BALTIMORE, MD – St. John Properties, Inc., a Baltimore-based commercial real estate development and management company active in 12 states with a national portfolio valued at more than $5 billion, has promoted Karen Watsic to Senior Vice President, Development. Formerly Vice President, Development, Karen has worked for the company since 2013.

In her continuing role with St. John Properties, Karen manages all facets of the design and permitting processes for projects across Maryland and Pennsylvania. She works closely with third-party design and planning firms, as well as the company’s in-house engineering and landscape design teams. Among her current responsibilities is the oversight of Swatara Exchange, a new mixed-use community replacing the former one million square foot Harrisburg Mall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Karen also supports St. John Properties’ Regional Partners nationwide by collaborating on the due diligence process for emerging development projects.

Karen has more than 31 years of commercial real estate experience and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and her Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland.

“Karen continues to provide exceptional leadership and guidance as our company navigates an extremely robust development and construction schedule,” stated Thomas Pilon, Executive Vice President, Development for St. John Properties. “Karen’s strong relationships, understanding of development principles, community engagement, and problem-solving abilities continue to bring tremendous value as we scale our development strategies throughout the country.”

Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties’ 54-year history, the company has developed more than 24 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,600 clients in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.