New York, NY Over 30 Connecticut/Western Massachusetts SIOR chapter members attended the recent Fall World Conference held at the Sheraton Times Square in New York City.  The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors celebrated their 75^th anniversary in style, holding its first conference in the Big Apple, with over 1,200 members in attendance.  Star studded industry professionals led several panel discussions and workshops over three days, while Rudy Giuliani spoke at the opening general session and Tom Brokaw was featured at another general session.  The closing general session was led by Erik Qualman’s powerful perspective on social and digital media, which capped several other technology related conference sessions ranging from driverless cars

At the NYSE - Shown (from left) are: Mark Duclos, SIOR; Frank Hird, SIOR;
Jeff Ryer, CCIM, SIOR; and Michael Guidicelli, SIOR

to the Hyperloop and its possible effects on the real estate industry and our future world.

The conference began with the ringing of the NYSE opening bell by SIOR leadership, including chapter members Mark Duclos, Frank Hird, Jeff Ryer, and Michael Guidicelli.

In the days leading up to the conference, the Chapter had the honor of hosting SIOR’s commemorative 75^th anniversary torch, which traveled from chapter to chapter throughout North and South America and overseas since the Spring World Conference in San Diego. As a truly global organization today, the camaraderie symbolized with the passing of the torch by its members, has been a strong value of SIOR throughout its history.  The anniversary torch was passed by chapter members from Springfield in Western Mass. to Hartford, south to New Haven, to Stamford, and then onto NYC. It flew to the conference in style with Hird and Ryer, on a plane piloted by New York Downstate chapter president Gabriel Silverstein.

At the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield - Shown (from left) are: Art Ross, SIOR; John Reed, SIOR; and Jeff Ryer, CCIM, SIOR

SIOR, based in Washington, D.C. and founded in 1941, has more than 3,100 members in 680 markets located in 36 countries.

SIORs are top producers who are required to complete an educational recertification program every three years.  This assures those who need the services of a commercial real estate agent that the SIOR has achieved continued excellence.