Jennifer Sofia Harrison
By Joshua Burd
Longtime retail specialist Jennifer Sofia Harrison has joined RIPCO Real Estate, where she’ll serve as a managing director focused on landlord representation in the region.
Based in its new Red Bank office, Harrison joins the firm with a resume that includes several years working directly with developers on real estate projects, land acquisition and entitlement processes, according to a news release. She most recently was a vice president with NAI DiLeo-Bram & Co., representing property owners and tenants in commercial sales, acquisitions and leasing transactions while providing site selection services for multiple national retailers.
In her new role, she’ll focus on expanding RIPCO’s landlord representation platform throughout Monmouth County and central New Jersey, while leveraging her extensive retail, development and brokerage experience to support clients across the region.
“Jennifer brings a truly unique perspective to RIPCO, having worked across nearly every aspect of commercial real estate throughout her career,” said Mark Kaplan, the firm’s president. “Her experience representing landlords and tenants, managing development projects, overseeing corporate real estate portfolios and working directly with developers gives her an unmatched understanding of the full real estate lifecycle. As we continue to grow our presence in New Jersey, Jennifer will play an important role in expanding our retail platform and strengthening our relationships with clients throughout the region.”
Harrison’s site selection work with NAI DiLeo-Bram included clients such as Tim Hortons, Smoothie King, DBAT and LVIV Croissants and comprised market research, evaluating opportunities and negotiating letters of intent, the news release said. She’s also a former senior leasing representative at Levin Management Corp., where she managed retail leasing strategies for a portfolio of shopping centers, developed marketing plans, negotiated lease transactions and advised property owners on performance and growth opportunities.
Previously, Harrison served as division head of real estate for Middlesex County, supporting business attraction and retention initiatives while collaborating with public- and private-sector stakeholders to drive economic development.
“I am excited to join RIPCO at such an important time for the firm as it expands its presence in New Jersey with the opening of its Red Bank office,” Harrison said. “RIPCO’s focus on retail real estate, entrepreneurial culture, and depth of resources make it the ideal platform to continue growing my business. Having worked with the firm previously, joining the team felt like a natural progression, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to help landlords, tenants, and developers achieve their goals.”
Throughout her career, Harrison has developed a broad understanding of commercial real estate from multiple perspectives, according to a news release. During her time with Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers, she focused on retail leasing, dispositions, mixed-use development, asset repositioning and market analysis, including helping curate retail components for ground-up developments.
The industry veteran has also worked for Toys “R” Us, where she managed a national portfolio of some 600 owned and leased real estate assets, overseeing lease negotiations, relocations, remodels and strategic real estate initiatives, the news release said. On the developer side, Harrison has held roles with Toll Brothers, Landmark Developers and CenterStar Property Group, where she managed entitlement processes, feasibility studies, approvals and partnerships for commercial and residential projects.
She holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Montclair State University, a paralegal certificate and a New Jersey real estate salesperson license. Originally from Lyndhurst, she is now based in Sea Girt.
RIPCO opens Red Bank office, eyeing continued growth in Central Jersey
