Up Close: Stina Kayser, CREW Denver President

Like a lot of real estate execs, Stina Kayser started her career as a lawyer. By working with real estate developers early on, she discovered that she enjoyed the field. "It's tangible—you can see how development projects change the community," she tells us.

Twelve years ago, Stina took the opportunity to join Urban Villages, which was founded by developer Grant McCargo, as its first employee. Now a shareholder, she's helped build the company into a developer and property management specialist with a focus on sustainability. She's also one of the founders of Bio-Logical Capital, which practices stewardship development of land. One of its notable projects is Hana Ranch, 4,000 acres on Maui that's been made into a sustainable ranch, including a mix of agricultural uses.

Stina got involved with CREW Denver in 2009, around the time she received one of the org's Women of Influence Awards, for being a green pioneer in Denver. "I joined the foundation committee, which raises funds for the CREW Network Foundation," she says, which proved to be one of the best ways to network within the organization. From there her involvement grew, culminating in being selected as CREW Denver president for 2016. Stina's pictured with CREW Denver members at the national convention in Miami in '14.

CREW is about more than networking, Stina says. "One of the great things that CREW offers is hands-on leadership opportunities for women in commercial real estate," she says. "That can be a little hard to find otherwise. It's a great training ground for the profession, both at the local and national levels." For instance, Stina notes that the national CREW recently launched its Network Certificate in Leadership program in conjunction with MIT—a fantastic program, she says—which teaches high-level leadership skills. Stina's snapped with her husband, Gary, on Martha's Vineyard.