CREW Network elects 2008 board; recent NYCREW events

By Barbara Champoux Our mission… NYCREW Network is the New York area chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network, an organization comprised of over 7,700 senior commercial real estate professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada, as members of more than 65 chapters, all committed to the achievement of parity for women in commercial real estate through opportunity, influence and power. Our mission in New York is providing opportunities for women to achieve success in commercial real estate, through collaboration rather than competition. The success of one woman in commercial real estate contributes to the success of all women in commercial real estate. The national Connection… Although the national campaigns for president are just heating up, the women of CREW and NYCREW are ahead of the game-as usual-having completed their respective elections for their 2008 Boards of Directors. CREW Network recently announced the election of Lynny Osenbaugh, president of Osenbaugh & Associates in Houston, as president of CREW Network for 2008. Osenbaugh served as 2003 president of CREW Houston and joined the CREW Network board in 2005, also serving as a CREW Foundation trustee in 2006, and leading the work ofCREW Careers: Building opportunities in identifying and evaluating measures of success that will enhance the future of that program. Among Osenbaugh's goals for 2008, will be, "to communicate to the real estate industry that CREW Network's members represent the most talented multi-discipline leadersin commercial real estate and that CREW Network is the premiere resource for top level professional women." Osenbaugh articulated a multi-faceted approach for CREW to achieve those goals, including: * Strengthen and expand CREW Network's relationships with other real estate organizations that are focused on creating opportunities for women; * Enhance the value of CREW Network membership by providing members with expanded networking and professional development opportunities; * Leverage the CREW Network: Minding the Gap research report to provide solutions for employers and employees by serving as a resource for top-level women in the industry; and * Increase the numbers of women in commercial real estate by capitalizing on the U-CREW and CREW Careers programs for high school and college women. Also elected to serve on the 2008 CREW Board of Directors as officers and directors, are the following women from across the country: * President-elect: Jane Snoddy Smith, partner, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (CREW Austin); * Immediate past president: Marianne Ajemian, partner, Nutter McClennen & Fish (NEWIRE Boston); * Joan Cleland president, Acquest Development, Inc. (CREW Detroit); *Jennifer Marler, partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP (CREW St. Louis); * Terri Johnson, senior partner, Bedford Capital Consulting (CREW Philadelphia); * Kristen Pleasants, vice president, Real Estate Asset Management - Wachovia Securities (CREW Charlotte); Kristin Blount, senior vice president/partner, Meredith & Grew (NEWIRE Boston); * Eileen Circo, senior vice president, Commercial Development - Lowe Enterprise's Eastern Region (CREW Washington D.C.); and * Lori Hill, principal, Pacific Real Estate Partners, Inc. (CREW Seattle). Recent NYCREW Events… The New York Chapter of CREW Network, NYCREW Network, recently completed its own elections, and is pleased to announce the following women, who are representative of the industry diversity which is a cornerstone of NYCREW Network's strategic plan, have been elected to serve on the 2008 NYCREW Network Board of Directors: Officers: President: Anna Cassan de Valry, Barclay's Capital President-elect: Elizabeth Muskat, Ferzan, Robbins & Associates LLC Immediate past president: Karen Nickerson, Moody's Investors Services, Inc. Secretary: Karen Ramos, ING Real Estate Finance (USA) LLC Tresurer: Kate Stentebjerg-Olesen, HSBCBank USA, N.A. NYCREW Network extends its deepest appreciation and thanks to those directors whose terms expire at the end of 2007, for their great service and many contributions to NYCREW: Barbara Champoux, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP; Marilyn Kane, Butler Kane, Inc.; Elif Bali, Loews Hotels; Deborah Falcone, The Wall Street Journal; and Jennifer Stewart, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. Also, on November 28, 2007, NYCREW Network concluded its formal programming for 2007 with its final "NYCREW and You" Series event focused on Strictly Social, and Presenting "Annual Holiday Gala and NYCREW Network Awards Ceremony." This event was held at the D&D Building, 979 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. from 6 - 8 p.m. During December, NYCREW holds its strategic planning meetings for 2008. Barbara Champoux is the immediate past president of NYCREW, New York, N.Y.