CREW Network history
Advancing women in commercial real estate since 1989
CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network was founded in 1989 to bring together women involved in the many aspects of commercial real estate to exchange information, develop business contacts and help each other succeed professionally. During the 1980s, several independent organizations were formed in various U.S. cities, each sharing the common goal of bringing together women involved in the many aspects of commercial real estate to exchange information, develop business contacts, and to help each other succeed professionally. The unique element of these groups was not that they were oriented toward women in a predominantly male industry (men were also welcomed as members), but that the groups brought together representatives from a wide variety of professions, all of whom were involved in some way with commercial real estate.
Prior to this, profession-specific organizations for the various disciplines such as appraisers, lawyers, brokers and accountants existed, but an umbrella organization that brought all of these disciplines together did not.
In 1986, a federation of these local groups was being formed on the east coast known as CREW-National. A similar federation known as WICRE - National Network (Women in Commercial Real Estate - National Network) was simultaneously being formed on the west coast. Leadership from the two federations met and realized that their groups were moving toward the same goal.
On Sept. 15, 1988, at the WICRE-NN convention in Los Angeles, the board of directors from the east and west coast federations signed the bylaws of NNCREW - the National Network of Commercial Real Estate Women.
Today, CREW Network is the premier business network dedicated to transforming the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally. We provide support to members worldwide through business networking, leadership development, industry research and career outreach.
Our Founders
Anne Hanyak (pictured left) and Linda Hollemon (right) brought together women across the U.S. to establish National Network of Commercial Real Estate Women (NNCREW). NNCREW officially began operations on Jan. 1, 1989, with 1,100 members from the following 11 chapters:
West Coast (WICRE - NN): Arizona, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and San Francisco
East Coast (CREW - National): Baltimore, Detroit,
Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Suburban Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
With an eye on expansion outside of the U.S., the organization changed its name to CREW Network in 2001.
