Starting with purpose: How a people-first strategy can support real estate decisions

Author's Biography

Melony Bethala PhD is Managing Director of Newmark’s Workplace Strategy and Human Experience team, a speciality practice within Global Corporate Services’ (GCS) consulting group. Based in Los Angeles, California, she serves as the Western Region Lead for workplace strategy engagements and supports international accounts with change management strategy. She has worked with clients across various industries, including technology, media, finance, energy, legal and non-profit sectors, and joined Newmark in 2018 after completing her doctorate at the University of York, UK. A cultural studies specialist, Melony brings a human-centric approach to workplace projects. She is passionate about developing high-performing cultures and helping leaders achieve their vision through alignment strategies, qualitative analysis of the workplace and change management strategies. Melony applies her experience in international cultural studies, human experience research and thought leadership to lead organisational culture transformations that improve employee experience of the workplace.

Roy Abernathy joined Newmark in December 2017 and currently leads the Global Strategy and Consulting practice in the firm’s Global Corporate Services (GCS) division. A 27-year workplace strategy veteran, Roy has substantial expertise in development, sustainability, energy performance, business process, change management, workplace strategy and commercial real estate. He has been involved in more than 15m sq.ft of real estate transactions within the corporate, law, communications, education and healthcare sectors, including four of the largest US corporate mergers during the 1990s. Transactions have ranged from single facility transactions to those with more than 10,000 facilities. Roy also leads the Newmark New Normal team which is focused on assisting clients with creating new ways of working after COVID-19. He and his team work with public and private institutions on planning and implementing new ways of using space in the initial stages of occupancy through what will become the new normal. Roy has put together platforms that address the technology, physical and behavioural changes needed to create a safe and supportive employee experience in an evolving workplace environment.