Bridging the Funding Gap

By Susan Matejcak, Jones Day

In a presentation that was well-timed for the current economic environment, panelists at the June 22 CREW Chicago monthly luncheon, led by moderator Alissa Helgesen (photo right), the President of Circle Realty Advisors, addressed the topic of “Bridging the Funding Gap”.

The panelists (left to right), Lori Healy, Principal with The John Buck Company, Lois Scott, President of Scott Balice Strategies and Jill Sickle, Senior Principal with Syndicated Equities, analyzed some of funding challenges currently facing the real estate industry today and explored some inventive ways to create opportunities.

Member News

Within 24 hours of meeting with a contact made at a networking event, Kate Smith of Trillium Consulting picked up a quick consulting opportunity to assist a residential client in the final stages of building their custom GREEN home.  Since she was also within 24 hours of boarding a flight to Paris, she called Beth Marlin of B.A. Marlin & Associates to immediately respond to the client's needs.

Ways Women Lead Revisited:
Perspectives on Transformational Leadership

By Nasutsa Mabwa, McCaffery Interests

On June 17, CREW Chicago’s first session of a two part series on Transformational Leadership was held at the offices of Holland & Knight LLP.  The program was moderated by CREW Chicago’s Nasutsa Mabwa with participation by CREW Chicago member Leadership & Diversity Committee Co-Chair Neena Konon.

Transformational leadership focuses upon the ways that women can empower themselves.  There are documented gender differences in leadership with women possessing different leadership styles.

The purpose of the workshop led by speakers Dr. Kristi Arndt (photo left) and Dr. Sandra Gautt (photo right) was to explore leadership as one’s “authentic self” which is a metaphor for personal mastery and full engagement.

Message From The President

Mid-year State of The Chapter
By Jan Fiola, CREW Chicago President

What an awesome organization!
I don’t know where to start to share with you all the accomplishments our dedicated Leadership Team and Committees have achieved in only 6 short months. Our Chapter has identified 2010 as “The Year of the Member,” and we have been focusing on initiatives to support our 250 members at various states in their career.
Here are just of the some of the highlights…

• 21 outstanding new members approved
• Enhanced website to serve as the “hub” of information for CREW Chicago and its members
• New, streamlined e-blast format implemented to reduce e-mails to our members
• Associate Membership category approved to include real estate professionals with less than 5 years of experience
• By-laws revised to accommodate the Associate Membership
• All Leadership Team Photos posted on the website
• $27,000 in Sponsorship Dollars raised
• 5 successful educational luncheon programs held
• 3 free innovative Leadership programs for members only
• 2 free supportive Lunch and Learn programs for members only
• First Annual Golf event organized and gaining momentum
• 2 Prospective New Member events hosted
• CREW Chicago New Member dinner hosted
• Approved Scholarship recipients to be CREW members for initial year
• CREW Careers new program format developed
• E-Mentoring program rolled out
• Followed up with non-renewing members to assist with renewal or learn why they did not renew
• Scholarship on-line application approved
• Strategy developed to reach out to Universities for our Scholarship program
• Participated in Roosevelt University’s trade show to promote our Associate Membership
• Sponsored Chicago Transition Center (CTC) to provide programs to assist our members
• Held 3 informal networking breakfasts across the city and suburbs
• CREW Chicago selected to host the CREW Network Convention in 2012

Jan Fiola With The CREW Chicago Leadership Team At Our Midyear Strategy Review Session: Left to Right: Back Row: Janet Johnson, Mary Fuller, Mirela Gabrovska, Helen Garrahy, Shari Albert, Mary Ellen Martin, Cindy Malone, Amy Mahone, Amy Blumenthal, Joanne Bella. Front Row: Cathy Stephenson, Colleen Scrivner, Deborah Krohn, Jan Fiola, Jane Blomquist, Yvonne Jones.

To see full listing of our Chapter’s Midyear Committee accomplishments in the Members Only section at the bottom of the page Click Here..

In addition to our own Chapter accomplishments, we received a visit from our CREW Network Liaison, Ann Waeger. Ann gave an interactive presentation to our Leadership Team during a dinner meeting to learn more about what is happening at the Network level. She then shared the highlights at our monthly CREW Chicago luncheon for our members and guests. We are reminded that as part of our Chapter membership we belong to an 8000 women organization across the US and Canada. There are many new initiatives that are being developed at the Network level to support our efforts starting with a new CREW Network branding statement “We exist to influence the success of the commercial real estate industry by advancing the achievements of women.”

