March Newsletter

Hello fellow CREW members, sponsors, and friends:

Welcome to the first edition of the 2022 CREW CT newsletter and, of course, Happy International Women’s Day!  I am honored to be serving as your President for the year, and cannot wait to connect with you on all things CRE.     

Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic, but I sense spring is just around the corner, and with that, all things new beginnings, fresh starts, and – especially for CREW CT – some exciting things in store.
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative:
We are very excited to announce the creation of the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, chaired by CREW CT Past President, Lisa Lugauskas.  The DEI Committee echoes the mission of CREW Network’s DEI Taskforce, which was formed in late 2019 to give chapters the ability to build greater diversity in their membership and increase equal opportunity for engagement and leadership. 

As an organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the commercial real estate industry, diversity, equity and inclusion have been a part of the CREW Network’s mission since its inception.  The creation of the CREW CT DEI Committee will help our Chapter expand the conversation further.  The DEI Committee will act in a consulting role, advising the Board on how to increase DEI in our membership, focus on DEI in our programming and events, and – put more broadly – view all things CREW CT through a DEI-focused lens.  We can’t wait to see what the DEI Committee does.
 
Community Involvement:
For the second year in a row, CREW CT is proud to sponsor the Building Foundations Breakfast, which will be held on April 28, 2022 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown.  This event brings CRE and building industry professionals together to raise resources to prevent children and families from becoming homeless, and to secure stable housing for those living in shelters.  We have two tickets available, which we are offering to our members and sponsors, on a first come, first serve basis.  If you’re interested in attending, please email me directly.  Looking forward to seeing you there!
 
Save the Date:
We have all come to know and love CREW CT for its programming and networking events, and 2022 will be no different.  First and foremost, please mark your calendars for our signature event, the 27^th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards, which will be held on May 18^th at Hops on the Hill Brewery in South Glastonbury.  Nominations are due April 1^st and can be submitted on our website.   

The first installment of our three-part Professional Development series, “Virtual Presence and Communication Skills”, is on March 23, 2022.  Communications experts at The Latimer Group will spearhead this workshop, instructing attendees on the tools and techniques needed for effective, engaging and productive communication.  Attendees can participate virtually or attend an in-person viewing, followed by a networking reception, at The Rec in Hartford.  A big thank you to Sentry Commercial for graciously welcoming CREW CT into their beautiful space!  Details on parts two and three of this series will be coming soon.

Our Coffee & Conversation groups are still going strong, and will be held regularly throughout the year.  Details on the March 31 “C&C” will be coming soon. 

Planning for other events, including our annual Essex Summer Social, is also underway.  Keep an eye on your inboxes for details in the coming months.
 
New Members: 
We are thrilled to welcome 9 new members in 2022!  Please welcome:
Kate Beal – Red Thread
Melissa Braun – Whittlesey PC
Jane Davey – LAZ Investments
Robin Doerfler – SK & Associates
Miriam Lewis – Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Amy Luntta – ID3A, LLC
Lauren Lyngholm – Ford & Paulekas, LLP
Samantha Santos – Turner Construction Company
Jillian Tara – Phase Zero Design

None of what our small yet mighty Chapter does would be possible without our sponsors – thank you!  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, or in sponsoring a particular event, feel free to reach out to anyone on the Sponsorship Committee (details below).

Stay well!


Andrea Gomes
2022 CREW CT President

2022 Board Members