Kim Ford, SIOR, LEED AP

With over 25 years in commercial real estate, I lead Rise Commercial, a certified WBE and exclusive tenant advisory firm based in Pittsburgh, PA. We don’t represent landlords…ever. That means no conflict of interest, just powerful, informed negotiations on behalf of the companies we serve. From startups to Fortune 50s, our mission is to help business leaders make the most informed and financially sound real estate decisions possible.

We’ve supported companies like American Express, Duolingo, Aurora, Oracle, FedEx Ground, and Wells Fargo and have experience in over 220 U.S. markets, always with one goal: protect and serve our clients first.

I’ve earned the SIOR designation for both Office and Industrial and am a LEED AP, committed to sustainable and intelligent real estate solutions. I’m also proud to have co-founded and scaled a PropTech company into over 200 markets, selected for the National Association of Realtors’ inaugural REACH Commercial Accelerator program.

At Rise Commercial, we’ve reimagined the tenant experience. Our proprietary software, Ghost, helps clients walk through our 10-step roadmap, visualizing monthly costs, weighing all options, and making confident, data-driven decisions, regardless of team size.

As a speaker and mentor, I serve on the Community Advisory Board of Renewal, Inc., the SIOR Global Innovation & Technology Committee, and mentor at Carnegie Mellon’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. I was the founding president of CREW Pittsburgh and CoreNet Pittsburgh, and I’m passionate about building up the next generation of leaders in CRE.

Recognitions: CREi LinkedIn, X, and Insta Influencer | Globe St. Elite Woman of Influence | SIOR Top 50 Deal | Business Journals CRE Influencer | FAA Licensed Drone Pilot

Outside the office, I’m a mom of four, a relentless adventurer, and a passionate believer in the power of movement, whether on a pickleball court, cycling from Pittsburgh to D.C., or hiking the Appalachian Trail section by section. You can follow my journey at www.trailblazingnext.com.

📌 Want to understand how your real estate strategy can drive your business forward? Let’s connect.

Read how I got started in the business - https://medium.com/the-ascent/success-as-a-women-in-a-mans-industry-6fc32c9bb896