After a year of organizing and chairing a series of roundtables and presentations specifically for women in the retail and real estate businesses, Faith Hope Consolo will celebrate the first anniversary of the International Council of Shopping Centers' Women's Special Interest Group program by moderating an industry-centric edition of "The View" television show at ICSC's RECon. The session will be held Sunday, May 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd.
Following a meet-and-greet reception, SIG program chairman Consolo will be joined by an all-star panel of retail and real estate leaders: Holly Cohen, senior vice president of real estate, planning and construction of J. Crew Group; Terri Simard, vice president of law for Target Corp.; Renée West, president and COO of Excalibur and Luxor Hotel and Casino; and Elaine Wynn, a director of Wynn Resorts.
"I couldn't be more delighted-and honored-to have these extraordinary women give of their time and expertise during this extremely busy conference, the largest gathering of retail real estate professionals in the world," said Consolo, chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group. "With Holly and Terri offering the retailers' points of view, and Renée and Elaine giving their unique perspectives on real estate, we should have an informative and fun discussion. It's also a terrific way to celebrate the first anniversary of this program, which has succeeded beyond all of our fondest hopes."
Consolo launched the Women's Special Interest Group initiative at RECon 2010 as part of an overall ICSC effort to customize its educational offerings. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) focus on a specific discipline of the industry and allow professionals in the field to meet and share common ideas, interests and challenges. They also provide excellent opportunities for networking with colleagues and engaging with business associates. The group meetings especially allow for informal, interactive discussions. Following its Las Vegas debut, the women's program continued at ICSC regional conferences in Boston, Kissimmee, Fla., San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta and New York City. The first session of 2011 took place in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
"Launching any new program, particularly during an economic recovery, is a huge undertaking," Consolo said. "I applaud ICSC for its willingness to experiment, and was and remain delighted to chair this initiative in 2010 and 2011. It's been a terrific experience for me, as well, to meet or become reacquainted with some amazing women in this industry."
Most Women's Special Interest Group sessions are formatted as roundtables. But given RECon's large attendance, a more formal, but still interactive session was more practical, according to Consolo. The audience will be able to question the panel during the session. As of mid-April, more than 200 people had registered for the Women's Special Interest Group, even before the panelists had been named.
"During our travels over the last year, we've developed a following of hundreds of women who've found value in the presentations and conversations that our group has become known for," Consolo said. "For months, I've been getting calls and emails from previous attendees asking what we were planning for RECon. I'm looking forward to seeing them all again with our fabulous group of headliners."
Consolo and ICSC will continue to host Special Interest Groups at a number of ICSC regional meetings through the rest of the year. Registration for RECon and an RSVP are required to attend the Women's Special Interest Group. To register for ICSC's RECon, and for the Women's Special Interest Group, visit www.icsc.org/2011SC.
RECon is the global convention for the shopping center industry. It provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world. With nearly 30,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors it is the largest industry convention. The RECon brand now spans four regions: North America, Asia, Middle East and Latin America. RECon, bringing together the global shopping center industry.
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world.
As the industry leader in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting, Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group is renowned for its success on local, national and international platforms. Headed by Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman, the group's comprehensive scope extends to virtually every facet of the retail landscape; from celebrated Madison Avenue to Rodeo Drive, urban retail corridors worldwide, upscale super regional shopping malls, luxury specialty centers and hotel/casino retail. Over the years, the group has brought world-famous fashion designers and international brands to U.S. markets; and U.S brands abroad. Moreover, they are the exclusive representatives of prominent portfolios held by investment funds, public companies and private property owners; as well as consultants for business improvement districts and government agencies.

Renowned for its innovative marketing strategies, the Retail Group offers a wide range of services that are critical for today's economic environment, and provide customized, focused solutions on a client-by-client basis. With unparalleled access to a global network of businesses, owners and buyers, Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group is the foremost retail real estate authority in the country. Tags: