CREW Orange County Event Attracts Large Turnout of Professionals in Commercial Real Estate

Inaugural event focused on wellness and financial health to nurture mind, body and spirit.

A myriad of guests and members from CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Orange County attended the launch of the chapter’s inaugural event: “Balanced: An Exclusive Retreat” on Friday, January 20 at the Lido Hotel in Newport Beach. 

Blending personal and professional development workshops, the morning began with a restorative yoga session taught by certified instructor and CREW member Jennifer Dorgan, project manager with Allen Matkins. A warm welcome was then extended by Janne Cordova, CREW OC 2023 president and VP, Senior Real Estate Asset Manager with Wells Fargo Private Bank. Janne encouraged attendees to consider that, just as plants are both watered and nourished, “we should also be treating ourselves with well-balanced care”. The theme of personal wellness was woven throughout all the day’s retreat.

Lisa Banning, CFP of Financial Management Network kicked off the business portion with the theme, “Pink Calculators Need Not Reply” leading the group into interactive sessions by examining financial goals while highlighting strategies to achieve them.  Following was Bill Walker, talent acquisition associate with Greystar, who shared that people need to look at “putting the big rocks into their lives” to prioritize what is important to them.  He observed that most people have an unhealthy relationship with time and should focus on attention management as the key to happiness.

The topic of transformational change through digital social media was shared by Nicole Ison of Carrie Bobb & Company encouraging everyone to practice and be mindful of what is shared on social media.  She asked the attendees during the happy hour event to actively engage with each other by picking a platform, defining a niche, developing social listening and building content pillars.  The keynote speaker Kimberlee Davis, partner and managing director of the Bahnsen Group and author of her new book, The Fiscal Feminist, shared her unexpected life transitions which left her jobless and in financial distress later in life. Her resilience enabled her to address extreme financial challenges ultimately launching her into the success she is today. Davis pointed out that the better women understand their finances and choices regarding money, the more likely they will be fiscally responsible and unscathed by turbulent times. 

Sponsors for the event included The Registry, The Smart Agency, Connect Media and BlueSky Restoration Contractors.