WIRRE - Women in Retail Real Estate

June 2012 will mark the 26th anniversary of WIRRE. As co-founder this is hard for me to believe as the years have flowed swiftly. Like most things in life, there have been challenges along the way as our organization continues to grow, but the reward of being only one year away from our “silver” anniversary is most exciting!

The original Executive Committee twenty six years ago consisted of seven women dedicated to spending time to broaden our common goals of “gathering periodically to share information, conduct business, network and support one another.” Today we have about 21 dedicated women who serve on the Executive Committee. We went from four officers and no committees to six officers and seven committees. We have also advanced from sitting around a home dining room table to restaurants, malls and other assorted locations for our meetings. Emails, blackberries and the web have continued to serve to increase our production of WIRRE’s awareness and growth.

Thanks to the generosity and support of an early member, we now participate in our industry’s trade organization, the International Council of Shopping Centers at the local level. We produce our own newsletters, fulfill community service projects and continue with strong, exciting, monthly programs and networking, “The Heart” of our existence.

It has not always been easy. There were years when finding a President to commit the time to lead us was hard, coming up with interesting and varied programs became a challenge and growing membership a “roadblock.” But due to the strength, dedication, tenacity and will of a core group of women, these were merely “yield” signs in our exciting trip through two decades.

Where will the next 25 years take us? With growing technology we have experienced, tested and are now using, who knows. Perhaps we will have additional chapters in sister states (something that has been this author’s dream from the onset) and hopefully become a more recognized group within ICSC. But most of all we will continue to strengthen our primary goal of building a membership of professional women in the retail real estate industry, who can conduct business, enjoy friendships and continue to learn through our existing programs, website and newsletters.