Newark, New Jersey— October 1, 2025
The Real Estate Association of Latinx Professionals (REĀL) proudly announces the appointment of four accomplished industry leaders to its Board of Directors, effective today.
The additions mark a significant milestone in REĀL’s continued growth and commitment to advancing Latino representation and leadership across all sectors of commercial real estate.
“This expansion of our Board reflects the growing momentum and influence of REĀL across the industry,” said Jeff Monge, Board President. “Each of these leaders brings a wealth of experience, perspective, and dedication to cultivating equity and excellence in commercial real estate.”
REĀL extends gratitude to everyone who participated in this summer’s Board Nominations process, which helped expand the organization’s leadership during a pivotal period of growth. Regular elections will resume at REĀL’s upcoming Annual Meeting, with details to be announced soon.
Armando Núñez — Senior Vice President, CBRE
Armando specializes in portfolio management as part of Advisory & Transaction Management for diverse portfolios ranging from 2 to 50 million square feet. With a background as a licensed architect and real estate service provider in Manhattan, he brings deep expertise in facilities programming and financial analysis. A founding member of CBRE’s Business Resource Group HOLA, which now includes nearly 2,000 employees, Núñez is also a member of the Advisory Council for a leading national nonprofit that has awarded over $650 million in scholarships.
Bernardo “Bernie” Ramos — Managing Director, Wells Fargo
With more than two decades in banking and 18 years at Wells Fargo, Ramos now leads the Hispanic Segment for the Commercial Banking division as Managing Director. His leadership has spanned Local Government Banking for New York and the Northeast, as well as relationship management across New York, New England, and Puerto Rico. An active advocate for Latino advancement, Ramos serves on the New York Advisory Council for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and as vice president of Wells Fargo’s Enterprise Hispanic/Latino Employee Resource Network.
Mariela Abreu — Principal, DBI Projects
Mariela brings international project management expertise, overseeing DBI’s Surety practice and diverse developments across Costa Rica, Mexico, France, and Italy. Her portfolio includes educational institutions, residential projects, and corporate initiatives for Booking Holdings’ portfolio companies. She also managed Boston’s first mass timber redevelopment. Outside her professional work, Abreu serves on the board of the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services, empowering families and reinforcing cultural identity.
Joseph Vargas — President, Wonderful Real Estate Development
A 43-year industry veteran, Vargas leads development, leasing, and sales for the 1,700-acre, 25-million-square-foot Wonderful Logistics Center, home to tenants such as Walmart, Amazon, and FedEx. He has held executive roles at Cushman & Wakefield, Lee & Associates, and Grubb & Ellis, and served as an officer on the boards of AIR CRE, NAIOP SoCal, and the Los Angeles Headquarters Association. Vargas is also a two-time Olympian and silver medalist from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Together, these new board members represent the depth of leadership and expertise that continues to propel REĀL’s mission to advance visibility, representation, and opportunity for Latinx professionals in commercial real estate nationwide.
