MBA Presents Shekar Narasimhan, CMB, With the 2024 CREF Distinguished Service Award: #MBACREF24
(Mark Jones, left, with Shekar Narasimhan, CMB, right. Photo credit Anneliese Mahoney)
SAN DIEGO–The Mortgage Bankers Association awarded Shekar Narasimhan, CMB, Managing Partner at Beekman Advisors, Inc., with the 2024 Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF) Distinguished Service Award here at its Commercial/Multifamily Finance Convention and Expo.
“Shekar has been a leading voice and passionate leader for MBA and the commercial real estate industry throughout his career, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being recognized with this prestigious award,” said Mark Jones, MBA 2024 Chairman and President of Union Home Mortgage. “Shekar spearheaded MBA’s Commercial/Multifamily Board of Governors in its inaugural year and has never looked back, continuing to serve on several committees and councils with a goal of always pushing our industry forward.”
Currently Managing Partner at Beekman Advisors, Narasimhan provides strategic advisory services to companies and investors in the real state finance industry. Prior to joining Beekman, Narasimhan was a Managing Director at Prudential Mortgage Capital Company. Prior to that he served as the Chairman and CEO of the WMF Group, before it was acquired by Prudential in 2000. He is also a Co-Founder of the Remergent Communities Fund, an Opportunity Zone Fund, focusing on small towns and cities in the Southeast U.S., as well as serving as Chairman of Papillon Capital.
Narasimhan was the pioneering chairman of MBA’s Commercial/Multifamily Board of Governors (COMBOG) in 1998-1999 and founded its Multifamily Steering Committee. He has served several terms on MBA’s Board of Directors, working to set the strategic direction for MBA. Additionally, he is a member of numerous MBA councils, including the Affordable Rental Housing Advisory Council, the Investment Management Committee, the FHA Committee, and the CMB Society. He is also a previous recipient of MBA’s Burton C. Wood Legislative Service Award, in recognition of his sustained service to the association and the real estate finance industry.
What they are saying:
• “Shekar is an inspiration to me! He has such vast experience and has served our industry so well. We are all better informed and educated after having a discussion with Shekar!” – Christine Chandler, 2024 MBA Vice Chair and Chief Credit Officer and Chief Operating Officer, M&T Realty Capital Corporation
• “Shekar is the embodiment of an MBA member. He has served the entire industry through his thought leadership in rental housing finance, his service as a governmental policymaker, and as the first ever chair of MBA’s COMBOG.” – Mike Flood, Senior Vice President of Commercial/Multifamily, MBA
• “Shekar has always brought an engaged, thoughtful, and broad-minded presence to his MBA participation, and truly deserves this recognition.” – Jeff Weidell, CEO, Northmarq
• “Shekar’s influence can be felt in every corner and aspect of the industry. He is deserving of this Distinguished Service Award.” – Jeff Majewski, Executive Managing Director, CBRE
• “Shekar has worked tirelessly in support of so many issues critical to the MBA, its members, and the CRE industry. As the first COMBOG Chair, 25 years ago, Shekar continues to lead the charge on today’s most important issues facing the CRE industry and complexities around affordable housing solutions.” – Matt Rocco, 2023 MBA Chair and President, Colliers Mortgage
• “Shekar’s combination of thought-leadership, passion for affordable housing, and pragmatism are a model for how to get things done without ego or self-interest.” – Steve O’Connor, Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing Initiatives, MBA
Nominees for the CREF Distinguished Service Award must be associated with an MBA member firm, have a record of sustained and extraordinary service to MBA and the commercial/multifamily real estate finance industry, and possess a strong reputation of ethical and professional conduct. This award is the highest honor an individual can receive from fellow MBA CREF members.
