It is hard to believe we are already in April!  It has been a busy 2026 for CREWBaltimore!  I am honored to serve as the 2026 President of CREWBaltimore and grateful to be part of such a talented and supportive chapter. Our chapter thrives because of the connections, leadership, and engagement of our members, sponsors, and volunteers.

Thank you for all you do to support our mission and strengthen our network.

We have been focused on growing together as a board, so we are positioned to support the chapter and our core mission. This year, we kicked off with a great board retreat that included sensitivity training provided by Dr. Florence Holland of Access Consulting Solutions. We also focused on our individual strengths and how best to use them to serve the chapter. If you are interested in supporting the chapter through committee work, I encourage you to reach out to me or anyone else on our Board of Directors, CREWBaltimore.  We are always looking for more volunteers to help drive our mission.   

We have been focused on creating valuable networking opportunities for our chapter through intentional content and by building our membership. I am thrilled to share that we are currently at 168 members. It is important that we share our successes when we are working together and promoting working with women in commercial real estate. Please continue submitting your member-to-member success stories here:

Member to Member Success Stories CREWBaltimore 

As a chapter, we continue to show up to support the CREW Network Foundation | CREW Network. We were the 6th chapter in 2026 to hit the trifecta – this means 100% of our board donated, as a chapter we donated $1,000, and 50% of our chapter has donated (currently 65% of our chapter has donated). Additionally, we currently have a member who sits on the CREW Network Foundation Board, congratulations to one of our past presidents, Erin Todd. Providing these scholarship opportunities for young women is essential to bringing more women into the commercial real estate space.

Locally, we are working on more ways to support our students through our Outreach program. We had a great panel discussion and networking event at Morgan State in Q1 and are kicking off office hours with an expert, where students can join to gain insights into specific careers and ask questions to gain advice from senior leaders in Q2. This kicks off on May 6^th!

As Q2 kicks off, I continue to concentrate on expanding membership and sponsorship so we can continue providing the best opportunities to our members. I encourage you to stay involved, attend upcoming events, and continue helping us build opportunities to strengthen our chapter – together! 

 Q1 2026 Event Highlights

Tour of Under Armour’s New Global Headquarters

CREWBaltimore members and guests gathered on January 13, 2026, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Under Armour’s new Global Headquarters, Sports House, located on Baltimore’s Peninsula. The five-story, 280,000-square-foot building is a centerpiece of the nearly 50-acre waterfront campus and brings together office, retail, fitness, and innovation spaces designed to support collaboration and performance. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the vision behind the project and how the campus will shape the future of both Under Armour and the surrounding Baltimore community.

The afternoon included a presentation, Q&A session, guided tour of the facility, and time for CREWBaltimore members and guests to connect with fellow commercial real estate professionals. Thank you to our program managers—Absolute Service Industries, Kimley-Horn, and Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. (GTA)—for helping make this memorable experience possible. A special thank you as well to CREWBaltimore members Paul Hayden (GTA), Katie Burden (Vari), and Brooke (Benvenuto) Cwiek (Plano-Coudon) for their efforts in helping bring this unique experience to life.

Pictures can be accessed here.

Be Empowered: New Year Self-Defense Class

CREWBaltimore kicked off the new year with an empowering and engaging Be Empowered: New Year Self-Defense Class. Participants spent the evening learning practical self-defense techniques while also exploring the fundamentals of personal safety, including situational awareness, risk assessment, and the verbal and psychological tools that help women establish and maintain safe boundaries. The class welcomed attendees of all experience levels, creating a supportive environment where everyone could learn and participate at a pace that felt comfortable and empowering.

After the class, members continued the evening at Fish Head Cantina for a networking happy hour, giving attendees the chance to connect, share experiences, and build new relationships in a relaxed setting. A special thank you to program managers Katie Burden (Vari), Brooke (Benvenuto) Cwiek (Plano-Coudon), and Victoria Lester (Curry Architects) for organizing such a meaningful and impactful event.

Ring in the New Year Networking Happy Hour

CREWBaltimore members gathered at the Baltimore Spirits Company for our Ring in the New Year Networking Happy Hour, where we eased back into business with an evening of connection, conversation, and learning about the craft behind one of Baltimore’s favorite local distilleries. From reconnecting with familiar faces to welcoming new members, the energy set the tone for an exciting year ahead.

