Associate Spotlight: Brenda Studt – An Accomplished Networker & Developer

For Brenda Studt, the most impactful development work starts with the right fit – the right people, the right project and the right solution for the market. When those elements come together early, the work is positioned for long-term success.

Brenda brings a career shaped by both marketing leadership and hands-on commercial real estate experience to our Austin office, including developing one million square feet of industrial projects and 600 multifamily units. That expertise informs how she evaluates and shapes opportunities – from early visioning and positioning through entitlement strategy and market readiness – as we grow our industrial and multifamily presence in Central Texas.

“My path to development was atypical, but it’s afforded me a differentiated perspective and skill set to guide projects to their strongest outcome,” said Brenda.

A defining chapter of Brenda’s professional journey has been her leadership within NAIOP. After relocating from Minneapolis to Austin in 2020, she arrived knowing just one person in the local market. Looking to build connections and get involved in the industry, she turned to the local NAIOP chapter, which at the time was still in its infancy, having paused during the pandemic shortly after forming.

Rather than waiting for the organization to mature, Brenda took an active role, joining the board when the chapter consisted of just a handful of members and limited infrastructure – no website, minimal promotional tools and a largely blank slate. Drawing on her experience with a well-established NAIOP chapter in Minneapolis, she helped shape the Austin chapter’s foundation, from branding and governance to programming and strategic growth.

Alongside fellow board members, Brenda helped hire a management firm, build a web presence, establish regular events and thoughtfully grow the board with an emphasis on diversity and long-term leadership. The chapter expanded organically, focusing first on education and networking before later advancing advocacy efforts, including the hiring of a lobbyist and the formation of a public policy committee.

That grassroots work paid off. Today, NAIOP Austin has grown to more than 200 members and is recognized as a vibrant, engaged chapter within the broader NAIOP network. Brenda’s leadership evolved in step with the organization. She served as the chapter president-elect in 2023 and president in 2024 and continues to serve as past president while also chairing the Austin chapter’s nominating committee. In January 2026, she began a three-year term on NAIOP’s Corporate Board of Directors, representing the Austin chapter at the national level. She also serves on NAIOP’s Corporate State and Local Subcommittee and was recently selected to participate in the Diverse Asset Development Forum, which is a multi-year program focused on peer learning and leadership development.

Through her NAIOP leadership, Brenda brings a deep understanding of the local market, strong industry relationships and a long-term perspective that supports our continued growth in Central Texas.

“Our industry is small, and relationships matter,” Brenda said. “NAIOP has been instrumental in building my network and my confidence as a leader. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”

Outside of work, Brenda is an avid skier, runner and yoga enthusiast, and a devoted fan of live music and music festivals – experiences she values for the same reasons she values strong professional communities: they bring together people from different backgrounds around a shared experience.

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Our associates are talented, dedicated and knowledgeable. They streamline complex projects and always deliver value to clients. Read more associate spotlights.