CREW Network Announces Elizabeth Solender Winner of Organization’s Top Honor, Circle of Excellence

Nov. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network recognized Elizabeth Solender, president of Solender/Hall Inc., and CBRE as the winners of its first Circle of Excellence Award, announced at the organization’s annual Convention and Marketplace, held in Chicago, IL.

The Circle of Excellence Award is CREW Network’s top honor, which recognizes those individuals and companies who consistently deliver excellence in their personal and professional lives, and whose efforts advance the commercial real estate industry and show support for the organization’s mission.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Solender is president of Solender/Hall, Inc., a commercial real estate and consulting company, which was founded in 1991 and specializes in assisting corporations and nonprofit organizations buy, sell, lease, manage and finance commercial real estate. She is a member of CREW Dallas.

Solender has successfully combined her extensive real estate background with a significant history of nonprofit service to become a special advocate for her clients, many of which are nonprofit boards that have unique real estate needs that are not often understood by the typical commercial real estate professional.  She has been able to effectively negotiate deal after deal with organizations that often focus on charitable missions, and has created a niche practice within the real estate industry that makes her an innovator and industry leader.

Solender has held leadership and membership roles in many industry and community groups, including president of CREW Network on the local and national level, and is the founder and Chair Emeritus of the CREW Network Foundation, which was created from her vision of taking the philanthropic achievements of the local chapters and wanting to make the same type of positive impact on a national level. She is also currently director and president of an investment group with fellow CREW members, called Mujeres Empresarias, Inc., which invests in industrial and office properties.

“Eliza Solender is a true inspiration, embodying the Circle of Excellence criteria with her professional and community involvement that are unsurpassed,” said Diane Butler, 2012 CREW Network President. “She has created a niche in the industry that helps the nonprofits that serve her community, and she is a role model for women in commercial real estate.”

CREW Network also recognized the outstanding contributions of CBRE, a forward-thinking company that not only supports, but embraces the organization’s mission to advance the achievements of women. CBRE is a longtime supporter of CREW Network both financially and through the encouragement of employees to join and participate in leadership roles at CREW Network.

CBRE was the premier underwriter when CREW Network launched its research initiative in 2004, and has supported the organization’s research ever since.  CREW Network’s research measures the success of women in the industry and analyzes the findings in order to better understand changes needed in the commercial real estate industry. CBRE’s endorsement of CREW Network’s research and its findings have helped gain the attention of the rest of the industry.

“CBRE has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating a culture that embraces diversity and the talent women bring to the table. We are honored to recognize their achievements with the Circle of Excellence Award.” said Diane Butler, 2012 CREW Network President.

Accepting the award on behalf of CBRE was Cal Frese, CBRE Chief Executive Officer, the Americas.

About CREW Network:

The mission of CREW Network (www.crewnetwork.org) is to influence the success of the commercial real estate industry by advancing the achievements of women. CREW Network does this by looking outward to bring more women into the industry, showcasing member successes and serving as a key resource to its members and the industry. CREW Network members represent all disciplines of commercial real estate - every type of expert required to "do the deal." Members comprise 8,000 commercial real estate professionals in 76 chapters across North America.