Michael Porterfield assumed control of Tartan Properties Commercial, a family owned business in operation for over 35 years, in 2000. From its inception, this independent commercial real estate brokerage firm has specialized in sales and leasing of office, industrial, and flex properties in the Northern Virginia market. Their focus remains on representing small to mid-sized clients and offering customized, creative and personal attention to both landlords and tenants. Now in its second generation, TARTAN has expanded its practices to include servicing trade associations, non-profit organizations, public affairs and law firms, and local retailers. However, TARTAN has not forgotten its roots in the Northern Virginia industrial and flex real estate market where they still represent warehouse owners and many service-related business. TARTAN is very proud to continue to represent two of its original clients, dating back to 1973. Mike is an expert on Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, commercial real estate.
Mr. Porterfield is active in his community. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, is former board member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, is the past chair of the board of trustees for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, and is a graduate of Leadership Alexandria. As a native resident of Alexandria, Mr. Porterfield has a clear understanding of the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., area and he has a wealth of contacts in the region to provide comprehensive service and networking for his clients. In 2016, the Senior Services of Alexandria honored Mike along with his mother, Kitty Porterfield, and his daughters Keely and Kirby Porterfield at the Generation-to-Generation Gala for their longstanding commitment to service in the Alexandria community.
In 2000, he took a leave of absence from real estate to pursue his other passion–rowing–and coached two American women to a Bronze Medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. As an athlete, Mr. Porterfield competed in five World Championships as a member of the US National Team and was inducted into Northeastern University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He has also coached at Georgetown and Northeastern Universities as well as at T.C. Williams High School. Mike’s wife Emily is an elementary school teacher in the Alexandria City Public Schools and a former NCAA champion soccer player at the University of North Carolina. Mike is an avid cyclist and CrossFit athlete. He is a father of three: his oldest daughter currently serves as an officer in the US Army, the second daughter is an aspiring comedic actress in New York City, and a son in college at Northeastern University.
Stephen Beggs joined TARTAN in 2014 after nine years at Transwestern, where he specialized in the leasing and sale of office and industrial properties in the Northern Virginia real estate market. As a principal at Tartan, he has brought industry knowledge and creative deal-making to leasing transactions, and buyers and sellers of real property. Over the course of his career, Steve has overseen transactions with a total value exceeding $100 million, and has represented many notable institutions such as ING Clarion, Washington REIT, REEF (Deutsche Bank), Liberty Mutual, Akridge, Northwestern Mutual and Peter Lawrence of Virginia.
For his work in the industry, Steve’s work has been recognized by his peers. He was named a CoStar Power Broker each year from 2007 to 2011 and was part of the team chosen as winner of the Washington Business Journal’s “Industrial Deal of the Year” in 2009. After graduating from James Madison University, Steve was an art teacher and athletics coach for a small private school. Now when not closing real estate deals, he is on the trails running, playing soccer, or performing live music with local bands. He is a native Alexandrian and lives with his wife and two daughters in the Del Ray section of his hometown. He currently serves on the city’s Parks & Recreation Commission.
Joining the Tartan team in 2021, Fatimah brought her passion for real estate and corporate level experience, which she gained while working with the U.S. Marshals Service as a Real Property analyst, an asset manager with JLL and most recently as a financial analyst at Capital One.
Fatimah now uses her extensive knowledge of the local markets as the Director of Medical Office Leasing and Sales at Tartan. Fatimah is lauded by her clients for understanding the nuances of their medical real estate and being an active listener. Fatimah knows the right location and economics for her clients is critical to the success of their business and presence in the marketplace. Fatimah is sought-after by both first-time and experienced business owners and investors. She is passionate about real estate investing and takes great pleasure educating aspiring investors to discover emerging markets. She is proud to represent a number of medical and dental tenants and landlords in VA and is a fierce advocate to drive the best results for her clients.
Fatimah earned her BS in Political Science from George Washington University and is a proud Philadelphia native. She is now settled in PG County, Maryland with her husband Ryon where they enjoy DIY projects on the weekend and spending quality time with family. Fatimah’s passion for great sandwiches is only surpassed by her love of murder mysteries.
Kay Chewning joined TARTAN in 2022, bringing with her over 20 years of industry-wide experience. Kay started her career in commercial real estate as an owner’s representative where she worked for such local, national and international property owners at West*Group, Tishman Speyer and Vornado Charles E. Smith. As part of an in-house leasing team, Kay honed her knowledge of asset management, marketing and leasing. Leveraging off of this knowledge base, Kay transitioned into third-party brokerage and soon represented both owners and occupiers with all aspects of the commercial real estate needs, including leasing and sales of office, flex, medical, and retail space.
Over the years, Kay has won such industry awards as the Greater Washington Commercial Real Estate (GWCAR) top producer award as a Developer Representative (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). In addition, Kay sat on the Board of Directors for CREBA and its predecessor GWCAR for 7 years and oversaw the Education Committee for 2 years.
As a pro-bono member of the Carpenter’s Shelter Real Estate Committee, Kay worked with a team of Alexandria leaders to guide the shelter through a 3-year relocation and redevelopment endeavor which has resulted in a state-of-the-art shelter and complementary support program helping people facing and overcoming homelessness.
Kay is a graduate of Tulane University with a BS in Psychology, and the Université Américaine de Paris with a Paralegal Degree in International Law. She is a life-long Alexandria resident active in the DMV commercial real estate market.
Kay recently bought a 250-year-old former “tavern” in Loudoun County and is in the process of undertaking an ongoing period renovation.
Kay is a licensed salesperson in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland.
Emmy Scibetta joined Tartan in June 2022 after graduating from James Madison University in May of 2022. She earned her degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Humanitarian Affairs while spending all four years in the Sigma Kappa sorority. She is originally from Wyckoff, New Jersey, and has now landed in Arlington, Virginia to start her career in marketing. Emmy has a strong passion for social media, and editing and is excited about working with the Tartan team to expand their creative marketing. In her free time, Emmy likes to play volleyball, watch movies and go shopping with her roommates. But please don’t ask her if its Taylor Ham or pork roll, of course its Taylor Ham!
