BCD Travel Leases 8,500 Sq. Ft.

Boston, News, Tenant Representation

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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January 2008

Woburn MA – BCD Travel has leased 8,500 sq. ft. of office space at the Trade Center 128.

GlobeSt.com Commercial Real Estate News and Property Resource

Leasing Picking Up at Trade Center 128

By Joe Clements

WOBURN, MA-As one of suburban Boston’s largest speculative office projects ever, Trade Center 128 is going to require plenty of tenants to fill the 550,000 sf being constructed along the Route 128/Interstate 95 corridor, but developers of the ambitious plan report brisk activity as the first building prepares to open next month.

“There is a lot of momentum right now,” Cummings Properties VP Eric Anderson tells GlobeSt.com, with more than 20,000 sf of space leased in just the past two weeks. Besides BCD Travel USA and a retail bank branch that will operate at the park, Cummings has landed the law firm of Cohn & Dussi, which will relocate this summer from abutting Burlington. Legal enterprises are be in attracted to the property partly by a five-year lease to the Middlesex County Superior Court, which will relocate in March into a 150,000-sf structure. “It’s certainly going to be a draw for that type of use,” says Anderson.

Cohn & Dussi broker Robert Kinlin of CB Richard Ellis agrees the courthouse was one of several factors swaying his client to take nearly 6,000 sf at Trade Center 128. “They see it as a real plus, “he says. The law firm was also enthused by the product being delivered, says Kinlin, favoring the new construction and space that features abundant natural light. There are also plenty of amenities at Trade Center 128 and the surrounding area to accommodate Cohn & Dussi’s staff, he adds.

BCD Travel’s broker, Debra Stevens of the Stevens Group, says the blank slate afforded by a new building was of import to her client, allowing the 8,500-sf office to be laid out efficiently and employing customized materials. Stevens also praises Cummings for treating her client “the way a $13 billion company ought to be treated” in securing their commitment, and says Trade Center 128 provides BCD close proximity to the suburban clientele without being too distant from Downtown Boston, about a 12 mile ride. “The ability to get in and out of the city was very important,” says Stevens, especially for BCD executives needing to use Logan International Airport.

Cummings is also bullish on the location, according to director Matthew Donaghey. “Not only is the property visible to so many cars on a daily basis, it’s also incredibly convenient for business owners, their employees, their visitors and for the local community,” says Donaghey. The complex includes parking for more than 900 vehicles, but is also connected to public transportation. The centralized location is expected to help Trade Center 128 feed off several different markets, Anderson says. At roughly $32 per sf, the space should be a distinct price alternative versus first class buildings in Boston, Cambridge and nearby Route 128 Central communities such as Burlington, Lexington and Waltham, he says. Minus Presidential Way and Unicorn Office Park, such top-shelf product has been difficult to find in Woburn, and Anderson says Trade Center 128 should be able to “fill that void” in a big way. “It’s definitely getting people’s attention,” he says, particularly with the buildings now taking shape.

Stevens says she anticipates Trade Center 128 will prove to be one of the crown jewels in the Cummings portfolio. Based in Woburn, the company has developed more than nine million sf of industrial, lab and office space, primarily in northeastern Massachusetts, during its 35 years in business. The firm has already received pre-certification for a gold LEED certificate from the USGBC for Trade enter 128.