Barbara Perrier (left), Val Achtemeier (top right), and Darla Longo.
Barbara Perrier, Val Achtemeier and Darla Longo
Vice chairs; vice chair and managing director at CBRE
Sisters Darla Longo and Barbara Perrier and their friend Val Achtemeier form one of the most formidable investment sales teams in Southern California. They’ve always been particularly active on the industrial side of the market — a tough trade for all sorts of reasons.
“It’s a little unusual, there’s not as many women in the industrial practice,” Perrier said. “We are very fortunate that we picked that practice. But I will tell you that, recently, Southern California has been a little bit more challenging, but that’s where we earn our stripes and our experience pays off, because we have had a little bit more difficulty with some of the tariffs and other challenges. But we’ve got a good depth of experience and are known for making things happen in Southern California.”
Even when things get difficult, this trio rises to the occasion. Over the last year they have completed 99 deals — including sales, financings, ground leases, joint ventures, land and lease transactions — totaling $8.6 billion in consideration.
“The three of us are really long-term believers in the value of Southern California industrial,” Longo said. “There’s been some headwinds, but we really believe that things are improving and getting better.”
They have 123 years of commercial real estate industry experience combined, and all three are active in their communities, offering philanthropic leadership to cancer nonprofit City of Hope, Ascencia homeless shelter, internship programs, the Urban Land Institute and CRE development association NAIOP.
And, throughout the greater CRE landscape, they offer their advice, insights and expertise as they mentor other women within the space through CBRE’s Women’s Network, which was created to advance the success of women in CRE careers.
“We’ve all been in the business for 35 to 47 years and we all try to be mentors to people, particularly young women,” Achtemeier said. “So we’re very invested at this stage of our lives in trying to give back and create better opportunities for people in the industry.”
