estate and construction industries.

Aside from her career as a real estate professional, Calderon has held board positions with Amigos for Kids, a non-profit organization serving South Florida’s abused and neglected children, for the past 10 years. She was awarded the March of Dimes’ Building Our Community award in 2006 for the real estate and construction category.