Contact:
JoAnn Loviglio
T 215.440.5546
jloviglio@centercityphila.org
pr@centercityphila.org
PHILADELPHIA (May 12, 2025) — The Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of four distinguished real estate and business leaders to its Board of Directors’ Executive Committee. These new members bring exceptional expertise in real estate development, finance, law, and commercial property management to help advance CPDC's mission of promoting economic growth and development in Center City Philadelphia.
"We are thrilled to have these accomplished professionals as the new CPDC Executive Committee," said Prema Katari Gupta, Executive Director of CPDC. "Their decades of collective expertise in commercial real estate, development, finance, and law are invaluable as we continue to strengthen Center City Philadelphia's position as a premier location for business, culture, and residential living."
The new appointees are:
Valerija (Rija) Beares, President
Greater Philadelphia Market Leader, CBRE
Rija Beares oversees more than 435 full-time employees as CBRE Market Leader for the Greater Philadelphia Region, which includes downtown and suburban Philadelphia, Delaware, Southern New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, and Central Pennsylvania. She is responsible for driving the company's growth strategy and delivering integrated client solutions across CBRE's Advisory Services business. Since joining CBRE in 2002, Beares has been involved in some of the most significant office transactions in the Philadelphia region and globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Management & Analysis and Supply Chain Management from Shippensburg University. Beares is the first woman to lead the executive committee since its founding in 1956.
Brian Berson, Vice President
President, Parkway Commercial Properties Inc.
Brian Berson oversees Parkway Corporation's growing real estate portfolio and development across a national and expanding land bank. Under his leadership, Parkway recently delivered a 360,000-square-foot trophy office building leased by Morgan Lewis, a multifamily project in the Old City neighborhood that achieved 95% leasing in just three months, and is currently constructing another 550,000-square-foot trophy office building leased entirely by Chubb. With 25 years of industry experience, Berson has developed over $2 billion worth of real estate. He holds a master’s degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Architecture.
Matthew N. McClure, Vice President
Partner, Ballard Spahr
Matthew McClure serves as Team Leader of Ballard Spahr's Zoning and Land Use Team and is a member of the firm's Elected Board. He counsels developers, nonprofits, and universities on a full range of real estate matters, with emphasis on development, land use, zoning, and historic preservation. Before joining the firm, McClure handled media relations for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and worked in the office of then-Mayor Edward G. Rendell. His board service includes the East Falls Development Corporation, Lambda Alpha International Philadelphia chapter, the 3rd Century Initiative of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center.
Christopher W. Rosenbleeth, Treasurer
Chair, Finance and Real Estate, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
Chris Rosenbleeth represents banks, equity investors, developers, corporate clients, and strategic investors in their real estate, finance, and investment activities. His versatile practice includes advising secured lenders in acquisition, real estate development, construction, and other financing transactions. Rosenbleeth holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola College and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law. He serves on the ULI Philadelphia Advisory Board, the Content and Governmental Affairs Committees of NAIOP Philadelphia, and is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
Ajamu Johnson, Secretary
Vice President of Procurement, Comcast NBCUniversal
Ajamu Johnson leads a team responsible for establishing corporate policy, strategy, and objectives to maximize supplier inclusion and sustainability with Comcast’s (including NBCUniversal and Sky) vendor partners. The activities led by his team helped Comcast and NBCUniversal cultivate more than $40 billion in contracting activity with diverse and small businesses during the past decade. Johnson earned a degree in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University and is a graduate of UCLA’s Executive Leadership Development Program and the Leadership Philadelphia CORE Program.
James Pearlstein, Chair (emeritus)
James Pearlstein is the founder and president of Pearl Properties, where he jointly oversees the acquisition, development and management departments of the company. Before founding Pearl, he directed special acquisitions at Toll Brothers Inc. for five years. Pearlstein graduated from Georgetown University in 1990 with a B.A. and went on to receive a J.D./MBA from Temple University’s law school and business school. Among other endeavors, Pearlstein is an original member of the Executive Committee of Georgetown University’s Steers Center for Global Real Estate.
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About CCD:
Center City District (CCD), partner to property owners and downtown stakeholders, is the steward and advocate for a clean, safe, and thriving Center City Philadelphia as the heart of commerce, culture, and connection, generating opportunity and prosperity for the entire city and region.
About CPDC:
Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) is a nonprofit business leadership organization affiliated with and managed by the Center City District and serves as a vehicle for planning, advocacy and civic engagement for projects and initiatives that enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of downtown Philadelphia.