2008 Event Summaries

2008 CREW DC Awards Celebration
“Women of Impact – Light up the Night!”
October 29, 2008

Impact Award Recipient:
Janet Davis
Brandywine Realty Trust

Annual Achievement Award Recipient:  
Eileen Circo
Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group, Inc.

Esprit de Corps Award Recipient:
Jenny Shtipelman
EagleBank

Rising Star Award Recipient: 
Mandi Wedin
ASB Real Estate Investments

Master of Ceremonies:
Lois Zambo
Studley

The CREW DC Awards Celebration held true to its promise of “lighting up the night”. The event was hosted in the lobby of ING Clarion's spectacular Homer Building and was attended by over 300 people. The Special Events Committee did an excellent job creating an atmosphere which was fun, intimate and enjoyable. Some of the special features of the event included a DJ from New York , a sparkling disco ball hung over top the bar, and comfortable but highly chic lounge furniture brought in specifically for this event. Attendees enjoyed having their drinks poured by the special guest bartenders. Bartenders included Marc Deluca, ING Clarion; Doug Olson, Monument Realty; Brad Flickinger, CBRE; Brendan Owen, Vornado/Charles E. Smith; and Neil Albert, Deputy Mayor.

President Helen Haerle and president-elect Jean Labelle kicked-off the awards celebration recognizing each of the award winners and thanking them for their commitment and dedication to CREW. Studley's Lois Zambo was Master of Ceremonies and had the pleasure of introducing the award recipients. Each spoke about how much CREW DC has given back to them both professionally and personally. Janet Davis was awarded the prestigious Impact Award and delivered a very emotional speech. She thanked everyone who helped her achieve all she has in her career including, other CREW members who have become dear friends over the years and her teammates at Brandywine Realty Trust. It was a special night for CREW DC to honor and thank all the award winners who have given so much to CREW and have helped shape CREW DC to be the successful organization it is today.

View 2008 CREW DC Annual Awards event photos

2008 Fall Networking Roundtable: Green Hospitality Forum
October 2, 2008

Panelists:
John Wood Bolton , Jr.
Executive Vice President and Principal
Perseus Realty

William Grover, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Design Manager
Marriott International, Inc

Brad A. Schaap, PE, LEED AP
Corporate Director of Sustainability
Leo A Daly

Moderator:
Soha Mody
Senior Associate
Pillsbury, Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

The ladies (and a few gentlemen) of CREW were up early on October 2nd to attend a fascinating discussion about green hospitality. The roundtable took place at Pillsbury's office on N Street NW in the District. The group networked and socialized over coffee and a light breakfast before the presentations.

The panelists spoke about development, architecture and management of their sustainable hospitality projects.

John Bolton aka “Woody” talked about Starwood's One Hotel which is the first brand of the hotel located right here in DC at 2201 M Street. It should be complete in early 2010. Woody says that the construction cost of going green can ultimately be passed on to the owner. William Grover reported to the CREW group about the Marriot Marquis which will serve as the convention center headquarters hotel. Projected to open in 2012, the facility is located on a site located adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center . Brad Schaap discussed the MGM City Center Hotel in Las Vegas . City Center 's commitment to sustainability include: conserving water, preserving indoor environmental quality, and conserving energy. Brad noted that there are economies of scale in building green hotels. The project is due to deliver in late 2009. All the panelists had interesting points of view of their respective fields as well as from their individual experiences.

2008 Neiman Marcus Fall Fashion Show
September 14, 2008

Once again the sold out Neiman Marcus Fall Fashion Preview did not disappoint. The morning began with networking, breakfast and for those who wanted a new look - makeovers by Laura Mercier Consultants. Everyone agreed that the ladies who received makeovers came away with a fresh look that was appropriate for a day at the office.

The fashion show was exciting with a preview of the seven "must haves" for fall 2008. These must haves include: berry colors, satin, high-vamp shoes, lace, sleek shapes, romantic blouses and statement jewelry. The fashion show included outfits that would be appropriate for the office as well as some great looks for a more formal work event. All appeared very "wearable" with the exception of those five inch heels!

Wine Pairing & Dinner Event
Cashion's Eat Place
June 11, 2008

What a wonderful night of wine, women and networking.  Summer was lingering in the air with the warm breeze wafting from the street through the open floor to ceiling windows. Cashion's has the feel of a local hangout coalesced with fine dining cuisine.  It was the perfect spot for a few CREW women to meet and enjoy a delectable four course meal paired with harmonizing wine selections.

The night began with a spritzer of Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine and a toast to those partaking in the evening.  While seated at the table for 12, the women were greeted with a refreshing glass of Ulacia Txakoli '06 paired with a chilled Toro Nairagi & Seaweed salad.  The next course was a perfectly seared Foie Gras with poached rhubarb that melted in your mouth.  With this we were given a choice for a wine pairing between the Mader Pinot Blanc '06 and the Cass Estate Grown Grenache '05 .  The main dish comprised of succulent Hawaiian Blue Prawns in a citrus medley, which played nicely with the Domaine Mellot “Les Penitents” '06 . 

