300-member Long Island Real Estate Group is growing, innovating and diversifying

Founded by a group of top real estate and affiliated industry executives with a desire to network and do good in the community, LIREG has since grown to more than 300 members. For over 10 years, the group has raised funds for charitable real estate projects across Long Island, formed new sub groups to attract younger members and women, created programs to promote careers in the industry among college students, sponsored networking programs that have attracted top newsmakers and, more recently, begun a series of intimate, roundtable networking experiences. "The growth and accomplishments of LIREG over the past 10 years amazes me," said co-president Samuel Yedid. He said the key reason for LIREG's success, "has been the platform our dedicated and hard-working executive board has developed to provide exciting and well-attended networking events while raising nearly $1 million for real estate related charitable projects through board contributions, sponsorships and networking events. Needless to say, we are proud of what we have accomplished." Brad Cronin, also a co-president, said, "There is a contagious camaraderie among the executive board and throughout the membership that has resulted in Long Island real estate professionals forming new relationships both personally and in business." Through LIREG, he said, many new friendships have been formed among members and old friendships strengthened. "Like any group, the people involved make the organization what it is and in LIREG's case we have great people who are committed to making Long Island a better place. David Einbinder, a former president, has been behind many of LIREG's initiatives, including LIREG@Work, a program that rotates groups of Hofstra University students through various members' businesses for one day each week over the course of a semester. He's also the father of one of the group's newest initiatives, the LIREG Roundtable, which brings together up to 20 members in a small venue every six weeks in an attempt to more personalize the LIREG experience and enable members to learn about something—and about each other. So far, LIREG Roundtable events have brought groups to the emergency communications center of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System in Syosset, the F-6 Labs pistol range in Plainview and, more recently, to Autosport Designs in Huntington to learn about exotic cars. "The experience of learning something new, coupled with cementing relationships formed through LIREG members is second to none. Spending time together is what it's all about, just the basic of life," said Einbinder. Also new is LIREG W, a women's networking group that brings together professional women in the real estate industry and the allied trades who live or work on Long Island. Founded earlier this year by Alison Brennan, Cara Cronin, Jennifer Ecker and Elizabeth Joyce with the goal of spreading LIREG's vision to other professional women in the industry. The group kicked off with a wine tasting at Seasons 52 at Roosevelt Field Mall, where more than 80 of the top women in industry connected with each other while learning about wine from a local sommelier. A more recent intimate gathering was held at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club with the theme of LIREG W "growing together." Responding to its growing membership, LIREG W's organizers have started planning a fall event. "With the leading women developers, owners, and allied trades in attendance, it is our goal to continue to strengthen the vision and mission of LIREG," said Brennan and Cara Cronin. LIREG's other sub-group, LIREG New Gen, was established in 2008 to provide the industry's young professionals on Long Island, typically those under 35, a comfortable and relevant environment to network with peers as well as become involved with multiple charities and volunteer groups. New Gen founders/organizers include Sean Cronin, Bram Weber, AJ Johnston, Scott Burman and Lee Passavia. New Gen members—there about 80—interact with their peers by participating in specific charitable projects and social events. They also meet with industry leaders in the industry as part of the greater LIREG organization. The New Gen group holds networking events throughout the year. They have included a breakfast with a panel discussion that included such influential developers as Jan Burman, Richard Mack, Scott Rechler and Matt Whalen and, most recently, an outdoor spring cocktail party at Prime restaurant, overlooking Huntington Harbor. LIREG's programming and diversity outreach programs have paid off. "LIREG has grown from 10 or so founding members to one of the most vibrant, well-respected professional organizations on Long Island," said Yedid.