| Minority professionals make up only 1% of CRE management, or less than 1k in an industry of 125k. The Real Estate Associate Program (REAP), which provides exposure, education, and networking to minorities that promote careers in CRE, is pushing to change that. REAP prez Gregg McCort and alumna and advisory member Annie Yao of Colliers International tell us that in its short existence, REAP has increased that minority cohort by 10% through spotlighting an existing talent pool, previously undiscovered by the industry since there was no platform to access them. Thirty students out of 90 applicants made up this year's class, which graduated Thursday evening at ICSC's NY office. |
| Preparation includes education and on-the-job training with leading firms. REAP works with industry groups like ICSC, ULI, and NAIOP, and has also brought on sponsors like Walmart, McDonald's, and Simon Property Group, which are hiring the students after graduation. After Annie finished school at Cornell, she worked on the financial side of Disney's corporate operations & real estate group, and eventually became part of REAP's inaugural class of '06 in NYC. REAP provided her with the contacts and knowledge base to eventually start her career in office leasing advisory and corporate solutions, she tells us. The program will be relaunching in DC this September. Past cities include Atlanta and Chicago, and REAP would eventually like to expand through multiple programs in multiple cities, Gregg says. |
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Annie Yao, Simon Property Group
