A day dedicated to celebrating the impact that women have made in the commercial real estate industry. That’s the best way to describe the 5th annual Women in Real Estate Summit held by Illinois Real Estate Journal.
The big event took place March 6 at the Ivy Room in Chicago. More than 230 commercial real estate professionals attended to hear the stories of other women who have crafted thriving careers in the industry, to network with their fellow industry leaders and to enjoy each other’s company during the CLINK! cocktail social event that followed the summit.
Making this year’s event extra special? Together with cancer nonprofits Fighting Pretty and Gilda’s Club of Chicago, REjournals raised $1,100 for Fighting Pretty Strength & Beauty Kits that will be delivered to 110 cancer patients throughout the Chicago area.
The event took place during Women in Construction Week and Women’s History Month, something speakers and moderators noted during the summit. And while speakers agreed that women have made strides in securing commercial real estate jobs, they said that much work remains to be done. The commercial real estate industry especially needs more women filling the industry’s top leadership roles, speakers said.
Sophie Bidek, Partner with Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and member of the 2024 board of directors with CREW Chicago, opened the summit with her presentation outlining the gains that women have made in commercial real estate.
The Fireside Chat discussion featured Collete English Dixon, Executive Director of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University, and Lori Healy, Senior Vice President of Operations & Implementation Lead with the Obama Presidential Center.
Speaking on the Women Paving the Way in Commercial Construction panel, which highlighted success stories of female construction professionals, were Stephanie Cotey, Senior Director of Project Services, W.E. O’Neil Construction; Kristen Fuentes, Director of Virtual Construction, Pepper Construction Company; Melissa Bogusch, President | Managing Principal | Architect of Record, Whitney Architects; Neely Sadowski, President of Construction, The Missner Group; Candace Small, Design Phase Manager, Mortenson; and Mary Person, Moderator, Senior Vice President, Public Private Initiatives, Clayco.
The State of the Market Update: Industrial, Office, Retail, Multifamily Finance & Property Management panel featured several Chicago-area commercial leaders. Speakers were Susan Tjarksen, Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield; Carrie Szarzynski, Senior Managing Director, Head of Management Services, Hiffman National; Melanie Jefferies, Principal, Millhouse Development; Karen Kulczycki, Moderator, Vice President, SVN Chicago Commercial; Amy Hall, Chief Operating Officer, CATON Commercial; and Amanda Ortiz, Director of U.S. Industrial & Logistical Research, CBRE.
The Notable Women in Commercial Real Estate panel featured some of the CRE industry’s biggest names, including Regina Stilp, Founding Principal, Farpoint Development; Mary Ludgin, Senior Advisor & Global Investment Committee Member, Heitman; Randy Fifield, Founder & Chairwoman, Randy Fifield Modern Living; Elizabeth O’Brien, Moderator, Partner, Leader of Real Estate Practice Group, Levenfeld Pearlstein; and Jessica Caffrey, Executive Director, Cook County Land Bank Authority.
