The International Council of Shopping Centers announced on May 18 the recipients of its 2026 Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award: Maranda Auzenne, Christine Firstenberg, Tom Onder, and Ellen Sinreich.
The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to ICSC and the retail real estate industry. Each honoree has a record of service in both their professional careers and through volunteer roles within ICSC.
Maranda Auzenne described receiving the award as a “profound career highlight” next only to her city council election. She said she is humbled by the recognition, “particularly because I know how many people work hard behind the scenes to make ICSC’s initiatives so successful.” Auzenne has advocated for women and diversity in commercial real estate since joining ICSC in 2009. She said, “Today, women aren’t just participating in the industry. We’re shaping it, leading deals, influencing market trends, driving innovation and building companies.”
Christine Firstenberg has been involved with ICSC since starting her brokerage career in Northern California over thirty years ago. At a recent event she told attendees: “Thirty years ago, I stood here in the very beginning of my career to give the GR update. Here I am doing it again.” Throughout her career she has held various leadership positions at ICSC and played key roles in fostering connections between commerce and communities across Northern California.
Tom Onder joined ICSC in 2008 after advice from a client during his early years as an attorney at Stark & Stark. He compared his problem-solving approach to that of Batman: “Batman is my favorite superhero because at the end of the day, he’s a detective who solves problems. That is a lot of what I do.” Onder focuses on representing landlords nationally when retailers file for bankruptcy while also working with property owners facing development or lease challenges.
Ellen Sinreich’s passion for leases distinguishes her approach within commercial real estate law. “Every deal has a life of its own,” Sinreich said. “Every lease has a life of its own.” She is known for sharing expertise through education and leadership within both professional circles and volunteer activities at ICSC.
The recognition highlights ongoing efforts by leaders across different regions to advance inclusion, policy engagement, problem-solving skills, and educational outreach within retail real estate.
