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Broker of the Year Nominees Fêted at the SIOR Canada Central Chapter’s Inaugural Event

With its goal of celebrating success in real estate, the SIOR Canada Central Chapter launched an exclusive event to honor the industry professionals nominated for the chapter’s prestigious Broker of the Year (BOTY) awards. Nominees Night expands on the highly successful BOTY initiatives and brought together past and present nominees, judges, and sponsors. Chapter members comprised nearly a third of the candidates—David Colley, SIOR; Rob Renaud, SIOR; Matt Gunning, SIOR; Ryan Hood, SIOR; Johnathan Gorenstein, SIOR; and Mark Cascagnette, SIOR!

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SIOR Canada Central Chapter Goes Truckin’ for Toronto

For the second year in a row, the SIOR Canada Central Chapter held a food drive in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank, which works to assist those experiencing food insecurity in the city. On Dec. 10, six volunteers participated in the Truckin’ for Toronto event, picking up donated food items from over 10 member and sponsor locations across the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to the food items, the chapter raised over $5,000 in donations for the food bank.

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SIOR Chicago Chapter Supports 28 McKinley Trunk Scholarships

For the 11th year, members of the SIOR Chicago Chapter donated $15,000 to the Ada S. McKinley College-Bound Trunk Scholarship Program, providing for 28 Trunk Scholarships. Valued at $500, each trunk includes living and learning essentials—such as laptops, backpacks, and school supplies—that these college-bound honorees will need to begin their journey. The program offers scholarships to students from the west and south sides of Chicago, with winners selected based on an essay contest and demonstration of financial need.

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Feed My Starving Children with the SIOR Chicago Chapter

Held in recognition of one of SIOR’s founding principles “to serve the greater good,” this past December members of the SIOR Chicago Chapter came together to prepare meals for Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg, Ill. Thirty-five boxes containing more than 7,500 meals were packed, enough to feed 20 children for an entire year. Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization that provides nutritionally complete meals specifically formulated for malnourished children around the world.

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Four Students Receive the Len Caldeira Scholarship from the SIOR Chicago Chapter

SIOR Chicago Chapter’s Scholarship Committee members Sergio Chapa, SIOR, and Denise Chaimovitz, SIOR, awarded the 2021 Len Caldeira Scholarships to four individuals. Each student received $3,000 for a total of $12,000, with funds provided by both the chapter and the SIOR Foundation. Liliana Munoz and Anthony Strickland of Harold Washington College, Charlie Ezgur of University of Illinois, and Yamileth Moreno of Malcom X College were the recipients. Since 1984, the chapter has provided nearly $200,000 in scholarships in recognition of outstanding academic performance in business and real estate courses. In addition to education funding, scholarship recipients are provided with access to career opportunities and internship programs within the Chicago real estate community.

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SIOR Chicago Chapter Honors Roy Splansky, SIOR, with the Richard G. Levy Presidents Award

Roy Splansky, SIOR, was presented with the 2021 Richard G. Levy Presidents Award at the SIOR Chicago Chapter’s annual holiday luncheon. Named in honor of Richard G. Levy, SIOR, a highly revered leader who exemplified elements of professionalism, business acumen and strong ethical standards, recipients are chosen by the chapter’s Executive Board for demonstrated outstanding achievements both in and out of the commercial real estate industry. Known for his service to the chapter and the community, Splansky served as chapter president in 2015 and has been awarded multiple SIOR Transaction Awards over the years.

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Building a Community with the SIOR Connecticut Western Massachusetts Chapter

For more than 20 years, the SIOR Connecticut Western Massachusetts Chapter has partnered with Habitat for Humanity on new home builds in the region. This year, five members and guests assisted the North Central Connecticut Habitat for Humanity (Hartford) in the construction of a two-building site on Forbes Street in East Hartford, Conn. The chapter has also previously worked with the Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County.

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UCONN Professor Leads Finance Talks at the SIOR Connecticut Western Massachusetts Chapter

The SIOR Connecticut Western Massachusetts Chapter’s recent finance panel drew an audience of nearly 40 members, sponsors, and industry professionals. Assistant Professor of Finance at UCONN, Alexander Van de Minne, led a presentation on submarkets and communities within the state and provided an update on the various real estate asset classes, noting changes and effects resulting from the pandemic. A lively panel discussion followed, with topics ranging from the debt market to recent lender activity. A clear consensus from the panelists acknowledged that residential—including multi-family—as well as industrial remain particularly strong sectors in the Connecticut market.

