AREW season starts strong and picks up momentum

AREW has only just begun the new season and we have already had three very well attended, outstanding events! We kicked off the season with a knockout networking event at Hudson Terrace. Inside, mingling amid the hip lounge ambiance, or outside, on the terrace with sunset views, this late September cocktail reception featured fabulous raffle prizes, great food and the opportunity to meet and greet over 150 real estate professionals. Our first luncheon in early October featured Christopher Hoeffel who spoke candidly about the disintegration of the capital markets and the current lending crisis. Hoeffel was with Bear Stearns when the company was acquired by JP Morgan Chase; is president of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association; and is now with Investcorp. Through it all, he is bullish, citing healthy supply and demand levels with CRE delinquencies at historic lows. On October 21st, we hosted our first seminar on the timely topic of transitioning careers in a changing marketplace. The breakfast seminar was attended by more than 30 people seeking career guidance, which they found in the sound advice of our expert panel. This season, AREW's priorities are to provide current market news our members can use to their professional advantage and to step up networking opportunities during these challenging times. Our events to date have fulfilled that goal and our upcoming events will continue that momentum. On November 4th AREW's luncheon will focus on "Residential, Retail & Hospitality...Meltdown or Momentum?" featuring four leading experts in a panel discussion led by moderator Lois Weiss, and is being co-hosted by the Metropolitan N.Y. chapter of the Appraisal Institute. On December 10th we'll be holding a Holiday Celebration luncheon featuring Christine Quinn, New York City council speaker, as our guest speaker. This festive event will be at Bryant Park Grill, 25 West 40th St. in Manhattan, and we hope you will join us. You can find out more about AREW, how to become a member or sponsor or register for events at www.arew.org. Jennifer McCool is the 2008-09 AREW president and vice president of development at Moynihan Station Venture, New York, N.Y.