Rhonda Sharkawy
About Rhonda
Rhonda Sharkawy joined the Stirling team as Development Director, where she was involved in retail ground-up developments and redevelopments. In 2002, she transitioned to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Senior Retail Leasing & Development Executive. For thirty years, she has worked on new retail developments, redevelopments, leasing existing shopping centers, and handling renewal negotiations. In addition, she represents over a dozen national retailers in Louisiana & Mississippi.
After completing a bachelor’s degree at Loyola University in New Orleans, Rhonda earned a master’s degree in Land & Real Estate Development, as well as a master’s in Construction Science from Texas A&M University- College Station.
Rhonda is a highly decorated top producer. She is the first agent in Stirling’s history to receive the Waguespack Award and one of only a handful of women to achieve this honor since it was created in 1964. In 2015-2017, Rhonda was inducted into the New Orleans Association of Realtors Commercial Hall of Fame for the Waguespack Award after being the City’s top producer for five years in a row & the first woman to receive this prestigious honor.
When she is not working, she is with her family & friends enjoying the arts, travel, music, nature and community service boards.
Awards & Recognitions:
Stirling Properties * Top Commercial Producer: 2003-2006, 2008-2013, 2015-2021, 2023-2025. | Most Commercial Transactions: 2003-2025 |
Commercial Real Estate Division (CID) • Hall of Fame: 2015 • Poche Waguespack Award- Top overall across all Commercial Real Estate categories: 2009– 2014 • Top Overall Retail Producer: 2001-2008 & 2015-2025 Commercial Hall of Fame- No special awards permitted 2009-2014 • Nationwide Commercial Award (NAR): 2011 – 2025
Community Honors and Awards * New Orleans City Business • Excellence in Real Estate – 2018 • Ones to Watch, Top Private Companies: 2016 • Power Generation: 2003 Given to young innovative achievers whose success in business & organizations set the pace for the future of our region.
Melissa S. Warren
About Melissa
Melissa S. Warren, CCIM is a Senior Commercial Real Estate Advisor with Stirling in New Orleans, LA. She has provided clients with industrial, office, retail, and site-selection services since 2001.
On behalf of clients, Melissa conducts real estate investment, market, financial analysis and negotiates purchase and lease contracts. Over the years, she served numerous industrial, medical, and bioscience clients providing them with the services of industrial waterfront and shipyard disposition, industrial park and river terminal land acquisition, ground-up development, and asset disposition. She coordinates transaction due diligence, user decision analysis, and assists clients with planning and zoning matters. She represents financial institutions in the disposition of distressed commercial assets and excess branch disposition.
Ms. Warren’s organizational service includes founding Board Member and President of CREDA Gulf Coast Chapter (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association); National Board Member of CREDA; past Board Member and President of the NOMAR-CID (New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors – Commercial Investment Division); past Board Member of LACDB (the Louisiana Commercial Database), and Board Member of the LASPCA.
Commercial Real Estate professional affiliations include CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), CREDA (Commercial Real Estate Development Association), ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), NOMAR-CID, NAIOP (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association), New Orleans CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women); WISTA (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association); and.
Before joining Stirling, Ms. Warren was a senior real estate advisor for Grubb & Ellis/ Sawyer Commercial in Gulfport, MS. In 2006, she was designated a (CCIM) upon successfully passing the comprehensive final exam and passing the CCIM Institute’s panel judgment for the portfolio of qualifying industry experience.
After Hurricane Katrina, the mayor of Gulfport, MS selected Ms. Warren to co-chair the committee to rebuild Gulfport Harbor’s Jones Park where she helped spearhead fundraising, architectural charettes, and development designs for the rebuilding of the park.
Ms. Warren graduated from Mississippi State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She holds Louisiana and Mississippi real estate licenses.
