CREC hosts real estate brunch
May 8-14, 2023
Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock (CREC MLR) is helping local women build a network that will support them in commercial real estate and eliminate any glass ceiling that remains in metro Little Rock. Over 100 professionals in all segments of commercial real estate attended the second Women in Real Estate Brunch on Tuesday, April 25, at Annunciation Cultural Center, 1100 Napa Valley Drive
.
Facilitated networking activities allowed the women to meet each other, find similarities and connections, and exchange contact information. Esperanza Massana, director of Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise, led a panel of women with commercial real estate experience in a discussion on issues that face women in the industry. Panelists included Cathey Cox, community president and chief loan officer for Eagle Bank; Lisa Ferrell, founder of a real estate development corporation, an attorney, and developer of Rockwater Village; and Dr. Gozde Gursoy, instructor for UA Little Rock’s Construction Management program.
Lessons learned and advice shared by the panel included finding and using personal strengths and “superpowers” as women, favorite projects or activities in their commercial real estate experience, handling relationships and responding to discrimination or unconscious bias, finding and working with mentors, professional resources, and personal care.
Women of all ages and levels of experience in commercial real estate attended the brunch and were particularly interested in a discussion about finding and serving as mentors. Panel members described having important professional development relationships with both men and women and emphasized the importance of finding and sustaining those relationships. Connections that generate positive, supportive energy and allow learning from fellow professionals on the job lead to successful projects and deals as well as illustrate healthy career and personal growth. Susan Hill Gelé, executive director of CREC MLR, offered to create and serve as facilitator of a network of mentors for commercial real estate mentors, with women as a priority. Any commercial real estate professional wishing to participate as a mentor or mentee can contact Gelé at info@crecmlr.org.
The commercial real estate industry is usually associated primarily with development and brokerage professionals that buy and sell properties or land. Those deals cannot be successful in their closing and long-term operation without the contribution of experts in the connected fields of architecture, engineering, construction, legal, finance, insurance, property management, and marketing. Education and networking within and between these groups provide and sustain a thriving commercial real estate market.
CREC MLR supports and promotes all aspects of commercial real estate. Groups, individuals, and companies representing development, property management, finance, construction, and other industries work together to facilitate engagement, education, and networking in commercial real estate in the metro Little Rock area. CREC MLR hosts programs of interest to the commercial real estate industry, including an awards program recognizing significant achievements and the biggest deals of the year, lunch and networking programs with commercial real estate topics of interest, the women’s brunch, and a photo scavenger hunt highlighting local commercial real estate projects. Membership is available for individuals and corporations at crecmlr.org.
(Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock)
