Topsfield resident receives promotion

Stephanie Aitchison has been promoted to associate general manager of Cummings Center in Beverly. Aitchison has been with commercial real estate firm Cummings Properties for 12 years.

A native of East Kingston, NH, Aitchison graduated from Exeter High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University. While working as a paralegal for a downtown Boston law firm, she answered a Boston.com ad for an “executive trainee.” She got the job and started working in the operations group at Cummings Properties’ headquarters in Woburn in 2004.

In her first year with the firm, Aitchison did everything from monitoring parking to writing press releases to managing telecom accounts to meeting with clients. She then moved to Cummings Center to assist Vice President and General Manager Steve Drohosky—who originally hired her when he was stationed in Woburn—with the growing Beverly operation.

“Steph’s previous law firm experience gave her a sound foundation for her work here,” said Drohosky. “Over time she became well versed in all facets of Cummings Center operations, including sales, lease drafting and review, operations, collections, insurance, legal matters, design, and construction.”

Four years ago, Aitchison was promoted to co-manager of leasing and operations, responsible for coordinating the varied internal operations associated with fulfilling clients’ needs at Cummings Center.

“Steph is a very hard worker with strength in management of all types: relationship management, personnel management, project management, and design management. She is highly regarded by staff and clients alike,” Drohosky said.

The Cummings Center staff of 100 full-time employees and 60 part-time and youth summer workers also manages Cummings Properties’ Dunham Road campus in Beverly and the construction of Elliott Landing by Cummings, the luxury condominiums due to open on the Cummings Center campus this fall.

“With more than 550 organizations to manage at Cummings Center and steel going up for a new building at 48 Dunham Road, it’s an exciting and busy time for Cummings Properties—we are growing and hiring,” said Aitchison.

“Cummings Properties has been a great fit for me. The potential for development and opportunity is limitless here, and no two days are the same,” she said.

Aitchison currently resides in Topsfield with her husband, Jim, and their two children, who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new baby brother or sister in October.

Cummings Properties is a full-service development, property management, and construction firm with more than 10 million square feet of commercial real estate in 10 eastern Massachusetts communities.

The award-winning Cummings Center, conveniently located one mile from Route 128, recently celebrated 20 years in business. It is the North Shore’s largest office and technology park, housing seven restaurants, a U.S. Post Office, many national and international business headquarters, life science and technology giants and incubators, several nonprofits and personal service firms, as well as more than 140 medical-related businesses.