7th Annual Leaders in Commercial Real Estate

On February 25, 2026, CREWBaltimore partnered with Morgan State University to host the 7th Annual Leaders in Commercial Real Estate student panel at the Morgan Business Center’s Graves School of Business and Management. Students from Morgan State’s Schools of Architecture & Planning, Business & Management, and Engineering joined the #UCREW session to hear from industry professionals about careers in commercial real estate and the many pathways available across the industry.

The panel featured Bailey Wildasin of D.W. Kozera, Kristen Mills of HDC MidAtlantic, Geanna Franqui of The NHP Foundation, and architect Leah Penza, who shared their career journeys, industry insights, and advice for students interested in CRE. Following the discussion, students connected with CREWBaltimore members during a networking session and learned more about opportunities to get involved in the organization.

Developer Fireside Chat

CREWBaltimore members gathered for a thoughtful and engaging Members-Only Developer Fireside Chat, featuring an outstanding panel of industry leaders: Dana Henson (The Henson Development Company, Inc.), Genevieve Hanson (Hanson & Hanson Development Inc.), Theresa Stegman (MCB Real Estate), and Monica LaVorgna (Bozzuto). The panelists shared valuable insights on the current state of development, opportunities for growth, and the challenges shaping projects across our region. The conversation offered members a unique opportunity to hear directly from experienced developers about how the industry is evolving and where they see momentum heading in the years ahead.

A special thank you to moderator Carla Hinson (Cross Street Partners) for guiding such an engaging discussion. We’re also grateful to our event sponsors—ECS Group of Companies, Bohler, and COPT Defense Properties—for helping make the program possible. And thank you to our program managers, Morgan O'Donnell, P.E. (Bohler), Linda Plesic (Century Engineering, A Kleinfelder Company), and Brooke (Benvenuto) Cwiek (Plano-Coudon), for their efforts in bringing this great conversation to life.

Pictures can be accessed here.

IDEA Committee

In 1978, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), which amended Title VII (the main federal employment anti-discrimination law). The key shift: it made clear that discrimination “because of sex” includes discrimination because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions—and that pregnant workers must be treated the same as other employees, “similar in their ability or inability to work.”

Outreach Committee

CREWBaltimore members came together to support the community through a Day of Service at My Sister’s Place on March 4, followed by another meaningful effort on March 12, when members of the Outreach Committee prepared and delivered homemade casseroles for the residents. These acts of service are part of CREWBaltimore’s ongoing commitment to giving back and supporting organizations that make a difference in the lives of women and families in our community.

A special thank you to Chicago Title Insurance Company for generously donating the ingredients that made the casseroles possible. We are also grateful to the volunteers who helped make these efforts meaningful: Lori Glebocki (Chicago Title Insurance Company), Rae-Ann Lehman (The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company), Kaitlin Zarro (KatzDay, LLC), and Leitie Cobb-Gibson (Harkins Builders, Inc.). If you would like to support My Sister’s Place, you can donate needed items through their wishlist.

To make supporting My Sister’s Place more consistent and easier for members to participate in, CREWBaltimore will be shifting from sharing multiple wish lists throughout the year to focusing on one specific donation item each quarter, collected at a major event. This approach will make it easier to promote, remember, and encourage members to contribute.

Planned collections include Dove soap and deodorant at the Women of Influence luncheon, new coats at the Golf Tournament, and new blankets at the Holiday Party. By focusing on a single item each quarter, we can create a bigger impact while making it simple for members to participate and support the residents of My Sister’s Place.

CREWBaltimore Achieves CREW Network Foundation Chapter Challenge Trifecta

CREWBaltimore is proud to announce that we have officially achieved the CREW Network Foundation Chapter Challenge Trifecta, becoming the sixth chapter nationally to reach this milestone. This accomplishment reflects the incredible support and commitment of our members to strengthening opportunities for women in commercial real estate.

While we’ve reached the Trifecta, the momentum continues. Our goal is to push beyond $5,000 in total donations to further support the CREW Network Foundation’s mission of advancing women in CRE.

Donations of $25 or more help support this important work, and those who contribute $100 or more will be entered into a chance drawing for a $1,000 gift card to The Ivy Hotel, a Michelin Two Key property—perfect for an overnight stay, spa day, or dinner at Magdalena. Every contribution helps strengthen the pipeline and create more opportunities for women in our industry.