The Californer - BKM's Senior Managing Director of Operations, Susan Rounds, and Associate Director of Design, Koren Mercer, Honored as 2025 Women of Influence

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These accolades mark BKM's third Women of Influence recognition in the past two years, reflecting the strength of the firm's female leadership team.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Californer -- BKM Capital Partners is proud to announce that Susan Rounds, Senior Managing Director of Operations and Diversity Champion honoree, and Koren Mercer, Associate Director of Design and Design Professional honoree, have been named 2025 Women of Influence by GlobeSt.com.

Since 1983, this prestigious award has celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of women in commercial real estate. Each honoree has made a lasting impact on the industry—advancing innovation, driving market growth, and inspiring the next generation through their success. The 2025 Women of Influence were selected based on their achievements within their nomination category, the creativity and effectiveness of their work, and their influence on the broader industry. Finalists also demonstrated a deep commitment to ethical leadership, service, and elevating the role of women in commercial real estate.

Susan Rounds serves as the Senior Managing Director of Operations and Administration at BKM Capital Partners, where she also chairs the Compensation Committee, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee, and the BKM Women's Network. In her role, Susan is responsible for driving the implementation of human resources initiatives, policies, and procedures, ensuring compliance, enhancing recruitment and retention strategies, overseeing performance management, and fostering employee development.

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Beyond her daily role, Susan's dedication to education and social equity has made her a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. As Chair of BKM's Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee, she has led the firm's environmental, social, and governance initiatives, driving meaningful change for BKM and its stakeholders. Under her leadership, BKM has made significant advancements in hiring and recruitment, increasing average tenure by 25% since her arrival in Q3 2021. Her commitment to building a more inclusive workforce has positioned BKM well above industry benchmarks, with the firm now 70% diverse, including 54% female employees and 38% identifying as BIPOC—a direct result of Susan's strategic hiring initiatives.

Koren Mercer is BKM's Associate Director of Design, where she oversees the design, development, and management of the firm's extensive light industrial portfolio. Her role is centered on ensuring that these spaces are functional, efficient, and adaptable to the evolving needs of tenants, allowing businesses to operate seamlessly in dynamic market conditions. BKM specializes in the acquisition, refurbishment, and management of light industrial properties in key western markets, with Koren at the helm of the firm's industry-leading value-add strategy.

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A visionary in her field, Mercer has consistently led groundbreaking projects that optimize light industrial properties for modern business needs. Across her career, she has initiated and led over 100 design projects spanning markets across the Western U.S., demonstrating her consistent ability to deliver fresh design perspectives while maintaining rigorous project management expertise. During her 10+ year tenure at BKM Capital Partners, Koren has been instrumental in transforming the company's brand image through her innovative design concepts, helping to shape BKM from a new industry player to one of the leading owner-operators of light industrial product in the Western U.S.

To view the full list of honorees, click here.

Source: BKM Capital Partners

Filed Under: Real Estate

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