The Goldie Initiative Celebrates REFF Chicago at Annual Holiday Party

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Goldie Scholars with Scholar Leadership Development Committee at Pre-REFF Holiday Party meet up. Pictured right to left, back: Gabriele Katilius, Ellen Hayes, Vera Halicki, Kelsey Cleland, Charlotte Du, Trisha Mantri, Thea Button, Linda Kanoski, Megan Abraham. Front, left to right: Suzanne Knoll, Megan May, Rebecca Thomson, Amy Hall.
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Kelsey Cleland, Gabriele Katilius, Thea Button, Sue Taghabon and Megan Abraham at REFF Holiday Party 2018.
What a difference two years makes! Pictured to the left and above is a photo of me along with many of the Goldie Scholars that attended the REFF Holiday Party at Morgan Manufacturing on November 29, 2018. Over half of this year’s class of Goldie Scholars attended the holiday party and the pre-party meet-up coordinated by The Goldie Initiative‘s Scholar Leadership Development Committee. For over 30 years, Real Estate Finance Forum (REFF) Chicago has been hosting this amazing networking event. When Karen Case and colleagues first hosted the event in a Lincoln Park Bar, dozens of people attended; last week, REFF leadership indicated over 1,300+ attendees were expected! However the vibe is still the same; indeed, I managed to say hello to Karen, and I know many of the original REFF Chicago Founders attended this year’s party.

The photo of me to the right is from REFF 2016 – here I am (pre-Lasik eye surgery!) with then-REFF President, MJ Zaring. Since 2016, REFF Chicago has been one of The Goldie Initiative’s most important supporters: sponsoring scholarships, collaborating on events, and recommending Mentors, Committee members and Scholar candidates. We are grateful to the leadership of this innovative organization, whose mission is to further the professional development of women in all phases of commercial real estate finance; to promote avenues of communication among professional women inter- and intra-industry; and to encourage the recognition and advancement of professional women in the field of commercial real estate finance.

Congratulations, REFF Chicago, on another great holiday party!
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