December Newsletter

Hello fellow CREW members, sponsors, and friends:

As 2022 winds down and my tenure as CREWCT President comes to a close, I find myself overcome with gratitude for all that has taken place this past year.  In particular, I am thankful for the camaraderie of our CREWCT family, and thus, in my last newsletter, want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support of, and dedication to, our small yet mighty chapter.  Again, THANK YOU.

I’m not stopping there, of course, as much has happened in CREWCT since we last spoke! 

Recap of Events and Save the Dates:
We were busy in September, kicking the month off with a Coffee & Conversation at Interscape Commercial Environments, followed by a networking golf event at Stanley Golf Course later that month.  We were then lucky enough to partner with CEDAS for a Backstage Pass of the new Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport.  Not only did we get to enjoy some fabulous networking, but Howard Saffan, the owner and developer of the incredible venue, provided us with some terrific insight on the challenges he faced building in the midst of COVID.

We gathered as a group in October for our annual Fall Members’ Dinner in Glastonbury; I know many of you look forward to that dinner every year, and this year’s dinner did not disappoint!  In November, we hosted a virtual Coffee & Conversation where yours truly, joined by President-Elect, Dinora Lopez, updated the group on some key takeaways from the 2022 CREW Convention in Chicago.  The much-awaited third installment of our three-part Professional Development series also took place, where a number of our fellow CREW members shared their wisdom on effective communication both in and outside of the workplace.  Again, a big thank you to Sentry Commercial for hosting us at The Rec for each of these PD events this year.  We can’t wait to go back!  We hosted our final Coffee & Conversation last week at Higgins Flooring in Berlin, and we’ll be sure to continue them into 2023.

We will be closing out 2022 our annual Holiday Party on December 21^st at The Library in Wallingford.  Bring your holiday spirit and come toast the New Year with your fellow CREW members, friends, and guests! 
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
At the beginning of 2022, we formed, as part of your Board of Directors, a DEI Committee, which would serve by educating the Board and the greater membership in all things DEI.  It took us a bit to get our sea legs about us, but we are off to a strong start planning for 2023. 

To get us ready for the busy year ahead, our Board participated in a three-part webinar training series hosted by CREW Network, where we learned how a holistic leadership model can create the culture required to retain talent and ensure employee and member engagement and connection.  A big thank you to Hinckley Allen for hosting our group for this terrific educational opportunity.

Last but certainly not least on the DEI front, I’d like to offer a hearty congratulations to CATIC for signing CREW Network’s CRE Pledge for Action!  In so doing, CATIC, through its President and CEO, James Czapiga, committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and parity within CATIC and, by extension, in the commercial real estate industry.  Signatories to the Pledge hold themselves and their teams responsible for implementing initiatives that support DEI, and for continually and consistently measuring and evaluating progress.  Bravo CATIC! 

If you are interested in signing the Pledge, or in discussing the Pledge with the leadership at your firm, contact any member of the Board and we would be happy to help you.

CREW Careers:
Earlier this month, two of our Board members participated in a CREW Careers event at Grace Academy, a private, tuition-free school for girls grades 5-8 in Hartford.  Our members spoke with these young women about the many opportunities in the CRE industry.  Apparently, the visit was successful, as we have been invited back for another Careers event!  Stay tuned for details on our next visit to Grace Academy.

Sponsorship:
The support we received from our sponsors in 2022 was incredible, and contributed significantly, to our being able to host the terrific events we held this year.  As a thank you to our 2022 sponsors, and in line with our 2022 goal of giving back to the community, we donated $500 each to Grace Academy and Interval House, a non-profit that provides housing for women and children. 

If you are interested in being a sponsor for 2023, our sponsorship campaign is well under way.  You can find more information about sponsorship here.  Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the Board.

A Terrific CREW:
Before I sign off, I would like to introduce you to your new President for 2023, Dinora Lopez.