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COMMITTEE CORNER
UCREW/Foundation
UCREW is the CREW DC chapter's initiative that supports career development for undergraduate and graduate women pursuing degrees in real estate or a related field. Our goal is to connect students with CREW resources and opportunities, such as mentoring, scholarships and jobs that will help them start or grow their careers. The Foundation Subcommittee within UCREW is responsible for promoting the CREW Network Foundation within the chapter, including our annual chapter challenge.
UCREW CRE Career Connect Program
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Chengcheng Yang
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At the beginning of 2017, UCREW launched its new annual student engagement and development program, CRE Career Connect. Four students were selected to participate in the program which exposes female students to commercial real estate through winter externships, offers a student membership to CREW DC, and opportunities to network with and learn from our membership base at our chapter events.
Our 2017 CRE Career Connect Program participants are:
- Josie Twomey - Virginia Tech University, BS in Finance with a Minor in Real Estate
- Chengcheng Yang - John Hopkins University, Master's in Real Estate and Finance
- Natalie May, George Washington University - MBA in Business Administration & Finance
- Zadia Hafiz, Georgetown University - Master's in Real Estate
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Josie Twomey
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Each student had the opportunity to extern with two out of the three sponsoring companies over winter break in January.
What's an externship? It's a short shadowing opportunity for students interested in pursuing commercial real estate post-education, with a special focus on getting more women involved in the industry. Students were introduced to different departments and individuals and exposed to real estate careers in a real-world setting.
Our students enjoyed being able to participate in the externship portion of the program. Josie Twomey stated, "The externship program exceeded my expectations. I truly enjoyed being able to meet so many professionals at each company I went to. Hearing everyone's stories about how they got to their current position was inspiring. Learning more about the companies and the directions they're heading, helped me decide the career track I see myself taking." Chengcheng Yang appreciated "being able to speak with many different individuals" and seeing "different perspectives".
Our program participants are motivated young women looking for future career opportunities within commercial real estate. Get to know them by reaching out through CREWBiz, or if you see any of our student members at a luncheon or CREW event, introduce yourself!
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CREW Network White Paper - Closing the Gap: Addressing Gender Bias and Other Barriers for Women in Commercial Real Estate
Following the March 2016 release of the 2015 Benchmark Study Report: Women in Commercial Real Estate, CREW Network focused on digging deeper into what women considered the top barriers to success in commercial real estate, including (#1) the lack of a company mentor/sponsor, (#2) the lack of promotion opportunity (#2) and (#3) gender discrimination/bias. This white paper details both statistical data and personal accounts of these barriers previously unmeasured and unrecorded in the industry - and largely unaddressed.
A total of 1,019 industry professionals - both men and women - participated in our 2016 industry research survey, which included questions about gender bias, compensation practices, mentoring and sponsorship, ageism and the aspiration gap. Key findings:
- 65% of professionals surveyed have personally experienced or observed gender bias against women in their commercial real estate workplace in the last five years.
- 55% have personally experienced or observed gender bias against women outside of the formal workplace in the last five years (i.e. women excluded from colleague hunting or golf trips).
- 91% of respondents said they have not displayed gender bias against a woman as a hirer or manager in commercial real estate.
- 32% of respondents believe the lack of support for women in the C-Suite and/or at home is the #1 reason for the aspiration gap; the second most popular response (26%) was that women believe being in the C-Suite will adversely affect their commitments and responsibilities outside of work.
- 62% believe that if employers were required to share compensation information, industry pay would be more equitable.
In addition, nearly 2,200 comments and open-ended responses detailed both positive (mentor
success stories, supportive environments and workplace practices) and negative (blatant gender
bias, unequal benefits and exclusion) experiences in commercial real estate.
Come hear Sally Colella discuss this at the CREW DC Breakfast Roundtable on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
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CREW DC Member-to-Member Business
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
One of the first commercial building renovations in DC designed to meet net zero energy, AGU is located at 2000 Florida Ave, NW. The preconstruction phase is wrapping up and construction is expected to begin next month. For more in-depth details, checkout:
http://building.agu.org/category/project-update/
The following CREW DC members are working on this exciting project:
Greta Perry, MGAC/ Owners rep
Elizabeth Pye, MGAC/ Owners rep-business intelligence
Allison Prince, Goulston Storrs/Zoning attorney
Holly Lennihan and Yolanda Cole, Hickok Cole Architects
Karyn LeBlanc, Stratacomm/ communications
Kodi Coe, Skanska, General Contractor
Samantha Patke, Interface Engineering
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Don't Forget! Chapter Challenge 2017
Money raised from CREW Network Foundation provides scholarships to women who are pursuing degrees in a field related to Commercial Real Estate; creates programs that educate women and girls about career opportunities in the Commercial Real Estate industry; and provides mentoring relationships to those new to the industry. Donations also make it possible for CREW Network to remain the leading publisher of research on women in commercial real estate - research that is helping close the compensation and advancement gap for women. Through its benchmark reports and annual white papers, CREW Network can inform the industry and mark the progress of women in commercial real estate.
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Sara Todd, the 60th Women of Vision
 CREW Network Foundation inducts 60th donor into Women of Vision program
Sara L. Todd was recently named the 60th inductee into CREW Network Foundation's Women of Vision donor program, which recognizes those who have donated $10,000 or more in cumulative giving to the Foundation. Sara is highly committed to bringing more women into commercial real estate and is a fantastic ambassador for the Foundation's mission. Congratulations and thank you Sara!
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CREW Network Foundation 2017 scholarship opportunities!
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Mar. 21: Luncheon - Trailblazers in a Hard Hat World
Apr.19: Luncheon - Building Better Cities
May 15: Members Only Golf Outing
Sept. 28: CREW DC Awards
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