Some of the highlights of the new initiatives at the Network level include…

• UCREW – a new mentoring program to reach out to women in colleges and universities
• CREWbiz – a powerful new tool to assist in networking by allowing members to access detailed information about other CREW Network members – but you have to fill out your profile and post your photo before anyone will know how you can help them (please do the same on our enhanced website)
• Industry Research white papers – look for the newest one to be published this fall
• Chapter Leadership Circle – a way in which the Chapters can give back to CREW Network
• Monthly Board Hosted conference calls – recorded so that any member may listen at any time
• Leadership Series Teleconferences – top economists, professors or real estate professionals share their views – recorded so that any member may listen at any time
• CREW Network Scholarship Endowment Fund – CREW Chicago has made a 2-year, $20,000 commitment to this fund

For more information about these exciting new initiatives on the CREW Network website, Click Here...

I personally want to thank our committee members, our Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs for their commitment to the success of our organization. I also want to thank Ann for her visit and sharing with us the benefits of being a CREW Network member. We have many more exciting initiatives for our members the second half of 2010. As I started out saying…This is an awesome organization!

CREW Last Call For Fall Needs You!

CREW Chicago is in the midst of planning its 8th annual Last Call For Fall event on Thursday, October 28th, 2010.  This is CREW Chicago's big charitable event which raises funds to assist the CREW Foundation in creating opportunities for women and girls to achieve economic and professional success through programs such as CREW Careers and CREW Scholarships.  Last year, CREW Chicago sold over 180 tickets and netted over $27,500 - the goal is to surpass that amount this year.

New member Dinner

By Deborah Krohn, Krohn Studio

Longstanding CREW committee heads and Chapter leadership welcomed our new Chapter members at the New Member Dinner on June 2nd, hosted by Nina Fain.

New and old members enjoyed a friendly, congenial meet and greet where the new members were introduced to the full variety of opportunities for involvement with CREW Chicago. Let’s all reach out and introduce ourselves to a new member, and encourage her to Get Active!

CREW Chicago Dine Around

Story and Photo Edits, Deborah Krohn, Krohn Studio

The annual member’s only CREW Chicago Dine-Around, one of our most popular events, took place on May 26th 2010. Groups met at various locations around town including the Gold Coast, Lakeview, the North Shore and the Western and Northwest Suburbs. The gatherings were all hosted by CREW members.

Managing Personal Finances

By Julie Sorensen, Global Realty Services Group

On May 20, CREW Chicago’s first Professional Development, Leadership & Diversity Committee program, “Managing Personal Finances” was launched at the law firm of Holland & Knight. The objective of the program was to help our members learn how to develop financial goals to support our values, and build a plan to achieve those goals. The program, moderated by CREW Chicago’s Ruth Yates, CPA, included in-depth presentations by Gwen Cohen, First Vice President of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Judith Meguire, CPA, Partner at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP; and Emma Kaladjian, MSW JD CFP, President and Managing Member, Peridot Financial Planning LLC.

CREW Chicago has teamed with The Career Transitions Center of Chicago (CTC) to assist CREW members who are either in transition or contemplating a transition. Through various programs, seminars and coaching sessions, CTC provides support to those seeking a job, looking for meaningful work, or otherwise undergoing a career transition. CREW Chicago’s sponsorship provides members a $50 discount from CTC’s fee of $150 for the first quarter of services; the fee for subsequent participation is $100 quarterly. For information about CTC's program and services, go to www.ctcchicago.org

April Program: Unbuilt Chicago

By Susan Matejcak, Jones Day

What would Chicago and the surrounding area look like if some of the wilder dreams of real estate developers over the past century had actually been constructed?  That was the question that attendees at CREW Chicago’s April 28, 2010 luncheon presentation were invited to contemplate.  Lee Bey, the Executive Director of the Chicago Central Area Committee and a respected Chicago writer, critic, professor and advisor on architecture and urbanism, gave an entertaining and often amusing slide show presentation providing a glimpse of various grand buildings, towering skyscrapers, stately parks and public spaces, and integrated urban developments that were planned but never built.

The May-June 2010 issue of Illinois Real Estate Journal will publish a 4-color glossy format directory profiling women who play a significant role in the commercial real estate industry

The Board of Directors has put a high priority on responding to the heartbeat of CREW Chicago’s membership in these turbulent economic times and has determined it will adjust its membership dues policy for 2010 in an effort to help those active members who are in transition or whose own businesses are experiencing stress as a result of the economic downturn.

