A storied past leads to a bright future for CREWNY

Real Estate Weekly, July 25, 2001

CREW*NY (Commercial Real Estate Women, New York) celebrated the inauguration of new officers at its annual members' meeting this past May with a wine tasting at the Chelsea Wine Institute. The tasting focused on the small but growing number of women vintners, an apt choice for this exclusive group of industry pioneers. Like the vintners they toasted, the women of CREW*NY are making -- and leaving -- their mark.

CREW*NY's newly elected president is Caroline A. Harcourt, a partner at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop. Despite her principal involvement in two of the year's biggest deals -- she's representing AOL Time Warner on the Columbus Circle redevelopment and the New York Stock Exchange on the development of its new trading facility -- Harcourt graciously found time to discuss CREW*NY.

What is CREW*NY?

CREW*NY is an invitation-only professional association for senior-level women representing the various sectors of commercial real estate in the New York area. Our members are among the most accomplished in their respective fields, representing the best in areas such as architecture, brokerage, development, engineering, finance, and law.

It's truly an extraordinary group. We count among our members Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Chair of Skidmore Owings Merrill; Cherrie Nanninga, Director of Real Estate for the Port Authority; Sherida Paulsen, Chair of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; and Rebecca Robertson, Executive Director for the Re-Development of Lincoln Center. The list goes on.

Who does CREW*NY serve?

CREW*NY is committed to creating more and better opportunities for all women in commercial real estate - not just for its members. Through public programs, scholarships, membership events, and community initiatives, CREW*NY has created a powerful network for visibility and exchange.

This year, for example, in addition to hosting monthly breakfasts with industry leaders and sponsoring an annual awards dinner, (where we honored Veronica Hackett of the Clarett Group), we launched the CREW Headliner Lecture Series at the NYU Real Estate Institute. The series features leading women practitioners, and attracts a lively mix of students and professionals. CREW*NY also established a scholarship program at Baruch's Real Estate Institute to identify, support, and mentor promising' women students. Our advisory committee makes CREW*NY contacts and expertise available to not-for-profits needing real estate advice.

What's ahead for CREW*NY?

This is a wonderful moment for the organization. Over the past 12 years, our ranks have grown from some 25 to 110. Our members have been an integral part of the transformation of the industry.

As we look forward, CREW*NY will continue to play a leading role in promoting women in the field. Through innovative programming, outreach, and increased attention to local issues, we can build on our reputation as the voice for industry women,, while paving the way for the next generation.