CREW's three DC-area chapters are some of the biggest in the nation. And they are run by three amazing women. We'd like to introduce you.
REBECCA SMITH-ZAKOWICZ: CREW NORTHERN VIRGINIA
She started out pre-med at JMU before finding environmental engineering, even getting a Master's degree at Radford. At Ashburn-based GeoConcepts Engineering, she's worked on projects from the National Zoo to Lerner's Dulles Town Center. Rebecca hopes to keep membership for her chapter growing, but also provide deeper programming on the development hotspot that Northern Virginia has become. (On May 13, the org will host an event discussing the growth of Reston.) She says CREW NoVa is also implementing a mentorship program for younger members and young women at local universities. "This is a real opportunity to get them plugged in to the business."
JENNIFER BOGNET: CREW DC
She was working in software sales when her husband asked her to join his construction firm. Since then, Jennifer's helped Bognet Construction's revenues triple. In 2014, Jennifer says the DC chapter (the first in the nation) aims to roll out CREW Connector, which will connect members seeking new job opportunities with firms, as well as a speaker's bureau, which will link expert CREW members with conference and event organizers. With 450 members in the chapter, Jennifer tells us "we are always working to make sure we are providing value to a diverse membership." CREW DC's next event is its monthly luncheon tomorrow, focusing on trends in workplace design and strategy.
IDA NAMUR: CREW MARYLAND SUBURBAN
Ida (right, with Rebecca at a CREW wine tasting event last fall) keeps the area's projects environmentally sound as a project manager at URS. Her chapter has about 50 members throughout Montgomery, Prince George's, and Frederick counties, and as president hopes to increase value of Maryland Suburban membership by adding more programming and networking events and more collaboration with the DC and NoVa chapters. Ida wants the org to be a place for members to further their leadership development skills by heading up committees, as well as a place to grow their network of CRE professionals.
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