Member News

Hope Alexander recently took a new position as Director Program Management for RCMS, a company that provides third party Building Information Modeling (BIM) services. RCMS is owned by American Reprographics Corporation (ARC), a NY Stock Exchange Company based in Walnut Creek California. RCMS has offices throughout the US, Europe and Asia and provides BIM services to architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors and building owners.

Yvonne A. Jones, CCIM, CPM, President and Principal of Zifkin Realty Group, LLC (ZRG) is pleased to announce that we have been hired to manage a 26,000 square foot office building located in Mokena, Illinois and occupied by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union Local 710. In addition, we have been hired as Receiver for a 21,000 square foot mixed-use property in Chicago, Illinois and a 19,000 square foot shopping center in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. Since beginning our management company in 2005, ZRG has continued to grow its portfolio of retail and office properties it manages for area owners and investors. For more information on ZRG’s property management services, please contact Yvonne A. Jones, CPM, CCIM at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (312) 624-7746.

Karin Kraai announced the launch of her firm Forest Partners Real Estate LLC, a commercial real estate consulting practice. The firm provides services in the management and/or execution of the leasing and disposition process for understaffed corporate real estate departments, banks, commercial real estate advisory groups, and niche building owners

Michele Krause of Ginsberg Jacobs LLC was recently named a Leading Lawyer in Real Estate Law: Commercial, by Leading Lawyers Network.

Nancy L. Roach of Strada Real Estate Services was featured on newsonwomen.com with a feature article on March 11, 2010.

   Member Spotlight – Mary Fuller

   Mary K. Fuller, CPA
   Partner
   Shepard Schwartz & Harris, LLP

Identify your profession, company, position and primary responsibilities:

I am an audit and consulting partner with Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP (SS&H).  SS&H is a leading tax, accounting and consulting firm serving privately owned enterprises.  I specialize in real estate audit, tax and consulting work related to shopping center, condominium conversion, industrial, and office properties.  I advise development entities and their owners, property management companies and investor partnerships on a wide range of real estate, audit, tax and forecasting matters.  I work with landlords and tenants relating to lease interpretation and I have served as an expert in landlord tenant litigation.  I also assist clients during the due diligence process when they buy or sell commercial real estate.

CREW Network Leadership Summit & Council Meeting 2010: Delegate Report

By Mirela Gabrovska, MBG Consulting

Janet Johnson (CREW Chicago Board Director, President Elect) and Mirela Gabrovska (CREW Chicago Board Director, Communications Liaison) represented CREW Chicago as chapter delegates in the CREW Network Winter Leadership Summit & Council Meeting which took place on February 4-6, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. Our chapter was also represented by Jan Fiola (President) and Nina Fain (Leadership Committee Chair). The most important developments and initiatives going forward are related to CREW Network’s new 2010 platform “Strong Chapters – Successful Members”, which was unveiled at the Summit by the current President, Kristin Blount, Senior Vice President / Partner of Colliers Meredith & Grew.

February Program: Putting The “Ease” In Green Leases

By Michele Krause, Ginsberg Jacobs LLC

A timely discussion of how landlords and tenants are incorporating “green” issues into their lease negotiations and lease agreements took place on February 24, 2010 at CREW Chicago’s monthly luncheon. Ann Volz of VOA Associates Incorporated served as the moderator of a panel that included Marilyn Lissner of Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois, Inc., Victoria Noonan of Tishman Speyer and Kristen Boike of Jenner & Block LLP. After Kristen outlined the issues currently being incorporated into lease agreements in order to address green issues, Victoria and Marilyn then shared the concerns of landlords and tenants, respectively, in addressing green issues. Kristen started her presentation by providing the audience with a background on topics such as what a green building is (one with a reduction in environmental impact, a comfortable and healthy indoor environment and a location that allows access via public transportation) and what a developer’s motivation for green development is.

Program Synopsis:
Navigating Job Transition: Getting Grounded, Gaining Ground
By Ginna Ryan, Mauge, Inc.

On February 17, 2010, The Career Transitions Center of Chicago (CTC) hosted members of CREW Chicago for an overview of their services.  The mission of the CTC is to provide professional, emotional and spiritual support to those seeking a job, looking for meaningful work, or otherwise undergoing a career transition.  The organization is membership based and is open to anyone who might benefit from its services. Membership includes access to personal coaching, use of evaluation tools to determine personal strengths and weaknesses, skill building sessions for networking, interviewing and resume writing.  They also offer cubicle spaces that are fully loaded with access to phone & internet.

