CBRE Group, Inc. announced that Andria Winters has joined the firm as senior director, business services on its advisory and transaction services team. In her new role, Winters will be managing the business operations for a team of highly accomplished real estate advisory and transactional professionals based in Chicago, serving clients both locally and across the globe.
Winters has an accomplished and diverse background in both the government and corporate sectors, holding executive posts at Intersect Illinois and the Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO), as well as multiple corporate positions at Motorola Mobility, Google and Lenovo. Most recently, Winters served as a key leader of the State of Illinois’ economic development and business recruitment initiatives. In 2015, she was appointed by the Governor as assistant director of DCEO, a position that requires Illinois Senate confirmation. In this role, she provided oversight for the entire agency of 360 employees and a $1 billion budget. Winters also launched the Illinois Innovation Council, comprised of senior executives from around the state, aimed at building the region’s visibility as a tech and business hub.
“Our practice serves clients across the spectrum, from startup tech ventures to some of the most notable Fortune 100 companies on the map,” said Kyle Kamin, executive vice president in the Chicago office of CBRE. “Andria brings with her a bank of skills and critical insights that will propel our ability to deliver world-class outcomes for our entire client base.”
“Bringing Andria on board with our Chicago team is a key part of our strategic plan to hire the highest caliber talent across all our business lines,” said Jamie Georgas, managing director of the Chicago Region’s Advisory and Transactions Services Team for the Occupier Group. “I am very excited she has decided to return to the private sector with CBRE.”
Winters also co-founded and later served as Chief Operating Officer of Intersect Illinois, a private not-for-profit corporation created to support the state’s business recruitment efforts. During her tenure at DCEO and Intersect Illinois, she helped lead major business expansion and recruitment projects, including headquarters and office projects for ConAgra, GE Healthcare and Transportation Digital Solutions, Haribo, MarsWrigley, Glassdoor, Duracell, Hub Group, Peapod and Siemens as well as large industrial projects for Vetter, Rivian, Flex-N-Gate, Richelieu Foods, FreseniusKabi, Fabrik and more. She also previously served as Deputy Legislative Director in the United States Senate.
As policy director at Motorola Mobility, Winters created and led the company’s nationwide state public policy and public affairs practice and served as director of strategic initiatives for the Motorola Mobility Foundation. She drove the company’s engagement in Illinois Science & Technology’s inaugural Corporate Startup Challenge, which matches corporations and startups to foster collaboration and growth.
“This offers an exciting opportunity to bring my unique experience and relationships in both the public and private sectors to a company that is clearly defining industry standards and continues to deliver on innovation across its best-in-class platform,” said Winters. “I know my extensive network and my background managing and developing organizations will provide great value to this incredible group at CBRE as it continues to grow and provide superior client outcomes.”
