The second annual event gathered industry leaders from every part of the Puget Sound real estate industry
SEATTLE, WA (December 11, 2019) – With a goal of celebrating the diversity and leadership of women in the commercial real estate industry across the Puget Sound region, CREW Seattle and The Registry partnered for the second year in a row to organize ELEVATE, the awards gala event held on October 16, 2019 attended by some of the most prominent real estate professionals.
The event, presented by Gold Sponsor Rushing, was a celebration of women in the commercial real estate industry. It honored employers and associations that have implemented programs promoting greater diversity in the workplace, and it celebrated exemplary women who are making a positive impact in today’s industry. The honorees came from 125 nominations, and they were awarded the top recognition in six categories: Break the Ceiling: Corporate Leadership Award; Association Ally Award; Inspirator Award; Rising Rock Star Award; Industry Impact Award; and Women in Tech Award.
“Forming a partnership with CREW Seattle to produce ELEVATE was the epitome of what a joint partnership should be,” said Heather Bosanac, president and co-founder of The Registry. “Together, we saw a clear vision for a fresh event that the industry would be excited to get behind. As a female business owner in this industry, I too have been inspired by other female leaders and mentors who have guided me through my professional growth, and the production of ELEVATE is a way to pay it forward.”
The event, held in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, started out with a keynote delivered by Collette English Dixon, a Chicago-based executive director of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University.
Following Ms. Dixon’s keynote address, the following finalists and winners were announced:
BREAK THE CEILING: CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Break the Ceiling: Corporate Leadership Award will be given to a company that promotes equality in the workplace and has strong programs in place to advance women and/or culturally diverse employees within the commercial real estate industry.
Sellen Construction (WINNER)
Rushing (FINALIST)
Stokes Lawrence (FINALIST)
ASSOCIATION ALLY AWARD
The Association Ally Award recognizes an exceptional association or group, outside of CREW, that promotes the evolution of women in the commercial real estate industry.
NAIOP (WINNER)
INSPIRATOR AWARD
The Inspirator Award acknowledges the exceptional efforts of a woman or man in the real estate industry who supports, inspires, coaches and/or mentors people in their profession.
Kris Beason, HITT Contracting, Inc. (WINNER)
Kim Sandher, Pivotal Law Group, PLLC (FINALIST)
Scott Redman, Sellen Construction (FINALIST)
RISING ROCK STAR
The Rising Rock Star Award is given to an exceptional young woman, thirty-five years and younger, who is influential, dynamic and shows early promise as an industry leader.
Serena Sayani, Stokes Lawrence, P.S. (WINNER)
Allison Shephard, Holland Partner Group (FINALIST)
Joanna Callahan, Hess Callahan Partners (FINALIST)
INDUSTRY IMPACT AWARD
The Industry Impact Award honors a dynamic woman who has made a positive impact within the commercial real estate industry through her entrepreneurial spirit, deal-making, commitment to diversity or other unique and remarkable achievements.
Karen Braitmayer, Studio Pacifica (WINNER)
RaeAnn Rushing, Rushing (FINALIST)
Kris Wilson, Perkins Coie LLP (FINALIST)
WOMEN IN TECH AWARD
The Women in Tech Award is given to a woman who stands for innovation and leadership. She has a role in real estate, design or facilities, or is involved in technology projects implemented in real estate.
Susan Wagner, Microsoft (WINNER)
Erina Malarkey, Remarkably (WINNER)
A number of corporate sponsors supported the event. They include:
GOLD
Rushing
SILVER
Marx Okubo
BRONZE
CBRE
Peterson Sullivan (now BDO)
Swinerton
RECEPTION PARTNERS
BNBuilders
Hermanson
Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson
Stokes Lawrence
Unico
The event follows in the great tradition of CREW’s mission to promote and advance business, networking and leadership for the success of women in commercial real estate. With the successful sold-out celebration, the two organizations are looking forward to extending their partnership into the future.
About CREW Seattle
Founded in 1985, CREW Seattle has a mission to promote and advance business, networking, and leadership for the success of women in commercial real estate. With more than 250 Seattle area members, CREW Seattle is the leading local industry organization focused on advancing women in commercial real estate by providing education, leadership development, and networking opportunities to achieve parity in leadership, influence and compensation. CREW Seattle is part of CREW Network, which has more than 70 chapters and 11,000 members globally.
About The Registry
The Registry is an integrated real estate media company that provides relevant and broad coverage focusing on analysis, information gathering and breaking news in the real estate industry. It also partners with a number of industry associations in an effort to elevate the profile of those partner companies and help expand the coverage of the industry through its channels.