CREW Chicago Launches Mentoring Program

CREW Chicago is launching an exciting Mentoring program based upon CREW Foundation Network’s, “eMentoring Program.”  The Network’s program is designed as a web-based, remote-access application, so Mentorship can span across the country.  CREW Chicago is offering a modified version whereby you can utilize the online tools and also meet face to face with your Chicago-area based Protégé. 

As a Mentor, you and your Protégé will walk through the eMentoring Program’s 12 modules, which are focused on self discovery, values and action planning.  We expect this to be an enriching journey for both you and your Protégé.  CREW Chicago’s pilot program will last for 9-12 months, beginning in March 2010. Click here for an expanded description of the Mentor’s role.

8 outstanding, highly-motivated young women in real estate have been selected as Protégés and are excited to team up with 8 equally motivated CREW Chicago Mentors.  Although there are only 8 Protégés for our pilot program, we encourage all who are interested to respond.  From the respondents, Mentors will be carefully selected based upon who best matches the Protégé’s interests.  If there is a match, you will be contacted mid-March; and then plan on attending a Kick Off Party the 3rd or 4th week of March.  

If you don’t get paired, don’t fret.  We hope this pilot program will be a success and expanded soon. 

If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity, complete the application form.  Once filled out, please return to Debbie Gidley, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax 312-750-1203, by February 28th, 2010.

Who Doesn't Want to Fast Forward to 2040?

By: Yvonne A. Jones, CPM, CCIM
Zifkin Realty Group, LLC

In difficult economic times, many of us are anxious to look forward to better things. Looking forward, however, is more meaningful if we consider what went right and what went wrong in the past. At the January 27th CREW Chicago luncheon, members and guests learned about the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Go To 2040 plan for our region.

CMAP was created in 2005 by combining two predecessor agencies into one. The Go To 2040 plan is our region’s first real comprehensive plan since Daniel Burnham’s vision a century ago. CMAP projects that population and jobs in Chicago’s metropolitan area will increase by approximately 2.8 million and 1.5 million, respectively, by 2040. The counties included in the forecast are Cook, Lake, DuPage, McHenry, Will and Kendall. CMAP also projects that much of this growth will be in dense urban areas, as opposed to wide-open rural areas.

Randall Blankenhorn, Executive Director of CMAP, observed that the 2040 plan is bold, and can only be successfully implemented if both government and citizens begin to think comprehensively about the future. What do we need to do to remain competitive in the years to come? Where will jobs be created? What type of education should we provide to our children so they are ready for tomorrow’s jobs? What type of transportation and/or infrastructure needs do we have? How can we better use and/or conserve our natural resources? Will our cities be wireless? Is our tax structure effective or should it be changed? These are all important questions that CMAP is discussing and asking communities and their residents to share their opinions.

CMAP is engaging and communicating with communities and their residents through their website, MetroQuest(www.metroquest.com). There, one has the opportunity to learn about the agency, keep up with its efforts, and even see the impact that specific policy choices would have on future planning. The website is fun and designed to spark a dialogue which CMAP hopes will foster a “partnership for growth”.

CREW Chicago members who are interested in learning more about CMAP and their Go To 2040 plan are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for Mr. Blankenhorn’s blog at http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/updates/.

We extend our special thanks to Jeanne Peck with @ Properties for interviewing Randall S. Blankenhorn,
the executive director of CMAP.

Fun Fact:
Why is the plan named Go To 2040 and not Go To 2030 or Go To 2050? Randy Blankenhorn, Executive Director of CMAP, stated that the federal government requires regional plans to have at least a 20- year horizon. He observed that “2030 was too close and 2050 was too far”, so they decided on 2040.

I am so excited and honored to be your CREW Chicago President for 2010 and 2011.  

I love this great organization and have been an active member for16 years.  I owe the success of my career to many of the women in CREW Chicago and now in CREW Network.  Many of my closest friends are members of CREW and now it is time to give back.

First, I want to thank Cindy Wozny-Carl, our recent past president for her commitment and leadership the last two years.  These were challenging times, yet with her guidance and the help of the CREW Chicago Board, Committee Chairs, Co-Chairs and member support, our membership is at its all time highest level and the quality of our new members exceeds all our expectations.  CREW Chicago raised money at our annual fundraiser, Last Call for Fall and we distributed a total of $9000 to three very qualified young women to help with their advancement in commercial real estate.  The accomplishments under her leadership the last two years go on and on and we owe much appreciation to Cindy for her dedication to the success of the CREW Chicago organization.  Thanks Cindy.

So what’s in store for 2010?