The Lee & Associates New Jersey team is now Lee & Associates – WBE LLC.

Longtime Lee & Associates Regional Operations leader Jessica Vasil serves as president of the new, Woman-owned Business Enterprise. According to the Garden State-based firm, the certification and structure make it the New York Metropolitan area’s largest WBE-owned commercial real estate brokerage.

According to an April 3 announcement, Lee & Associates – WBE is the only national brand with a WBE-designated operation. The operation received Women’s Business Enterprise National Council certification in late February.

Principals Richard Marchisio, Brian Lynch and Jason Lynch will also continue in their leadership capacities. The team has expanded the New Jersey office since its founding, in 2009.

“Our executive team has always looked holistically at how the commercial real estate industry is changing and how we can make it better,” Vasil said in a statement. “Our transition to Lee & Associates – WBE provides our current and future brokers with additional opportunities to succeed while reinforcing our corporate culture of inclusion.”

In its most recent benchmark report, CREW Network found women occupied nearly 37% of the commercial real estate industry. A figure, that in 2020, hadn’t changed much more than 15 years.

According to Vasil, in the office there is commitment to providing an environment to help effect that change. She added that the “WBE platform and the resulting empowerment have been met with great enthusiasm.”

Lee & Associates – WBE is the regional operation of Lee & Associates. It has offices in Edison, Elmwood Park and Whippany.

Vasil pointed out the new designation has allowed for expanded reach. Now, there is a nationwide Lee & Associates WBE network with a presence in every U.S. state as well as Canada.

Despite the name change, Vasil says the quality of service remains.

Additionally, she highlighted the designation and direction as a bonus for clients’ supplier diversity goals.