MC 2026 Lunch & Learn: Commercial Real Estate & Site Selection

We look forward to everyone attending this Lunch & Learn on January 13th 2026. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present "Lunch and Learn" - an event series designed to provide a unique opportunity for local business professionals to network, learn and grow. This event will take place during lunchtime at the Chamber office.

Carmen Elliott is a commercial real estate broker and consultant known for straight-talk, smart deal strategy, and a track record of helping small businesses secure the right space at the right terms. With over two decades in commercial real estate, she’s represented medical groups, national companies, local entrepreneurs, and regional economic-development projects across Virginia and the Southeast. Carmen holds the CCIM designation and is the principal of Elliott Inc., where she focuses on tenant representation, site selection, and creative deal structuring.

She’s also deeply involved in community revitalization, serving on economic-development boards and leading adaptive-reuse projects—including transforming a historic 1855 building into a thriving downtown workspace during COVID. Carmen brings a practical, experience-driven approach to guiding tenants through their first commercial lease, helping them understand what to fight for, what to avoid, and how to negotiate from a position of strength.

In this session Carmen here to break down “Negotiating Your First Commercial Lease” with clear steps, real-world examples, and the kind of advice that saves new businesses time, money, and headaches.