NEWiRE President message: Changing of the guard

It's hard to believe a year has passed and that this is my final column as NEWiRE president. It has been an honor to serve this organization and I would just like to share a few parting words of wisdom. First, I hope people think of me as a president who cared. I truly believe in the NEWiRE mission to promote the advancement and parity in influence, opportunity and power of women in the commercial real estate industry. I have seen evidence of our success in record membership numbers (we currently have 462 members), as well as our affiliation with the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) network, which essentially increases our numbers to over 8,000 across North America in 74 markets. What I have enjoyed the most is meeting and working alongside some amazing women. This includes the current board along with the incoming board and the current CREW delegates and incoming CREW delegates: NEWiRE Board of Directors: * Gayle Bourdeau, Stewart Title Guaranty Company (Incoming President); * Deborah Bayha, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company; * Robyn Duffy, Jamestown Properties; Sarah Lagosh, Eastdil Secured, LLC; * Nancy McCafferty, Massachusetts Housing Partnership; * Angela Parziale, Walter & Shuffain, P.C.; * Claudia Piper, Webster Bank; and * Susan Shelby, Rhino Public Relations. Retiring Board members: * Janet Pirrello, BayNorth Capital, LLC (Immediate Past President); * Jodi Dakin Loughlin, OfficeWorks Inc.; * Deborah Goddard, Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development. New Board members: * Leslie Cohen, Samuels & Associates; * Cara Nelson, DLA Piper LLP (US); and * Cheeta Lorian Miho Soga, Nitsch Engineering, Inc. Current CREW Delegates until December 31st * Barbara Trachtenberg, DLA Piper LLP (US); and * Gayle Bourdeau, Stewart Title Guaranty Company CREW Delegates as of January 1st, 2014 * Joan Parsons, Riemer & Braunstein LLP; and * Claudia Piper, Webster Bank I would also like to include Laura Domenico, director of operations, whom we all rely on to keep NEWiRE going from an operational standpoint. Thank you. To those to whom I am passing the torch I would say, keep trying even harder. We may realize success and growth as an organization, but we still have a long way to go. We must continue to show value to our members and never forget that THEY are the heart of our mission. Our success should be measured one member at a time. For every member we advance via networking, mentoring, education, collaborative projects, etc., there is another waiting in the wings. Our job will never be done. And to those who do advance in their careers and become principals, partners, owners and board members, remember how you got there. Bring more women with you. Women advancing other women is part of our legacy—individually as well as collectively. Finally, I would just like to add that my own experience as NEWiRE president has changed me for the better. I've learned more about myself both personally and professionally, what I'm capable of and what I have yet to do. That is what NEWiRE does. It changes you. If you are not a member of NEWiRE, I would encourage you to join or at least learn more about our organization. If you are a member, take full advantage of everything NEWiRE has to offer. For all you put into it, it will come back to you tenfold. Holly Nelson is the 2012-2013 President of New England Women in Real Estate (NEWiRE), Boston, Mass.