Our final course of the evening was the choice between the unctuous strawberry shortcake or a decadent waffle ice cream sandwich.  The Perone Bigaro NV was paired along with both desserts.  Compliments go out to the chef and to all that made this fantastic event possible.

CNCC Golf Series
May 1-14

The CNCC golf series were designed to educate women on the many benefits of golf as well as to arm them with the tools necessary to feel comfortable out on the course.

The Golf Networking Night on April 1, 2008, was the kick off program. Held at the Capital Hilton, it was an evening of fun and networking which provided members a preview of this seasons hottest equipment and apparel.

The popular Golf lessons held from April through May 2008 at Hains Point in DC and Reston National in Virginia sold out again this year.

The CNCC golf outing May 14, 2008, included a golf clinic in the morning and 9 holes of stress free golf in the afternoon.  It is a premiere event that has sold out for 3 years in a row.

CREW DC Tour of the Newseum
Wednesday, May 7

As many CREW members know, the Newseum encompasses over 250,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space including 15 theaters, 14 galleries, 2 state-of-the-art broadcast studios and a 4-D time travel experience over seven floors. This $450 million dollar project was sponsored by Freedom Forum and includes a two-level conference center, food court, museum retail store, residential apartments and a three level restaurant – The Source – Wolf Gang Puck’s first fine dining experience in Washington DC.

During breakfast on the Newseum Terrace, Joe Steller of Tishman Speyer and Susan Bennett, Vice President of Marketing for the Newseum, provided great insight and background regarding the site acquisition process, conceptual design exploration and construction of one of the world’s most interactive museums, prominently located on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Newseum went through an extensive conceptual design process and numerous design charrettes, led by the architectural team of Polshek Partnership Architects and Ralph Appelbaum Associates, before circling back to an initial concept which made reference to the layers of a newspaper and their respective transparencies. The design of the front façade of the building makes reference to the first layer, the most transparent, which the beautiful glass façade clearly references. As visitors enter the Newseum and wander its industrious halls which display a harmonious blend of artifacts, photography, exhibits, films and interactive media experiences, it becomes clear why this fantastic project was six years in the making.

Thank you to our CREW Sponsor, Knoll, for hosting this event, Joe Steller of Tishman Speyer and Susan Bennett of the Newseum.

Jubilee Support Alliance Gala
April 5, 2008
Ronald Reagan Center

Over 500 esteemed guests turned out to “Celebrate the City” and support Jubilee Support Alliance at their annual gala at the Reagan Center. Funds raised from this event are an integral part in supporting the services of Jubilee Housing, founded in 1973 to provide affordable housing and supportive services to economically disadvantaged residents of the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Jubilee serves more than 850 individuals and families, and has been a model for programs around the country seeking effective responses to the urban affordable housing crisis. The vision and purpose of Jubilee Housing is about more than providing housing, it is about making it possible for members of the Jubilee community to become their best selves in an atmosphere of supportive community.

CREW DC has been a long-time advocate of Jubilee, and, following tradition, purchased a table at this year’s gala to support the cause. During the ceremony, Jane Galbraith Mahaffie was honored with the prestigious Jim and Patty Rouse award for her long-lived dedication of time and talents to Jubilee families and the Jubilee cause.

CREW National Capital Committee Event
Golf Expo
April 1, 2008
The Capital Hilton Hotel

CREW National Capital Committee hosted the 2008 Golf Expo on April 1, 2008. Up to 20 vendors were present at the Capital Hilton Hotel selling a wide variety of golf related items and services to kick off this year's golf season. Attendees walked the various booths with options to purchase golf apparel, accessories and equipment. One could even purchase a fabulous get-away golf vacation. There were still plenty of activities even if you were not interested in buying something.  There was a swing cage, a putting contest and Reston National Golf Course was there analyzing golf swings. Fun for all. 

Site Tour of City Vista
April 8, 2008

Thanks to Lowe Enterprises for hosting a great tour of their new City Vista project. Lisa Wiersma, Project Manager, along with a representative of Davis Construction provided not only an in depth look at their development but also pink hard hats!

City Vista is a mixed-use project which includes condominiums, apartments and retail such as an "urban lifestyle Safeway". This Safeway will offer the usual fare as well as a wide array of prepared foods. Also within Safeway will be a Starbucks and a Bergmann's Cleaners. City Vista will also be home to a 26,000 square foot Results Gym. Other retail tenants include 5th Street Hardware and restaurant, Busboys and Poets. If all of this wasn't enough, City Vista offers a pool, clubhouse and one-acre private park all within the heart of the City.

