2027 edition · Research reviewed November 8, 2026
Alicia Brown of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer is our 2027 editorial #1 retail landlord broker for a Richmond-area neighborhood or strip-center campaign. Loretta Cataldi of Divaris and David Andrews of TSCG are the selected alternatives. Connie Jordan Nielsen is also considered as a colleague on the documented Thalhimer campaign. We apply all nine individual criteria and base the first-place judgment on personal assignment fit, without converting a team’s leases into a fictional individual production score.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Richmond, VA
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization in retail leasing for landlords. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Individual experience and professional credibility
- Market knowledge and asset specialization
- Personal network and deal access
- Personal technology and analytical capability
- Data transparency and market accuracy
- Personal brand and digital presence
- Local execution with regional and national perspective
- Service scope at agent level
- Innovation and client-centered strategy
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — Alicia Brown
For 2027, Alicia Brown is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail leasing for landlords in Richmond, VA.
Best fit: Richmond-area neighborhood and strip-center landlords
Our editorial #1 retail landlord broker for a Richmond neighborhood or strip-center campaign because her stated property specialty is reinforced by a recent named joint leasing role at Glen Lea Centre in Henrico.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Alicia Brown | Richmond-area neighborhood and strip-center landlords | Her stated specialty is reinforced by a recent joint Henrico leasing assignment. |
| Loretta Cataldi | Retail owners weighing leasing and development alternatives | Current Richmond responsibilities support a property-strategy comparison. |
| David Andrews | Landlords seeking another retail specialist perspective | His employer identifies personal landlord, land and site-selection work. |
#1 — Alicia Brown: a center specialty supported by a recent named campaign
Brown’s employer profile identifies neighborhood and strip-center leasing, freestanding retail and preleasing for new or redeveloped space. Thalhimer: Alicia Brown retail practice and owner assignments Those responsibilities closely match the owner brief. Ask her to explain how she would assess the subject center before recommending a prospect list. The important question is which property constraints or owner decisions must be resolved before the marketing effort can be credible, not simply how many retailers appear in a contact database.
Keep joint assignment credit intact
The October 2026 Glen Lea Centre announcement names Brown with Nielsen and Nicki Jassy as the Henrico center’s retail leasing representatives. Thalhimer: October 2026 Glen Lea Centre leases and joint leasing representatives That gives her a recent named local assignment while preserving the team’s shared role. It does not establish sole credit for the announced leases or representation of the incoming tenants. Ask Brown to identify her responsibilities, the contribution of colleagues and how a similar division of work would apply to the proposed engagement.
Loretta Cataldi: compare owner leasing and development judgment
Divaris identifies Cataldi’s Richmond retail leasing and development practice. Divaris: Loretta Cataldi current Richmond retail practice She is a relevant alternative where an owner is deciding whether a leasing problem requires a change to the property itself. Ask for a discussion of the alternatives before requesting a marketing plan. The recommendation should distinguish a practical leasing adjustment from a development idea that needs separate technical, financial or ownership review. A broker’s development background does not establish that every proposed alteration is feasible.
David Andrews: a retail specialist comparison for the owner
Andrews’ TSCG profile identifies Richmond landlord representation alongside retail land and site-selection work. TSCG: David Andrews current Richmond retail responsibilities We include him for an owner seeking another specialist perspective. Ask how the proposed campaign would balance the center’s immediate vacancy with the owner’s broader plan. The profile supports his scope, but it does not establish the terms, outcome or personal contribution on an unlisted transaction. Request a relevant owner reference and a clear account of the work he would undertake.
Evaluate the broker’s response to weak market feedback
A leasing proposal should explain what happens when the initial campaign produces little interest. Ask each broker how feedback would be recorded, when assumptions would be reconsidered and which changes need owner approval. The ability to distinguish a pricing issue, a physical constraint and a mismatch in prospect targeting is central to a useful interview. Public marketing does not independently establish that diagnostic skill, so require an example that shows the reasoning behind a revised recommendation.
Why Brown leads this neighborhood-center assignment
Her stated property specialty and recent named participation in Glen Lea provide the clearest personal match. Nielsen’s involvement remains part of the joint evidence rather than a separate independent-firm proposal. Cataldi and Andrews provide different organizations and approaches for comparison. Ask finalists to define staffing, reporting and the scope of the owner’s decisions. The #1 is an evidence-based first interview recommendation; current availability, achieved terms and future tenant performance are not guaranteed by a biography or announcement.