SIOR Canada Central Chapter Holds Virtual Broker of the Year Awards
Spanning four categories, the SIOR Canada Central Chapter’s 14th annual Broker of the Year Awards, celebrated virtually this year, honored the contributions of the most dynamic, creative, and skilled brokers of the local real estate community. Congratulations to the 2020 winners: Carmen Siegel, Young Professional of the Year; Richard McWhirter, Office Broker of the Year; Luis Almeida, SIOR, Industrial Broker of the Year; and Mark Cascagnette, SIOR, Digital Innovator of the Year.
SIOR Chicago Chapter Makes Record Donations Towards Scholarship Program
In its 10th year supporting the Ada S. McKinley College-Bound Trunk Scholarship Program, the SIOR Chicago Chapter donated $15,000—enough for 30 Trunk Scholarships! The scholarships are provided to students from underserved neighborhoods in Chicago, with winners selected based on an essay submission and financial need. Each trunk contained a new laptop, earbuds, and a backpack, along with other traditional school and dorm-room supplies. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trunks were modified to prepare first-year college students for remote learning and included access to online tutoring.
SIOR European Regional Chapter Hears an Economist’s Perspective: What to Expect in the Third Decade
As part of the Chapter’s flagship “Speaker Series,” the SIOR European Regional Chapter hosted a virtual event featuring economist and Professor of Global Economics at Dublin’s Trinity College David McWilliams. In keeping with McWilliams’ stated mission to “make economics as accessible” as possible, the event took a deep dive into various global economies’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 50 attendees learned about the difficulties in separating the health crisis from the economic crisis, and that governments must support recovery through a variety of stimulus packages. McWilliams noted that mass vaccination programs will help improve the immediate economic impact of the pandemic; however, socio-economic implications will likely linger. He also predicted that with no easy fixes, governments will continue to pump prime their economies in the short term in hopes of preventing mass unemployment and in anticipation of generating future tax revenues
Combatting Misconceptions During Site Selection: A Discussion with the SIOR Northern California Chapter
During a discussion hosted by the SIOR Northern California Chapter, panelists Barry Broome, Greater Sacramento Economic Council; Jim Wunderman, Bay Area Council; and Michael Moore, Ernst & Young, addressed common misapprehensions companies have about siting business in California. Not only does the state have a relatively low effective tax rate, it reinvests 37 cents per dollar of business taxes collected in initiatives that benefit businesses. The panelists and the 20 attendees also discussed ways to use economic development tools and data to further combat misconceptions about California.
Virtual Deal Sharing Event a Win with the SIOR Philadelphia Chapter
Embodying the mission of SIOR, the SIOR Philadelphia Chapter held a Virtual Deal Sharing event, reconnecting local members with fellow SIORs and with opportunities for business. Ten members participated, with the Q&A facilitated by moderators Brian Glancey, SIOR, and John Morrissey, SIOR. The event featured 12 properties ranging from built-spec warehouses to a turnkey medical office with surgery center to an industrial warehouse with cross-dock configuration.
#SIORGivesBack Over The Holiday Season
In light of continued global-wide quarantines, SIOR chapters around the world have continued the SIOR mission of giving back to and supporting their local communities in a variety of ways. Here are just a few of the amazing examples:
- The SIOR Canada Central Chapter organized a food drive and donated towards the Daily Bread Food Bank.
- The SIOR Philadelphia Chapter donated $5,000 to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization.
- The SIOR Southern Nevada Chapter presented a $5,000 donation to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation for their A.R.K. (Aid and Resources for Kids) Program.
- The SIOR St. Louis Chapter donated $2,000 to Operation Food Search.