Dear SIOR Members and Industry Colleagues,
As I begin my term as president, I want to thank my exceptional predecessor, Rich Sleasman, who led the Foundation as we came out of Covid, got us back on track, and pushed us into the future, solidifying and expanding our relationship with SIOR Global and increasing our programs and scholarships. Rich is one of many SIOR leaders who have made the Foundation their passion: Our board of trustees consists of many former SIOR Presidents, along with current and future officers. Their dedication to the Foundation exemplifies the importance of our mission: educating, expanding and enhancing our industry.
We are proud to welcome this year’s new trustees. Each has signed up for a three-year term to help support our objectives through volunteering, fundraising, and stewardship of your SIOR Foundation.
- Jim Bijou, SIOR, Colliers International, SIOR Canada West Chapter
- Blake Garrett, SIOR, The Reef Company, SIOR Inland Empire/Orange County Chapter
- Alfredo Gutierrez, SparrowHawk, LLC, SIOR Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter
- Tom Kennedy, SIOR, NAI Heartland, SIOR Western Missouri/Kansas City Chapter
We still have a few trustee slots open and I hope some of you will join our team and help us make a difference. I urge you to reach out to me, Corrine Nowak, or any member of the Foundation’s board of trustees so that we can help you explore the possibilities. I promise, it will be one of the most rewarding things you will do in your professional career.
This year our team will be advancing the Foundation’s legacy programs and working to create a Foundation for the Future. Through the expansion of our efforts, we will continue to provide an increasing number of opportunities and support to the next generation of professionals and are reviving our focus on professional development for SIOR members through our new Global Education Partnership with SIOR Global.
To give you an idea of our impact, over the last 5 years the Foundation has granted an average of $300,000 per year.
That’s $1.5 million dollars to SIOR members for speakers and educational sessions enabling access to the most cutting-edge information available in our industry, along with great industry expansion initiatives like the Real Estate Executive Council’s Summer Program for high school kids, the CREi Summit, and the SIOR Real Estate Challenge. We funded 415 student scholarships in partnership with local SIOR Chapters. The Foundation also provides funds for chapter, regional and national conferences, including the one we just had in L.A.
We are upping our commitments and are on track to give back over $400,000 this year but we can’t do it without you, as almost all of our funding comes directly from SIOR members. You should know we are intensely focused on the responsible allocation of your donations. We have just one paid staff member, so almost all of the funds received go straight back to you, our SIOR members and to these great youth initiatives.
Sincerely,
Ted Konigsberg, SIOR
+1.305.947.9514
ted@Infinitycommercial.net