Dear SIOR Members and Industry Colleagues,
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that Bill Burgess, SIOR, was elected as the SIOR Foundation vice president during our Spring meeting. Bill will serve a six-month term before advancing into the president-elect office in November, when I hand the President’s gavel to Kraig Heeter. Bill’s many years of service to both SIOR and the Foundation bring valuable experience and expertise to the Foundation’s executive team. Congratulations and welcome, Bill!
Your SIOR Foundation has been heating up this summer! As we close out our fiscal year, we are on track to grant $390,000 in educational sponsorships and scholarships. In addition to being the SIOR Education Partner, the Foundation has provided funding for six SIOR Regional Conferences and two chapter events this year. We are continuing our funding and support of industry events across the globe, including the highly successful International Real Estate Competition in Milan, the CREi Summit and The Goldie Initiative. Of course, we are continuing our scholarship funding and are actively mentoring real estate students across the country.
The Fall Event in Louisville, Ky., will mark the 10th anniversary of our Student Real Estate Experience Program. The brainchild of our esteemed colleague and Past Foundation President, David Hagan, SIOR, this fantastic program continues to grow its influence and prestige among universities and employers. Starting with just five students at the 2015 Chicago Conference, we have now hosted 140 students at both national and international conferences and chapter events. I am excited to say that of those 140 students, 95% have developed successful careers in the commercial real estate industry and a number of them are now SIORs! Several of our recent attendees were able to land internships and jobs with companies such as Lee & Associates, JLL, and Colliers! Check out some inspiring testimonials on our YouTube channel, it will warm your heart to see where your generous contributions to the Foundation are going, and hear about the good we are doing.
https://www.youtube.com/@SIORFoundation/videos
This year, we’ve set up a new endowment in partnership with Garry Bobke, SIOR, at the University of Alberta. The SIOR Foundation Award in Real Estate Asset Development will provide scholarships to students studying Asset Strategies and Real Estate Development. In addition, the Foundation, in partnership with the SIOR Carolinas Chapter, is developing four new endowments at UNC Charlotte, Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, and NC State University. For more information on how you or your chapter can set up an endowment at your favorite school, please contact your local SIOR Foundation Trustee, or Corrine Nowak, our Executive Director.
We are making plans to thank our high-level donors during the Louisville, Ky., Fall Event at the SIOR Foundation’s Star Donor Reception. Anyone who has donated $1,000 or more since September 2024 will receive an invitation to the can’t miss event of the conference. There is still time to make sure that you are on the list! Donate by visiting our website at siorfoundation.org or by scanning the QR code below.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for making my tenure as President so rewarding. At the Fall conference, Kraig Heeter will assume the President’s role and I get to be something even better: I get to be Past-President! Kraig has been a tremendous asset to the Foundation and a source of wisdom and advice to me. He is going to do an outstanding job! Your Foundation is in great hands.
Sincerely,
Ted Konigsberg, SIOR
+1.305.947.9514
ted@Infinitycommercial.net