AFIRE Staff

GUNNAR BRANSON, CEO

Gunnar Branson joined as CEO of AFIRE in 2018, three decades of experience across commercial real estate, professional services, education, and association leadership.

From 2011 to 2018, Gunnar served as CEO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM). Before that, he led strategy and marketing for Fortune 500 and other innovative mid-market companies, including Transwestern, Heller Financial, GE Real Estate, and others.

He serves on the board of directors for Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), a developer, owner, and operator of affordable housing in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. He also serves as an advisory board member for NYU Stern’s Chao-Hon Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance.

Gunnar is a regular speaker, writer, panelist, and spokesperson He appeared on a TEDx stage, on television news such as CIBC and Bloomberg, and regularly interviews real estate thought leaders on The AFIRE Podcast. He has authored six stage and radio plays and recently wrote Chasing Lights, based on a podcast of the same name, released by Manuscripts Publishing in early 2026.

GBRANSON@AFIRE.ORG | +1 202 312 1401 | LINKEDIN | WEBSITE

LEXIE MILLER, COO

Lexie Miller is COO for AFIRE, where she oversees the association’s financial and administrative operations, board and committee relations, member recruitment and retention, sponsorships, and human resources.

Before she joined AFIRE in 2004, she served as Deputy Director, Alliance Division, and Senior Director of Grants Management at America’s Promise Alliance, an American alliance of nonprofit, community organizations, businesses, and government organizations. She supported the start-up of the nonprofit founded by General Colin Powell, and oversaw community mobilization, nonprofit partnership development, and grants management.

Lexie is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

LMILLER@AFIRE.ORG | +1 202 312 1403 | LINKEDIN

ASMAIT TEWELDE, MEETING DIRECTOR

Asmait Tewelde is AFIRE’s Meeting Director. She joined the association in 2019 and oversees all aspects of the association’s global executive events and conferences, including strategy, planning, operations, and marketing.

Prior to AFIRE, Asmait served as Director of Professional Development and Events for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), which has more than 10,000 members focused practice and teaching of public administration through innovative programming, leading scholarship, and more than 50 local chapters. Before that, she served as Meetings Coordinator for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and several other local and national nonprofit organizations.

Asmait has also served as a contractor for the Department of Labor, and in customer support for education-focused nonprofit organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Michigan State University.

ATEWELDE@AFIRE.ORG | +1 202 312 1404 | LINKEDIN

BEN VAN LOON, MANAGING DIRECTOR

Benjamin van Loon is Managing Director for AFIRE and Editor-in-Chief of Summit Journal. He is responsible for all association communications, creative direction, research efforts, technical operations, and thought leadership strategy.

Ben joined AFIRE in 2019 following his role as regional communications leader for SOM, a global architecture and urban planning firm. Before that, he oversaw communications for the City of Chicago’s public-private economic development agency, building on his past leadership in public affairs for various private equity firms, marketing operations for professional services consulting firms, and journalism for trade publications focused on architecture, sustainability, and global business leadership. From 2018 to 2024, he also served as an Adjunct Professor of Public Relations for Northeastern Illinois University.

As an accomplished writer, lecturer, editor, and researcher, Ben has received multiple awards and recognition for his thought leadership focused on urban, technological, and social issues. He holds multiple bachelor’s degrees in English, philosophy, and accounting, and a master’s degree in communications and media. In 2023, he was named one of Association Forum’s “Forty Under 40.” He was a member of the Emerging Leaders program with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in 2024 and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

BVANLOON@AFIRE.ORG | +1 202 312 1405 | LINKED | WEBSITE