Board Member Focus: Briana Harney
Briana Harney is a capital markets expert who is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry. As Vice President of Debt & Equity at NorthMarq Capital she is breaking barriers in the traditionally male dominated environment of commercial real estate finance. In her role, Harney finances all commercial property types throughout the Bay Area and brings her clients a depth of experience in multifamily, office, mixed-use and industrial product types. Through the course of her career, she has built a substantial expertise in structured finance transactions and construction financing.
Whether it is a construction deal or an existing asset, knowing that she was part of the team that got “that” building built or financed the acquisition of “that” property is what Harney finds most rewarding. “Finding the best available capital markets solution for my clients is the most fulfilling part of my career,” she said. “Closing a deal, especially a complex one, is like winning the Big Game. It takes a true team effort in an often time-pressured, tense environment to successfully close a transaction. The collective effort is so rewarding to me.”
One of the recent deals that excited her most is The Launch at Alameda Marina. The development will be a beautiful, shining apartment community along the Oakland Estuary and is part of the larger Alameda Marina Master Plan that will transform nearly 1/3 mile of waterfront in Alameda. Additionally, it will be one of the first market-rate apartment communities to be built in Alameda in nearly 40 years. Harney and her team worked with Pacific Development / Bay West Group to source the JV equity as well as the construction debt. The Northmarq team went out to market in the midst of the COVID shutdown. “Ultimately, we found a great partner for the development and competitive construction debt. While the transaction was highly complex and marketing the deal during COVID was a challenge, the irreplaceability of the real estate reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place, Harney said. “Real estate is a living, breathing asset that once built may exist for 100+ years and characterize the community in which it exists.”
Additionally, Harney finds great satisfaction in her work within NAIOP. Her current roles as Board Member and Membership Committee Co-Chair give her ample opportunity to pursue her passion for diversity and inclusion. She believes the Chapter’s programs such as the Young Professionals Group (YPG), for those 35 years and younger, and the Commercial Real Estate Alliance for Tomorrow’s Employees (CREATE), for college students, are on the front lines of driving social change by attracting ambitious young professionals from diverse backgrounds to the industry. “These programs make me proud to be a NAIOP SFBA Leader and Board Member,” she said. “I envision a day where the entire deal team on a transaction is a diverse compilation of professionals that is more representative of the cities in which we work. We need to create an environment where everyone is comfortable being themselves, there is level pay and there are career growth opportunities for everyone.”
Harney joined NAIOP in 2015 as a Developing Leader and participated in the YPG class of 2016-17. Immediately after completing the program, she began serving on the YPG Alumni Committee. She then Co-Chaired the Committee for a year and a half before being asked to Co-Chair the Membership Committee. Aside from NAIOP, Harney serves on NorthMarq’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and through the Berkeley Real Estate Alumni Association(BREAA), she connects with and mentors graduating students about entering and rising in the industry.
In terms of advice for young professionals, Harney recommends working with people you admire, who are going to invest in your success, mentor you and sponsor you as you grow in your career. “I am unable to overstate how much company culture matters. Once you find that culture, it is your job to soak up all of the knowledge and skills that you can,” she said. “Work hard and never stop learning from the folks that have been working in the industry for 3, 5, 10, or even 30 years!”
On the personal front, Harney grew up in North San Diego County and originally “met” the Bay Area when she attended UC Berkeley as an Undergraduate. She moved back to San Diego for a few years after college and returned to the Bay Area for a career opportunity in 2009. Having attended the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business where she earned an MBA, she now has a strong network and deep ties to the Bay Area.
Harney lives in San Francisco and counts herself lucky to have a walking commute to the office. She makes her home in the lower Nob Hill neighborhood with her main side kick Wanda, a sassy little “chiweenie” (chihuahua dachshund mix) who keeps her on her toes and thoroughly entertained every day.
An accomplished athlete, Harney plays on the Olympic Club Field Hockey team which competes in club-level tournaments locally and nationally. They are the reigning National Champions, having won the USFHL Nationals in 2019. (No tournament was held in 2020). “We’ll be defending our title in July – wish us luck!” she said. “I am passionate about sports, exercise and a healthy balanced lifestyle. My newest challenge is perfecting my golf game – I think it is going to be a life-long pursuit!”