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Mail Call for the SIOR European Regional Chapter

Twenty-five members and guests received an exclusive peek into the United Kingdom’s busiest postal sorting office, thanks to the efforts of Chapter Vice President Andrew Smith, SIOR. Originally serving as an 18th century prison, the Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in London became one of the world’s first sorting offices before evolving into a mixed-use complex. In 2017, the 6.2-acre site was sold by the Royal Mail to developer Taylor Wimpey for £193.5 million ($249.36 million). The Royal Mail’s own regeneration of the site came in on time and under budget, showing a profit of £100 million ($128.87 million) in 2021.

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Bill Blain’s “Morning Porridge” Comes to the SIOR European Chapter

The SIOR European Chapter hosted financial commentator and author of the “Morning Porridge” blog, Bill Blain, to discuss the global economy and supply chains issues. He predicted uncertainty for the year ahead, suggesting that a winter energy crisis is imminent and could disrupt supply chains around the world. Fears of policy mistakes are not insignificant, though perhaps the biggest risk to come relates to the credit market. In the end, Blain notes that it’s not what you know or expect of the markets that matters, but what the market believes.

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SIOR Inland Empire & Orange County Chapter Holds Annual Developers Forum

The SIOR Connecticut Western Massachusetts Chapter’s recent finance panel drew an audience of nearly 40 members, sponsors, and industry professionals. Assistant Professor of Finance at UCONN, Alexander Van de Minne, led a presentation on submarkets and communities within the state and provided an update on the various real estate asset classes, noting changes and effects resulting from the pandemic. A lively panel discussion followed, with topics ranging from the debt market to recent lender activity. A clear consensus from the panelists acknowledged that residential—including multi-family—as well as industrial remain particularly strong sectors in the Connecticut market.

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SIOR Minnesota Chapter Awards Scholarships to Local University Students

The SIOR Minnesota Chapter awarded a total of $30,000 in scholarships to upperclassmen at the University of St. Thomas – Minnesota and St. Cloud State University. Recipients must be full-time students with demonstrated leadership potential, majoring in either real estate or finance, or minoring in real estate. Samantha Kryzer, Lauren Bjurman, Patrick Frazier, and Asiya Abdulkadir each received $6,000, with funds provided by the chapter, the SIOR Foundation, and the University of St. Thomas. Tanya Snell and Treon Givens of St. Cloud State University were awarded $3,000 each, with funding from the chapter and the SIOR Foundation.

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Claire Roberts, SIOR, Receives Robert P. Boblett Award from the SIOR Minnesota Chapter

More than 35 attendees looked on as SIOR Minnesota Chapter bestowed its highest honor on Claire Roberts, SIOR, at the Pittsburgh Blue in Edina, Minn. The Robert P. Boblett Award is presented to one member each year in recognition and appreciation of their dedication, distinguished service, and long-standing commitment to the ideals and standards of SIOR, as well as for their unselfish efforts to inspire others to reach their greatest potential in the real estate profession. Roberts has been a member for 10 years, having previously served as chapter president from 2017-2018.

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The SIOR Pittsburgh Western Pennsylvania Chapter Honors the Enduring Legacy of Jack G. Buncher

The SIOR Pittsburgh Western Pennsylvania Chapter was honored to posthumously present the 2021 Industrialist of the Year Award to Jack G. Buncher on Nov. 9. The award celebrates local industry leaders who have made a profound impact on the region and recognizes their outstanding career achievements, with chapter members collectively selecting the recipient. Buncher, founder of The Buncher Company, had a vision of giving life and revitalization to what had been deemed by others to be unusable. His vision took flight, evolving into the multi-faceted company it is today. Buncher’s legacy lives on long after his passing in 2001, as The Buncher Company continues to thrive in the capable hands of its management team.

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SIOR Southern Nevada Chapter Walks for a Cause

On Oct. 9, 80 walkers from the SIOR Southern Nevada Chapter participated in the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s Walk A Mile event. In addition to a $20,000 donation from the chapter, members raised $10,000 in contributions that will provide shelter, food, and health and recovery services to people in need. Founded in 1970, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission has since expanded its facilities to encompass two city blocks and provides nearly 30,000 meals a month.