4 minute read
Message from the President
Steven Doben
Who would have thought we would spend another year navigating the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic? But here we are, and I continue to be amazed by the resilience of our membership. Last year we pivoted to a nearly all-virtual program, and this year we were able to adjust even further, mixing virtual with live programming and finding creative ways to engage with each other and with new members like never before.
Engagement and belonging are core tenets of CoreNet Global, and we made some excellent strides in fostering those values this year. I’m particularly proud of the Chapter’s full-fledged commitment to improving diversity and inclusion, which certainly ramped up in the last 12 months. This topic has always been important to us, but this year our Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Committee really got off the ground (read more on page 17), particularly as social justice has become an even more important force across the globe and within our businesses. From our partnership with the CREST internship program to the many events the committee led this year, there is no doubt we helped raise awareness of the opportunities within our industry to make sure we are providing opportunities for all to be part of the CRE community. I also can’t say enough about how we all stepped up throughout these last two years to support the members of our CoreNet family. While we offered an outstanding line-up of CRE programs and events, we also made sure to leave room for simple connections. We hosted virtual coffee chats, social happy hours, and checked in on each other regularly. I hope you felt that sense of belonging as much as I did—it’s one of the things I love most about being part of this organization.
I never could have expected that I would serve my presidency in an almost entirely virtual setting, but I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, innovative, and flexible constituency. You have rolled with the punches, and your feedback has made us better. I’m excited to see how your new president, Maureen Rystrom, will use these experiences to bring our Chapter to even newer heights. I am excited to see what’s next with her at the helm.
Thank you to my fellow Board Members, Executive Committee Members and Advisory Council Members who made the last two years as president an experience I will cherish. Our Chapter is stronger than ever, thanks to you. Stay safe and be well.
Maureen Rystrom
I am so passionate about our CoreNet New England Chapter and our members and I’m thrilled to be your new President. I can't even begin to tell you how energized I feel to take on the critical role of President of our great Chapter alongside the rest of your newly appointed Executive Committee.
I would like to thank Steven Doben, our Immediate Past President, and the prior Executive Committee and Board of Directors for your commitment and leadership, for expertly guiding us through the most challenging past two years, and for helping to set us up for success for the next two years and beyond.
I have a lot of ideas for our Chapter for the next two years, and we’ve hit the ground running with planning and implementation. At our recent Board Retreat and at the Annual Meeting in March, I introduced the concept of "Doing Well By Doing Good” to provide value and continue to make our members feel that they are making a positive impact. We accomplish this throughout our various committees – the obvious one being community reinvestment. But, still, we're also making significant progress with the EID initiative, University Outreach, Young Leaders, and our learning development programs.
We’re also working on an Ambassador Program for members and sponsors – as you all know, the Members and Sponsors are the heartbeat of our wonderful organization, and we are focused on continuing to provide value, transparency, support and encouragement, so that CoreNet New England continues to be the leading corporate real estate association in New England! The fact that we recently achieved a 77% member retention rate, our highest retention rate ever, shows just how amazing of a Chapter we are.
As we continue throughout the next two years, we will roll-out additional initiatives and I welcome your ideas for our Chapter to continue to be the BEST large/mega Chapter of CoreNet Global!
Thank you again, and I am honored to serve you as President of CoreNet New England.
