EarlySense Continues to Expand in Waltham

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Founded in 1980, The Stevens Group is a Boston-based commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm with more than four decades of experience helping companies make informed real estate decisions. Today, our practice is centered on Corporate Real Estate Advisory & Tenant Representation, providing independent, conflict-free guidance to tenants and occupiers throughout Greater Boston and beyond.

We advise clients on site selection, negotiations for new leases, renewals, relocations, expansions, consolidations, and specialized office, R&D/lab, industrial and flex requirements. As the Boston affiliate of the International Tenant Representative Alliance (ITRA Global), we can also support clients across the U.S. and internationally while maintaining the senior- level, hands-on service of an independent firm.

The Stevens Group has been certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) since 2011 and is proud to celebrate 15 years of certification in 2026.

What inspired you to start your company, and what has shaped your journey woman business owner in CRE?

The Stevens Group was founded by my parents, Mark and Debra Stevens, in 1980, and I joined the firm in 2013. My mother had a remarkable career in commercial real estate and showed me firsthand what was possible for a woman in the industry, while my father was an equally important mentor and supporter. Since Debra’s passing last year, carrying forward what they built has taken on added meaning. I am proud of our history and committed to positioning The Stevens Group for the future while preserving the integrity, reputation, and client focus that define us.

What are you most proud of about the company you’ve built?

I am most proud of the trust we have earned and the long-standing relationships we have built with clients over more than four decades. Our size and independence allow us to stay closely involved, be responsive, and give objective advice. I also value that we have continued to evolve and stay current while remaining true to how we do business.

Celebrating 15 years as a certified women business enterprise is another milestone I am especially proud of.

What are you most excited about for your company and its future?

I am excited to continue expanding the ways we support clients as their real estate needs become more complex. We have the advantage of being nimble, experienced, and highly personal in our approach, while our ITRA Global affiliation gives clients broader reach when they need it. I see the next chapter as thoughtful growth, interesting assignments, and continuing to strengthen our reputation as a trusted advisor to corporate occupiers.

What does being a woman-owned business mean to you, and what perspective would you share with women considering starting a business of their own?

Being a woman-owned business is meaningful to me because it reflects how far opportunities for women in commercial real estate have come. CRE Brokerage is a demanding career, but I believe women can build successful businesses and careers in this industry without having to choose between professional growth and the other priorities in their lives. My advice is to seek out strong mentors and advisors, trust your expertise and create a culture that values high performance and flexibility. The right environment can make a meaningful difference in sustaining a rewarding career over time.

FOUNDED: 1980

HEADQUARTERS: Boston, MA

SPECIALTIES: Corporate Real Estate Advisory & Tenant Representation; Office, R&D/Lab, Industrial & Flex Requirements

MARKETS SERVED: Greater Boston/Massachusetts; and national and international supportand consulting

WOMAN-OWNED SINCE: 2011

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July 2013

The Real Reporter – Joe Clements

WALTHAM MA - Duffy Properties has found another loyal tenant and a burgeoning one at that in EarlySense, an overseas medical device company housing its US headquarters at 135 Beaver St. Initially taking 2,500 sf 24 months ago, the company that provides patient monitoring technology has expanded twice in the building, the most recent doubling from 4,000 sf into a new suite on the third floor.

“They are in quite a growth mode,” concurs landlord Steven Duffy, who was introduced to EarlySense by broker Debra Stevens of the Stevens Group. “She did a great job on it,” he says of the tenant representation specialist of her efforts helping the client negotiate each new lease agreement. “We enjoy having them here,” Duffy says of the company whose new space is presently being prepared for occupancy.

Stevens credits a responsive owner, efficient layout and being in a key suburban office market as leading reasons 135 Walnut St. has become the firm’s local home. Room for the necessary growth was attractive as well, she says, relaying that the Route 128 Central market in particular is tightening quickly, making prime venues more scarce and driving rents upward. Mid-year research from Cassidy Turley shows Waltham with a market-best net absorption of 322,000 sf YTD for 9.4 million sf, helping plunge the vacancy rate to 15.1 per- cent from 18.8 percent in year-end 2012.

Terms of the 135 Beaver St. lease were not divulged by either party. One website shows asking rents in the 95,300-sf office building that dates to 1985 at $19 per sf. Duffy Properties, a firm active throughout suburban Boston, represented itself in-house.

The Stevens Group provides transactional representation, brokerage and consulting services exclusively for corporate tenants in the Greater Boston market in addition to representing multi-regional and international clients. As the Boston regional affiliate of ITRA Global, an organization of real estate firms devoted to tenant and buyer representation worldwide, The Stevens Group offers principal-level services for corporate clients in major markets around the world.