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Urban Land Institute New York is proud to honor Ronne Hackett, Co-Founder/CEO, The Clarett Group, with our 2022 Visionary Leadership in Land Use Award.
“It’s an honor to receive this award from ULI, an institution that has been an important touchstone throughout my career, and to be recognized for my contributions to an industry that has given me so much and a city that has more than fulfilled the dreams of a kid who grew up in a small town in Florida, listening to Dodgers games on the radio,” said Hackett, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, The Clarett Group. “I look forward to celebrating this honor with my peers and the other women pioneers who joined me early on and never stopped working to advance the role of women in our industry.”
The Award recognizes a leader within New York’s real estate community whose body of work exemplifies the mission and values of ULI, and who has had a transformational impact on our region and the industry. The recipient must also have demonstrated an enduring commitment – through civic engagement – to industry associations, causes, and initiatives.
“In an industry that is traditionally dominated by men, Ronne emerged as an exemplary leader and the true embodiment of professionalism, knowledge and passion. Her career has been marked by so many legendary firsts that it’s hard to pinpoint just one – not just the first woman in any role, but often the first player to identify a market or a trend that would soon prove visionary” said Bethany Logan Ropa, ULI New York’s Vice Chair and Managing Director – Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure at UBS. “Ronne has been an inspiration to many, first blazing her own path and then reaching back to lift up the next generation of talent, steadfast in her dedication to make the real estate industry a more inclusive and diverse place.”
Ronne (Veronica) Hackett is a real estate and finance executive with global experience as a developer and owner of complex urban projects, recognized for trailblazing paths for women in the real estate industry.
Hackett’s career has been marked with “firsts,” including an early role as the first woman to earn an executive leadership position at a major money center bank, a predecessor of JPMorgan Chase. After managing its European real estate operation while based in London and managing two geographic real estate lending groups, she was charged with managing the bank’s worldwide corporate real estate portfolio enabling her to acquire deep expertise across the full spectrum of deals, developments and financing structures.
This expertise led to an executive role at Park Tower, which she helped build into one of the most prominent developers in New York City. Often the only woman in the room, Hackett led the financing and development of large-scale office properties in NY and London. These include 60 Wall Street and joint ventures with IBM at Park Avenue Tower and 33 Maiden Lane, as well as two projects in suburban Washington, DC. At Park Tower, Hackett helped steer one of the largest public-private redevelopment projects in New York City’s history: the revitalization of Times Square.
Hackett continued to lead vast corporate real estate platforms, with a focus on the retail sector, on behalf of A&P Supermarkets in the US, and then globally for Woolworth Corporation and its Footlocker subsidiary.
As Co-Founder (in 1999) and CEO of The Clarett Group, Hackett became the first noted independent woman developer in the nation. The Clarett Group developed 10 successful ground-up high-rise residential towers in New York City, including The Brooklyner, 2770 Broadway and Sky House. She also initiated the firm’s ongoing advisory work on large commercial projects. In her role as trusted advisor, Hackett continues to provide strategic acquisition and development advice to domestic and multinational entities.
Hackett is recognized for her ability to identify demographic shifts and development opportunities in emerging neighborhoods. Charged with leading a new era of development for Brookfield Properties in New York, Hackett influenced the company’s decision and development plan for Manhattan West.
Hackett has received many of the industry’s most prestigious honors including WX Woman of the Year award, AREW’s 25th Anniversary Women of Achievement award and the YWCA business leader’s award. She was named by the New York media as one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Business” and “One of the 100 Most Important People in Real Estate.”
Hackett’s industry service is extensive. She has been a Product Council Leader and Trustee of the Urban Land Institute, an Advisory Board member of ULI NY, and an executive committee member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York and NYU’s Real Estate Institute Advisory Board.
Advocacy for women and girls is a hallmark of her career and service, a champion for women as a role model, teacher, employer, mentor, friend and booster. “I have a ferocious passion to influence the real estate industry to take intentional and sustained action to change our industry’s culture. I believe that corporations must make systemic culture change so that women of all races, cultures and backgrounds have equal power, status and opportunity. We must also seek out and support women and minority owned businesses, and we must continue to drive this change.”
To this end, Hackett is a founder and board member of ULI’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) , board member of WLI National; co- founder of Paradigm for Parity (a nonprofit dedicating to closing the professional gender gap for women of all races); founder and former board member of WX ( New York Women Executives in Real Estate); Women’s Leadership Institute of Baltimore of Notre Dame Maryland University; Women’s Development Collaborative; founder and former board member of AREW; board member of C200 and co-head of its Education Outreach Committee; Women’s Forum NY Educational Committee member and long-time board member of Girls Inc.
Hackett has an MBA from New York University and a BA in History/Economics from Notre Dame Maryland University.