REFA Emerging Leaders Membership soars to new heights

Formed in 2005, REFA's Emerging Leader Membership has now grown to over 200 members. The REFA Emerging Leader Membership provides individuals under the age of 35 with the opportunity to join REFA at a discounted rate and to receive the same great benefits as the regular membership. Throughout the year, REFA Emerging Leaders are engaged in programs and events, community service activities and special programs designed specifically for the Emerging Leader Membership. The Emerging Leaders committee, co-chaired by Travis D'Amato, JLL and Tim Mulhall, Colliers International, meets monthly to network, develop programs, recruit new members and identify opportunities for the Emerging Leaders Members. The most popular event for the Emerging Leaders is the Emerging Leaders Breakfast Series - where a senior level professional is invited to host a roundtable with a small group of Emerging Leaders in an informal, closed door setting. The 2014 speakers for this series have included: Shawn Hurley, executive vice president, Skanska USA; Marci Griffith Loeber, principal and CIO, Griffith Properties; Peter Palandjian, COO, InterContinental Real Estate Corp.; and Dan Cordeau, vice president, leasing, Alexandria Real Estate Equities. In October, the Emerging Leaders committee hosted a panel discussion at Boston University School of Real Estate about career opportunities within the commercial real estate industry. Attendees learned first-hand how the panelists got in to the industry and some of the day-to-day responsibilities of their role. Recently, 12 Emerging Leaders including Sam Crossan, CBRE | New England, Jeanette Gaede, Colliers International and Ross Sabasteanski, Wells Fargo Bank, participated in a community service activity at Rosie's Place, a homeless shelter for women. Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to prepare and serve meals to 110 women and children. The Emerging Leaders will wrap-up the year with the 4th Annual Holiday Happy Hour, which will be held on Tuesday, December 9th at Julep Bar, 200 High St., Boston. This annual event is hosted by the Emerging Leaders but is open to all members and non-members. A highlight of the evening is a toy drive to benefit the Home for Little Wanderers, an organization whose mission is to ensure the healthy behavioral, emotional, social and educational development and physical well-being of children and families living in at-risk circumstances. This year, the Emerging Leaders are hoping to break a record with toy donations! Interested in Joining REFA or learning more about REFA's events? Contact Maggie Collins at mcollins@gbreb.com or call 617-399-7856. Join the Emerging Leaders LinkedIn Group. They have over 650 followers on Twitter! Join the conversation today @REFABoston. For more information about the Emerging Leaders, events and membership, please visit our website at www.refa.org. Shown are the participants at REFA's panel discussion at Boston University School of Real Estate: Sam Crossan, CBRE | New England; Tim Mulhall, Colliers International, Chris Munsell, Citizens Bank; Max Ricciuti, Spaulding & Slye Investments and Ross Sebasteanski, Wells Fargo Bank.