Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith is co-founder and principal of The CenterCap Group, a  boutique investment bank providing strategic advisory, capital-raising and consulting related services to private and public sector companies and fund managers across the real assets industry. She heads the Stamford, CT-based firm’s strategic capital and M&A and execution efforts. During a difficult COVID-19 year, Smith worked with numerous firm clients to reposition their business strategies to remain competitive and relevant for their constituents (investors, employees and counter parties).  

These firm clients (real estate private equity firms and real estate operating companies alike) have benefited from her insight and advice on strategic positioning and platform value-enhancing activity during a challenging year. She guided clients both in the US and abroad on formation of corporate partnerships within co-living, impact investment, co-working and credit strategies. She also served as lead advisor to the special committee of Cole Office & Industrial REIT II in evaluating its eventual merger with Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT ($5.8 billion combined).  

Smith also wrote a number of thought leadership articles during the pandemic, providing industry insight and perspective on a number of topics including cold storage, logistics and social impact investment sectors. In an article written ahead of COVID-19, she highlighted the social impact investment avenues within multifamily–before it became a topic of true discussion within the industry. 

These are just a few of the reasons we chose Smith as one of the National 2021 Women in Real Estate Award winners. Connect CRE’s Women in Real Estate Awards honor the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected positions of leadership and play key mentorship roles for others.