At the 2026 Lee Summit held in Nashville, Tennessee in June, the Lee & Associates Pennsylvania offices were recognized with two honors that reflect the strength of its team and the role that it continues to play across the Lee North American platform.
The Lee Pennsylvania offices received the Excellence in Research Award, while Brian Knowles, CCIM, SIOR, President and Managing Principal of Lee & Associates of Eastern Pennsylvania, LLC received the Leaders of Lee award. Together, these recognitions highlight both the firm’s commitment to market intelligence and the leadership that helps shape its culture and direction.
Excellence in Research
Lee & Associates’ Excellence in Research award honors offices and teams for exceptional market expertise, data-driven analysis, client support, and community influence across the North American Platform. This year, the Pennsylvania research team was recognized alongside Lee & Associates Atlanta in this category.
For the Pennsylvania offices, the award underscores a central part of the firm’s identity: Research is one of its clearest differentiators and a core part of how it supports brokers and serves clients.
The team’s research platform is built to deliver accurate, timely, and useful commercial real estate intelligence across Pennsylvania. It supports offices in Pittsburgh, Central Pennsylvania, and Suburban Philadelphia. Through quarterly market reports, specialty research pieces, client tools, and market commentary, the team provides insight that helps clients and community stakeholders understand conditions, identify opportunities, and make decisions with greater confidence.
Heather Kreiger, CCIM, Principal and Regional Research & Marketing Director for the Lee Pennsylvania offices, said the recognition reflects the value of the work that happens every day behind the scenes.
“Research creates value when it helps people make better decisions,” Kreiger said. “A lot of that work happens quietly, through data tracking, analysis, pressure-testing assumptions, and strong collaboration and trust between the Brokers and the Research Team, but it is essential to the consistency behind the program.”
Andrew Mayer, Research Analyst, added:
“Great research goes beyond collecting data. It provides clarity and confidence for decision-making. This award reflects our team’s commitment to producing accurate, thoughtful insights that create real value for our brokers and clients every day.”
Leaders of Lee
Brian Knowles, CCIM, SIOR, a founding principal of Lee & Associates of Eastern Pennsylvania, LLC, was honored with the Leaders of Lee award in recognition of the leadership, commitment, and long-term
impact he has brought to the firm. Knowles, who serves as President and Managing Principal, has spent more than 30 years in commercial real estate and has helped shape the Pennsylvania platform into what it is today. He remains actively involved in advancing the Lee brand through leadership at the local and national levels.
The award, presented by Jeffrey Rinkov, CEO of Lee & Associates, recognizes not only individual achievement, but the kind of steady, values-based leadership that strengthens an organization over time.
“I believe that real value is in continuing to support the Lee network by developing resources that improve the client experience and add value.” Said Knowles. “That work strengthens the Lee brand across North America and across every business vertical.”
The recognition at the Lee Summit reflects the broader strength of the Pennsylvania platform, where brokerage, research, marketing, property management, and operations work together to support clients across the state.
For Lee Pennsylvania, the honors serve as a clear reminder that strong leadership and strong market intelligence are not separate strengths. They are part of the same standard, and both are central to how the firm builds trust, delivers value, and positions itself in the market.
About Lee & Associates
Lee & Associates is a leading commercial brokerage firm serving Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Our offices in Pittsburgh, Central Pennsylvania and Suburban Philadelphia provide full-service expertise across industrial, office, retail, land and investment sales. With a strong local presence and a national platform, our team brings market intelligence, strategic guidance and deep-rooted relationships to every assignment.
