NYCREW celebrates five years serving commercial RE industry.

NYCREW Network Inc. is very proud to be celebrating its fifth anniversary, and to have joined so many other fabulous organizations in serving and supporting the commercial real estate industry and the men and women of that industry.

NYCREW Network, Inc. is the New York area chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women's) Network.

CREW was founded in 1989 as a national professional commercial real estate association for the purpose of advancing the success of women in commercial real estate. Its currently has over 7,000 senior real estate professionals as members, and 60 affiliate chapters in North America. More than half of CREW's current members are presidents, CEO's, partners or senior managers of their companies.

NYCREW was formed more recently in 2001, to further CREW's goal by providing OPPORTUNITIES for women to achieve such success in commercial real estate. As such, they are seriously committed to "doing business" together, and the organization is geared towards supporting and encouraging that commitment.

NYCREW consists of women from a broad range of disciplines within the commercial real estate industry, including: financial services; asset and property management; developers; owners and operators; investment and property brokerage firms; and appraisers, accountants, architects, attorneys and other consultants.

They are active in a wide range of industry segments, such as hospitality, industrial, office, retail, mixed use, transportation, etc. Consequently, membership in NYCREW not only affords access to our "women on the rise" and their extensive network, but to the resources of CREW National and all of its members.

In order to achieve its goal of providing opportunities for women to achieve success in commercial real estate, NYCREW hosts a series of

Programs throughout the year, typically designed around three themes: "Industry Spotlight", focusing of substantive and timely topics about various industry segments, new developments and trends; "Leading Ladies," featuring highly successful women in the field, and re-known authors, who provide insights and guidance on career and professional development; and "Strictly Social", affording our members and friends chances to get to know each other better and have some fun, thereby facilitate the development of meaningful business opportunities.

So as to enhance successful networking and educational opportunities for our members, our membership roster is very strategically diverse, representing a cross-section of the commercial real estate industry.

More importantly, our members are very collaborative, rather than competitive, in supporting the professional goals and aspirations of our members, and advancing the success of women in the field.

During Fall, 2005, CREW Network released an industry research study it had commissioned by research firm, Knowledge Systems & Research, Inc., entitled "Women in Commercial Real Estate 2005", which study explored and compared the role, financial standing and professional development of men and women in commercial real estate.

The study looked into the number of women professionals in commercial real estate, the disciplines in which they work, relative participation levels, comparative compensation levels, career success and satisfaction levels.

The study yielded a number of statistics revealing the existence of many significant differences between men and women working in commercial real estate professions, in the nature and extent of their respective career progress, promotion and compensation.

During an 8-week period this summer, each of approximately 20 diverse representative CREW Chapters throughout North America, including NYCREW Network, will conduct a carefully designed event to assist CREW Network to better understand the reasons behind some of those differences, and make recommendations for resolving some of the discrepancies.

The important information gathered from this focused study will be tabulated, analyzed and presented to the CREW membership at the CREW Network national convention in Atlanta in October, 2006.

This will be an excellent opportunity for CREW members from the selected Chapters to be heard in a way that may have a significant impact on our industry, by lending their voices, thoughts and career experiences. NYCREW Network is excited about this opportunity to contribute in a tangible way to the advancement of women in commercial real estate. It is holding its event on August 9, 2006 at The Kitano Hotel.

Other upcoming NYCREW events include: July 27, 2006 Sullivan & Worcester LLP, 1290 Avenue of the Americas (betw. 51 and 52), 29th floor, 8:00-9:15am when NYCREW Network continues its annual "Summer Breakfast Briefings", featuring the "Leading Ladies of NYC Real Estate", with Cheryl Boyer, President of Lodging Investment Advisors LLC.

September 27, 2006, The Harvard Club of New York City, 27 West 44th Street. 6:00-8:00pm NYCREW Network kicks off the Fall with another "Industry Spotlight" event focusing on "The State of Retail in Today's Urban Environment", and featuring Lois Weiss of the N.Y. Post as moderator, with a diverse panel of retail experts featured, including FAITH HOPE CONSOLO, Chairman, Retail Leasing and Sales Division, Prudential Douglas Elliman. The panelists will discuss some of the challenges facing national and local retailers in today's urban environment, solutions to those challenges, and ongoing trends and developments affecting the industry.

For details on these and our other events, visit www.nycrew.org.