Lisa discussed how much time was spent designing the residential units. This was obvious as everyone commented on the flow and feel of the units. The apartments will receive many of the same interior features as the condominium units, which means these will be luxury apartments.

After the tour, the group went back to the sales center to enjoy a breakfast of fruit, bagels, coffee and orange juice. The CREW members were full of questions regarding the complexity of developing a mixed-use project. There was also an interesting discussion regarding the condominium market. City Vista is currently selling 12-15 units per month which is quite an impressive number.

Thanks again to Lowe Enterprises for an informative and interesting morning.

New Member Breakfast
March 27, 2008

The new member breakfast, sponsored by and held at the Arent Fox, LLP offices at 1050 Connecticut Avenue, was a tremendous success. Despite the rainy weather, there were over 30 people in attendance, including new members, CREW committee chairs, and past presidents Kathy Allgier, Helen Haerle and Emily Magal. The event started with networking, bagels and coffee. After the new members had a chance to grab a bite to eat and get to know one another, Emily Magal, past CREW president 1995, spoke to the group about what CREW has meant to her both professionally and personally. She explained how to get the most out of your CREW membership. Emily encouraged women to not only get involved with their local chapter but also on a national level.

Emily gave several specific examples of how CREW has been beneficial for her and helped her to develop leadership, public speaking, and organizational skills. She reflected back to a lunch she had with a fellow CREW member. The CREW member and Emily performed different jobs in different parts of the real estate industry. During their conversation, the CREW member expressed her frustration with the track to partner within her architecture firm. A few weeks later Emily had lunch with a woman from a large DC architecture firm and the woman raised the topic of partnership within her own firm. Emily, of course, thought of the woman from her previous lunch date. She connected the two women: the first woman decided to change jobs and, ultimately, became a partner at the woman’s firm.

Emily remarked on the openness and friendliness of the CREW network and suggested these characteristics aren’t something she has found at other organizations. At CREW she feels like the fellow members want people to succeed and take the extra steps to help that occur. She mentioned the personal friendships she has formed over the years by getting to know the women in the organization.

To summarize, she broke down her advice for new members into three main points.

1) Get involved! Don’t be a checkbook member. Join committees, participate in CREW golf, attend the regional MARC conference, and participate in the CEO classes.

2) Give it you best! If you volunteer for a project, treat that project as if your next promotion depends on the project’s success. If you don’t give it your best, people will remember and think that’s how you do business too.

3) Have fun! Relax and enjoy getting to know people within the organization.

Site Tour Of Source Theatre
CREW DC Networking Committee
3/13/08

Many thanks to CREW Sponsor Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC) for hosting an intimate and informative tour of the new Source theatre!

Various members of CuDC, Bognet Construction (General Contractor) and VOA Associates, Inc. (Architect) joined the tour to offer their insights on the project. Anne L. Corbett, Executive Director of CuDC, gave the group an introduction to the struggling theatre’s history and how CuDC stepped in and bought the property in 2006 with the goal to preserve it as a home for the performing arts. She and Campaign Director Nadine Gabai-Botero then dispersed the group into two and lead separate tours through the 1st and 2nd levels of the 8,500 square foot facility currently under renovation.

The Source renovation project was originally budgeted at $400,000 and quickly escalated to $1.5 million after it was assessed that major renovations such as roof replacement, HVAC, façade restoration, and new sound and lighting was needed for the facility. Another contributing factor to the increase is the construction and renovation of the 2nd level to a functional area for a new rehearsal/dance studio, classroom and administrative office space. The old Source Theatre Company did not have a certificate of occupancy for the 2nd level, so it was never built out as functional space. The first level will have a concession area and upward stairs to the left when patrons enter the building. The 150-seat black box theater will be flexible and affordable for the area’s small and medium sized arts organizations. There are dressing rooms with a shower in the back and a mezzanine space built in for storing costumes. The outside of the building will feature a new lighted marquee to showcase the venue. Renovations are expected to be complete by mid-April or early May 2008.

Campaign Director, Nadine Gabai-Botero mentioned that Source has raised to-date $2.1 million of the $3.5 million goal needed to fund the acquisition, renovation and operation of the theatre. Most of the funding is coming from individuals, foundations, and corporations committed to saving the theatre. In addition, Source expects to generate income from resident companies that use the facility to help subsidize its operations.

After the tour, the group convened next door where Bar Pilar sponsored the appetizers and Bognet Construction sponsored the drinks. It was a nice, informal setting and gave CREW members a great opportunity to talk to the different individuals involved in the Source project. It was a successful turnout and everyone is looking forward to the Source Festival, reviving the long running Washington Theatre Festival, this summer.

