2010 Committee Sign Up Form Below are brief summaries of each CREW Houston committee. Your participation in committees is encouraged for the continued growth of CREW and as a benefit to your own career. Through your involvement you will meet new business contacts and be at the forefront of real estate issues. To join a committee or to contact a committee chair please click on the appropriate name to generate an email. Awards Chair: Kathrine Guest - Regions Bank The Awards Committee promotes the annual CREW Network Awards given every June; solicits nominations for the awards; and selects the local finalist in each category. Winners are announced at the CREW Network Convention. The Awards Committee also promotes the local CREW Houston Awards given each December, plus the monthly CREW Star awards. Communications Chair: Lindsey O'Conor - HFF The Communications and Public Relations Committee manages content for the CREW Houston website. We cultivate and edit information from the various CREW committees and the board; develop guidelines, policies and procedures regarding the website; and perform monthly verifications to ensure all areas of the site are operating correctly. We work with the CREW administrator and outside vendors to maintain the site. The PR Committee holds responsibility for coordinating PR activities among the various chapter committees and providing support on special programs and projects. PR also coordinates all communications with the press and supports the mission of building the CREW Houston Chapter's profile among colleagues and clients. There are five specific areas of concentration: logo development; programs publicity; press relations; brand development; special programs support. Community Outreach Chair: Irma Sanchez - Westchase District The Community Outreach Committee was organized to provide a community service outlet by coordinating events that will energize the membership while providing support to those women and girls that are truly in need. Starting with the highly successful "done-in-a-day" program, the Community Outreach Committee is taking on larger and more visible projects to utilize the philanthropic interest of our membership in ways that best exemplifies the CREW spirit. Recently, the committee, in conjunction with the National CREW Foundation, kicked off the pilot program of "CREW Careers: Building Opportunities". The group conducted a multi-week educational program with the local Girl Scouts in order to teach the young women about careers in real estate. CREW Careers Committee Co-Chairs: Traci Jackson CREW Careerswas created as a result of our success in being one of the ten CREW chapters nationally to pilot the National CREW Foundation's, "CREW Careers: Building Opportunities" program in 2005. The committee's purpose is to host a one-day program for local girl scouts and other high-school age girls in an effort to educate the teens on career opportunities within commercial real estate. The program is designed to reveal the professions involved in developing raw land into successfully leased property. Participants will work side by side with female architects, brokers, property managers, attorneys, and others to gain exposure to the commercial real estate industry. The program is held annually. CREW Classic Golf Committee Chair: Rhonda Sands - Regions Bank The Golf Committee provides members the opportunity to be involved in planning the annual CREW sponsored Golf Tournament, which supports local non-profit organization(s) that tie to CREW's philanthropic interests (women and children). This committee provides additional networking opportunities for CREW membership Grant Making Co-Chairs: Susan Stanton- Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, LLP and Sandra Harris - Cushman & Wakefield of Texas, Inc. The Grant Making Committee will identify organizations and programs to support through CREW Houston's charitable grant making. The Committee will focus on identifying organizations and programs that create opportunities and foster skills for women and girls that support choices and careers resulting in their economic self-sufficiency. Member Services Co-Chairs: Tiffany Soltis- Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C.and Heidi Andrews- Old Republic Title Company of Houston The Member Services Committee ensures that the membership receives value through their membership and participation in CREW Houston. The committee is primarily responsible for communicating the benefits of membership and encouraging member involvement. Major projects include, annual directory update, the small group dinners held twice a year and the Ambassador program. The Ambassador program is a new program which is being implemented to help transition new members into the organization. Mentoring Committee Chair: Stephanie Harrison - Coates Rose Yale Ryman & Lee, P.C. The Mentoring Committee is a newly formed committee charged with developing a voluntary mentoring program for CREW Houston members. The Committee will identify the needs of the membership and the features important to the success of a CREW mentoring program, establish the framework for its execution and design a plan to communicate program information to the membership. New Members Chair: Jeanne Bassetti Jullien - Gorrondona & Associates, Inc. The New Members Committee is responsible for recruiting new members who offer diversity in their experience as well as their business specializations. The strength of the CREW Houston organization is through its membership and the opportunities provided for networking. In addition to new member recruitment and managing the application process, the committee organizes new member functions to introduce new members to the membership and Board members. Partnership Co-Chairs: Chelsea VilesCutler - CB Richard Ellis and Stephanie Wiggins - CenterPoint Energy The Partnership Committee is responsible for contacting real estate market leaders to provide financial support for the CREW monthly luncheons and special events. In appreciation for their support, sponsoring companies are given dedicated time at our meeting to present themselves and the members of their firm, and are also featured in the CREW Houston directory, and on the website. Programs Co-Chairs: Arlis Brodie - Morris Architects, Inc. and Beryl Mazella - Mahoney & Associates CREW Houston provides exciting and informative monthly luncheon meetings with topical presentations. These meetings are organized by the Programs Committee whose job is to ensure quality speakers and an environment that is enjoyable, well located and conductive to networking. Presenters focus on real estate issues or real estate-related topics, and the annual Economic Forecast is fast becoming a program anticipated by the entire real estate community and their clients! Special Events Chair: Barbara Guffey - HFF The Special Events Committee organizes activities for socializing and networking outside the monthly luncheon programs. Examples of special events include golf clinics, wine tastings, fashion shows, dine arounds, and museum tours. There is generally a small fee to attend the function and the majority are for members only. UCREW Committee Chair: Katherine Doggett - Integra Realty Resources Membership Committees Coordinator: Mary Axelrad - Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise P.C.