05.06.12
Chicago, IL – More than 300 CBRE professionals from the U.S., Canada and Latin America came together in Chicago earlier this month for CBRE Group Inc.\'s (CBRE) 12th annual Women\'s Networking Forum. The 2012 conference, the largest in the CBRE Women\'s Network\'s history, featured presentations from the company\'s executives and external business leaders; professional-development workshops and discussions; and a major community service project. "We work hard each year to deliver to our attendees unique, enriching programming and valuable networking opportunities, and the 2012 event was no exception," said Lisa Konieczka, an Executive Vice President in CBRE\'s Chicago office and Chair of the Company\'s Women\'s Network. "We\'ve come so far from our first meeting 12 years ago with just 35 women professionals, and I look forward to what the future holds next for the Women\'s Networking Forum."
Cal Frese, CBRE\'s Group President of Global Services, received the Women\'s Network\'s 2012 Endurance of Spirit Award, given annually at the conference to the CBRE professional who "promotes an environment that supports the main goals of the CBRE Women\'s Network – Professional Development, Networking, Mentoring and Personal Enrichment." Mr. Frese, who has operating responsibility for several of the company\'s major global business lines and key support functions, including Global Research, IT and Facilities, was instrumental in the establishment of CBRE\'s Women\'s Network in 2000.
Highlights from the 2012 Women\'s Networking Forum—whose theme was "Winning the Game of Business"—included an "interactive" presentation on personality and persuasion by speaker Sally Hogshead; a discussion about pursuing new business by Mark Goldstein, Vice Chairman at BBDO; and presentations by Bob Sulentic, CBRE President, and Asieh Mansour, CBRE\'s Head of Americas Research.
Additionally, in conjunction with the conference, more than 175 CBRE volunteers joined housing nonprofit Rebuilding Together to refurbish the South Central Day Treatment School, located on Chicago\'s south side. Volunteers painted walls and doors, replaced ceiling tiles, repaired closet areas, installed shelving, landscaped and worked with a local artist to paint murals for the hallways. This annual effort is part of CBRE\'s Shelter Program, which encourages employees to participate in rebuilding projects at homeless shelters, private houses, transitional housing and other facilities to improve housing options for individuals in need.
About CBRE Group, Inc. CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world\'s largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2011 revenue). The Company has approximately 34,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our Web site at www.cbre.com and www.cbre.kz