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Proptech’s Investment Capital is the Focus of the SIOR Chicago Chapter’s Spring Luncheon

Over lunch at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oakbrook, Ill., the SIOR Chicago Chapter welcomed Duke Long, Entrepreneur in Residence at NAR REACH. REACH, a Chicago-based venture capital and private equity firm, is affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS® and provides startup companies access to an insight panel of more than 50,000 practitioners to help them refine their products. Long discussed the staggering amount of investment capital being directed towards property technology (proptech), which totaled nearly $32 billion in 2021 alone. A former commercial real estate broker himself, Long stressed the importance of incorporating more sophisticated technologies into client interactions and service.

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SIOR Chicago Chapter Discusses the Future of Real Estate with Robert Thornburgh, SIOR

Fifty members of the SIOR Chicago Chapter were treated to an evening of cocktails and conversation at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oakbrook, Ill., during a meet-and-greet event with SIOR Global CEO Robert Thornburgh, SIOR. Whilst Thornburgh spoke on a range of topics, his main focus was aimed at the future evolution of the SIOR organization and the industry-disrupting proptech that is changing the way real estate brokers can—and need to—do business.

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SIOR Colorado Chapter Gives Back by Building Bikes

The SIOR Colorado Chapter partnered with Wish for Wheels through their Team Build & Give program to provide more than 40 bicycles for 2nd grade students at Hallett Academy in Denver. Wish for Wheels is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing new bikes and helmets to 2nd grade students in Title I (low-income) schools.

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SIOR Colorado Chapter Tees Off for a Good Cause

For the 10th year in a row, SIOR Colorado Chapter members and sponsors gathered at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver for a fundraising event benefiting First Tee – Green Valley Ranch. This organization empowers kids and teens to learn life skills and the Nine Core Values through the game of golf. In short, they are “Building Game Changers.” Over the past decade, the chapter has raised $250,000 for the organization.

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Experience Fort Wayne with the SIOR Indiana/Kentucky Chapter

More than 30 SIOR Indiana/Kentucky Chapter members and sponsors embarked on a whirlwind bus adventure to explore new developments in Fort Wayne, Ind., and to see firsthand the growth that has transpired over the last few years. At Sweetwater Sound—one of the top employers in Fort Wayne—the group not only toured the public headquarters and music store, but also had the opportunity to see their 750,000-sqare-foot distribution center. Next on the agenda was Electric Works, whose campus offers a condensed yet comprehensive view into the city’s past, present, and future. A trip to the Riverfront Promenade Park followed, where Rex Barrett of Barrett & Stokely discussed three future multi-family mixed-use development projects taking place in the downtown area. The day wrapped up with a presentation from Greater Fort Wayne Inc. president, John Urbahns, who brought the experience full circle with a presentation that illustrated why the city is much sought after.

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SIOR Inland Empire & Orange County Serves the Community

The SIOR Inland Empire & Orange County Chapter held two service days, giving back to different sectors of the community. In appreciation of local teachers and educators, the chapter leaders delivered 150 lunches to Pomona Elementary in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Stokoe Elementary in Riverside, Calif. The chapter is also a strong supporter of the men and women that protect and serve, delivering 28 lunches to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

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Three Cal State Students Awarded the SIOR Inland Empire & Orange County Chapter’s Keith Wilson, SIOR, Memorial Scholarship

SIOR Inland Empire and Orange County Chapter members and sponsors looked on as chapter president Scott Sanders, SIOR, and scholarship chair Gary Martinez, SIOR, presented scholarships to three local university students. Marvin Alvarado and Haidee Xu of California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, and Ngoc Nguyen of California State University, Fullerton, each received $2,000, with funds provided by the chapter and the SIOR Foundation. Held at The RANCH in Anaheim, Calif., this year’s event featured guest speaker Jake Olson, who became the first fully blind football player in college football history in 2017. An alumnus of the University of Southern California, Olson delivered an inspiring and motivating speech, sharing his outlook on life, his experiences, and his future goals with the crowd.

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Golf Fundraiser Tradition Lives On with the SIOR Maryland/DC/Northern Virginia Chapter

Neither the threat of rain nor the overcast skies could dampen the spirits of the more than 100 golfers who came out to show their support at the Eagle’s Nest Country Club in Phoenix, Md. This 22nd annual golf outing, featuring boxed lunches, a day of golf, and a cocktail party, had one of the best turnouts to date. A portion of the funds raised from this event will go towards Susan G. Komen and $1,000 will benefit the SIOR Foundation.

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SIOR Minnesota Chapter Hosts Panel on 2022 Trends in Office Space

At the 5th Street Towers in Minneapolis, panelists and local business leaders Deanne Erpelding, Chris Rose, Emily Martin, and Scott Hierlinger spoke to a captive audience of over 30 members. The conversation, moderated by Jim Damiani, SIOR, covered the overall changes, updates, and predictions of trends in office space as people return to the workplace in 2022. The group anticipates that buildings and employers that provide the best overall experience will come out on top, whether it be leasing space at a building or attracting and engaging talent to your firm. In contact, they expect older stock buildings to be converted for different usage, including apartments and hotels.

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Ohio Chapter Holds Spring Meeting at Ohio Stadium

The Ohio Stadium on the grounds of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, commonly known as the Horseshoe, provided a spectacular setting for the SIOR Ohio Chapter’s spring event. More than 80 members and guests were in attendance, including SIOR Global president elect David Lockwood, SIOR. Keynote speaker Diana Rife of JobsOhio discussed the Ohio Sites Inventory Program for speculative industrial and office developments. The attendees were also briefed on the potential impact of the recently announced $20 billion Intel chip fabrication plants located just outside the city—the largest private investment in the state’s history.

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SIOR Philadelphia Chapter Says “Shipping, Supply Chains, and Ports—Oh My!”

SIOR instructor Rob Nahigian, SIOR, addressed an audience of 60 members, prospects, and sponsors at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, giving those in attendance an in-depth look at the relationship between shipping, supply chains, and ports. Nahigian discussed how the supply chain is shifting from the West Coast to the East Coast, with a log jam of ships off many ports, a shortage of truck drivers, and a shortage of rail labor all leading to delays. Demand for distribution space is out-stripping construction, and rents are anticipated to increase 22-26% in 2022. In the end, he noted that the supply chain backlog could last into 2023 or 2024. SIOR brokers will be in demand to solve site selection issues for end-users as more construction is gearing up.

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Wisconsin Chapters of SIOR and CCIM Team Up for Scholarship Fundraiser

The SIOR Wisconsin Chapter’s joint golf outing with the CCIM Wisconsin Chapter at The Legend at Merrill Hills in Waukesha, Wis., raised nearly $6,000 towards the chapter’s scholarship fund. For more than 10 years, the SIOR Chapter has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, awarding scholarships to real estate students at both institutions. Many chapter members are alumni and are actively involved in mentoring and instructional activities.