Mark Duclos, SIOR and Steve Inglese, SIOR, members of the Connecticut/Western Massachusetts chapter, were recent panelists at the 23rd Annual Connecticut Commercial Real Estate Conference. The annual "State of the State" Conference was well attended and consisted of the panel and three featured speakers. The overall theme of the speakers and panelist was that Conn. continues to have its economic challenges. The good news is the real estate vacancy rates are dropping in both the office and industrial sectors, although much of this reduction is due to a lack of new construction and removal or re-development of office space in many markets.