Ithaca, NY The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and the SIOR Foundation will sponsor the 2019 NEXUS Summer Program. The program will be held at Cornell University, July 14 – July 25.

NEXUS Summer Programs provide gifted and talented college-bound teens with the tools needed to thrive in a post-graduate environment, through a focus on both academic and career development, along with socio-emotional development that embolden each student’s confidence in themselves.

“No matter the company, organization, or industry, having a focus on diversity is a critical element for success,” said SIOR Global president Robert Thornburgh. “SIOR is always eager to help foster bright young minds and a culture of inclusion in commercial real estate. The NEXUS Program is a shining example of how SIOR is collaborating with other leading institutions to usher in the next generation of talented and diverse CRE professionals.”

The NEXUS Cornell University program will be the very first NEXUS offering tailored specifically to commercial real estate (CRE) brokerage. Students will participate in a project focused on winning a listing assignment. With the help of industry coaches, students will be divided into teams to research all aspects of the target company, and develop and deliver listing presentations. They will present their projects to a panel of judges in the hopes of winning the assignment. The program will be jointly run by NEXUS, the Real Estate Executive Council (REEC), and Cornell University.

“The mission of the SIOR Foundation is to educate and cultivate the next generation of commercial real estate professionals. The NEXUS Cornell University program represents an ideal partner for us in fulfilling that mission,” said SIOR Foundation president Aaron Barnard, SIOR. “We are thrilled to sponsor this program and look forward to connecting with the students/potential future CRE professionals on campus.” 

In addition to sponsoring the program, SIOR members will participate in the program, serving as coaches, judges, and instructors.

“REEC is very excited to have SIOR and the SIOR Foundation join our efforts to transform the composition of the real estate industry. The REEC/SIOR/SIOR Foundation Summer Program is intended to expose teens to career options in real estate, and specifically brokerage, early enough for them to recognize it as a viable career path,” said Kirk Sykes, chairman, REEC board of directors. “REEC, SIOR, and the SIOR Foundation, aim to bolster the pipeline of high school, college, and post graduate students that will soon transform our industry and expose students of color to careers in real estate and brokerage.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with a member of SIOR or SIOR Foundation leadership, please contact Roger Mecca, media@sior.com.