Networking Round Table: Recent Mixed Use Projects in the DC Area

Moderator:
Kirsten Brinker
Forest City

Presenters:

Industry professionals discussed two recent and exciting mixed use projects.  The program was moderated by Kirsten Brinker of Forest City. Jeffrey Resetco of The Peterson Companies and Sean Stadler of WDG Architecture presented National Harbor, a mix of residential, retail and hospitality buildings as part of the new complex.  Mike Balaban of Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group – East and Yolanda Cole of Hickok Cole Architects presented Fort Totten Square, a mix of residential and retail uses. The speakers addressed issues such as the importance of transportation to the development of the site; the target audience for the residential portion of each project; how the right mix of uses was determined and how these projects are projected to change the area in which they are being constructed. The presentations were informative and very interesting. The event was well attended and a great success!

10+/20+ Dinner

The CREW Washington DC Networking Committee sponsored the 10+/20+ Dinner on February 28, 2008 in honor of Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland CREW members who have been active in CREW for ten or more years or involved in the real estate profession for twenty or more years. The festivities were held at the Irongate Inn Restaurant where a cocktail hour lead into dinner in the private dining room before a roaring fire. The evening provided many members an opportunity to reconnect and catch-up with one another. Highlights included a round table discussion of members' favorite CREW memories and many exciting plans for upcoming events. More than 35 members attended the dinner.

Jubilee Wine Tasting

The Jubilee Support Alliance hosted its annual Jubilee Wine Tasting on October 19, 2007. Over 100 wine enthusiasts reviewed wines, sampled delectable foods and bid on auction items -- all in support of a great cause. Michael Franz, a popular wine writer, educator, and consultant, was the featured speaker. Guests reviewed wines from cool climate regions in Australia.

The event raised nearly $39,000 to help Jubilee Housing continue their vital operations and services in our local community. Jubilee Housing offers low-income families the security and stability of a safe and affordable home, support services and a sense of community.  Proceeds from this year's event will provide critical funds for Jubilee Housing's new Youth Services Program, an after school program which will offer youth opportunities that support personal growth and leadership.

Please visit www.jsadc.org to learn more about Jubilee Support Alliance's programs and events.

Networking Roundtable: Senior Housing

The  attendance  was good and the discussion was very well received. The moderator for the program was Dan Gorham, Senior Consultant and Partner from Fountain Square Properties. Dan described Senior Housing as a near core investment in today's real estate market. Seniors want to be near family, amenities and in active locations and not be segregated like in the past. It is critical to integrate operations with the design and location to create the right product. Cornelia C. Hodgson, the president of Dorsky Hodgson Parish Yue Architects, stressed on the importance of good design. Light-filled interiors, full height windows, views, indoor-outdoor connection, independent living combined with care facilities were some of the design features in the 2 projects she presented. Her designs create an interconnected community and spaces for well being. Harley Cook, Partner at Fountain Square, touched on the development of Senior Housing. Seniors should not be treated as a separate class. Fox Hill, is an example of an Alternative Senior Development . The facility has condos for seniors as well as assisted living. Of the 16 acres of land, 6 acres are dedicated to walking paths and wooded areas. The club level has everything an individual would need in a non-urban site, including game rooms, club room, performing arts center, salon and spa and recording studio. Carolyn Floyd, VP of Operations at Sunrise, portrayed the new product as selling a lifestyle and not just real estate. Enhanced Programming gives a new meaning to resident life. Seniors are provided with a safe and secure environment, healthcare and entertainment facilities. The sales process is geared to help Seniors make the right decision. Success of such a project entails early participation of the Operations Committee in the design process.

CREW DC Clothing Drive Benefitted "Suited for Change"

CREW DC kicked off summer in style by holding a clothing drive to benefit "Suited for Change" in conjunction with the June meeting at the Capital Hilton. "Suited for Change" is a Washington DC based non-profit that provides professional clothing and ongoing career education to low-income women who have completed job training and/or job readiness programs and are currently seeking employment.  Donations from the event filled the Jeep Cherokee of CREW DC member Stephanie Hixson of Jones Lang LaSalle to almost overflowing as she and co-worker Whitney Sanger collected donations both at the Capital Hilton and at the internal clothing drive Jones Lang LaSalle held in conjunction with the CREW event.  After dropping off the clothes, Stephanie and Whitney were treated to a tour of the Suited for Change store by Office Administrator Joyce Thomas.

CREW DC member Phyllis Fordham of Tiny Jewel Box serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors at "Suited for Change" and worked closely with Susan Strom of Nelson Architects, who leads CREW's community action committee to organize the clothing drive.  Another influential member of the "Suited for Change" Advisory Council, Kathleen Matthews, award-winning journalist and guest speaker at the CREW 25th Anniversary Gala, was instrumental in raising awareness of the synergies between the two organizations, sparking the idea for the drive.  Based on the success of this event, this may become an annual tradition!

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