Next Step Living Expands in Boston’s Innovation District

Boston, Commercial Real Estate, 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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February 2012

BOSTON, MA - Next Step Living, the award-winning and cutting-edge home energy efficiency and renewables firm, is expanding in the Innovation District. The company signed a new lease at 21 Drydock Avenue increasing their space to 27,000 square feet. Next Step Living was represented by The Stevens Group/ITRA Global, a commercial real estate firm specializing in tenant representation.

“I was delighted two years ago when Next Step Living chose Boston’s Innovation District as its home,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “The company’s continued growth is part of the Innovation District’s success. Next Step Living is a crucial component in the development of Boston’s green tech cluster and at the nucleus of greening Boston’s historic residences.”

Geoff Chapin, President, and Brian Greenfield, CFO, said staying in Boston’s Innovation District was key. “Our employees love the public transportation options, the facilities work for our trucks, and the clean tech community is strong here. The City of Boston has made this choice easy for us on many dimensions.” Next Step Living is adding 19,000 square feet to its existing facility in the Innovation District, bringing their total occupied space to 27,000 square feet.

Next Step Living’s services are becoming more vital to this country’s energy independence and reduction needs by making sure its clients “save money through saving energy.” In 2008, the company launched with 25 staff members, and has grown to 300. Next Step Living works with cities, employers, membership organizations, and the Mass Save Program to promote greening the residential stock.

About Next Step Living

Next Step Living is a socially responsible group that helps homeowners adopt energy efficiency and renewable solar energy. Working with Mass Save and the utilities, Next Step Living is the New England Clean Energy Council’s Employer of the Year, one of Boston’s fastest growing employers, and the 2011 Best of Boston’s Green Energy Consultant.

About The Stevens Group

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 more than 80 world markets.

About the Innovation District

Boston’s Innovation District, 1,000 acres on the South Boston Waterfront, is a growing home to start-up, research-based, and other innovation companies. In 2010, Mayor Thomas M. Menino launched the Innovation District strategy to enhance already strong opportunities for innovation companies in Boston and the region. Under his leadership, the City of Boston has worked to attract a cluster of innovative companies, to build live/work housing for their employees, and to support a social infrastructure that builds connections between people, businesses, sectors, and cities.