After a successful business management career in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence community, Doug Eliot transitioned to real estate brokerage. His knowledge of tenant requirements, including construction costs, communications requirements, and the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) accreditation process, are a direct result of hands-on experience. Doug joined Avison Young as a result of the June 2011 acquisition of Millennium Realty Advisors. Doug left Avison Young and co-founded Fortress Realty Partners in 2022.

Prior to brokerage, Doug served as business director for the Aerospace Corporation. During his tenure there, he was selected for a Congressional Fellowship where he performed legislative work for a U.S. Senator during the 106th session. Previously, Doug served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, managing the acquisition of intelligence and communications systems.

James Palmer is a co-founder of Fortress Realty Partners. Prior to Fortress, he was a Principal at Avison Young subsequent to the acquisition of Millennium Realty Advisors, where he was a Vice President in Transaction Services. He served 14 years as an active duty and reserve US Air Force officer working in the fields of Systems Acquisition, Air Force Budgeting, Congressional Liaison on ACAT1D programs for both DoD services and the intelligence agencies.

He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, holds an MBA in Finance from Chapman University and the California Entrepreneurship Academy.

Karessa Aaron is an accomplished real estate professional with a strong background in strategic planning, contract management, and commercial partnerships. Leveraging her experience overseeing high-value engineering projects and managing complex government contracts, she excels in real estate negotiations, property acquisitions, and investment strategies. Her extensive network and expertise in business development position her to drive real estate growth, secure strategic partnerships, and optimize asset management. With a keen understanding of market trends and a results-driven approach, she brings a unique blend of technical insight and business acumen to the real estate industry.

With 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, John has successfully leased over 7 million square feet of commercial assets, with a transaction volume exceeding $2 billion. A recognized industry leader, he brings extensive broker relationships, a broad and influential network, deep market knowledge, and exceptional communication and negotiation skills to drive strategic initiatives and value creation.

John most recently oversaw the leasing of Monday Properties’ commercial office portfolio in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. During his 17+ years with the firm, he led leasing efforts and developed strong relationships with some of the region’s largest office users and top real estate brokers. He managed all negotiations on behalf of the firm and its institutional partners, including Goldman Sachs, Willett Advisors (Michael Bloomberg Philanthropies), Washington Capital, C-III Capital Partners, and BMA Capital Corporation.

John has played the leading role in executing numerous high-profile transactions with major tenants such as the U.S. Government, Nestlé USA, RTX Corporation (Raytheon), Leidos, Grant Thornton, Humana, Oracle, Maxar Technologies, Sinclair ABC Television, University of Virginia, Sands Capital, Inova Health System, and Virginia Hospital Center.

Before joining Monday Properties, John was Director of Leasing at Equity Office Properties, where he was responsible for the firm’s Northern Virginia portfolio.

John holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont. He is a board member of NAIOP Northern Virginia, a former board member of the Arlington Real Estate Group, and an active member of Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association (CREBA).