Amy Ables
Administrator
3209 Blue Ridge Dr.
Cedar Park, TX 78613
Phone (512) 828-7455
Fax (317) 534-1763
Mission Statement
To create a professional group that will keep people on top of trends and activities in the real estate industry in general, the market(s) in which they do business and business opportunities; to promote the contributions and accomplishments of women in the business; to offer opportunities for leadership, education and mentoring; to develop friendships and networks of support; to serve the Austin community in some positive way; to focus on solutions, not problems.
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CREW Austin
How It All Started…
The History of CREW Austin
The 2002 creation of CREW Austin was, unbeknownst to the Founding Members, a blueprint of what CREW chapters are actually all about.
 In 2001, Sue Runnells (left), owner of the commercial real estate publication Flick Report, hosted a luncheon for more than 40 women in commercial real estate. During the luncheon, the topic of how to support women currently active in the commercial real estate community - and how to mentor other women within the community - was discussed at length. The ensuing result of that luncheon was that, in a few short months, what had previously seemed impossible, began to transpire. Women - LOTS of women, were talking - talking about putting together a commercial real estate organization for women.
 Over the past ten or twenty years, there have been several attempts in Austin to start a local women's networking organization - all of them unsuccessful. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was the economy - or maybe it just wasn't the right mix of women. Whatever the reason, although small groups of women were sporadically talking amongst themselves, nothing seemed to really gel until a few months after that original luncheon.
 In January of 2002, a group of 25 women, who eventually became CREW Austin's Founding Members, met for the very first time. Some of them had been at that original luncheon, others had been part of smaller groups, and still others heard about this group through networking. Whatever the reason, it was readily apparent that we FINALLY had the right combination of women. And so it was that CREW Austin was conceived.
Of the 25 women present at that January meeting, all were well-known and highly regarded within their respective disciplines of commercial real estate, but amazingly, were not all known to each other - driving home the point of why a women’s commercial real estate association was even needed.
The synergy at that 2002 meeting was dynamic - to say the least - and very focused. The group, consisting of many of the very top women in commercial real estate, was on a mission. If a local commercial real estate organization for women was going to be created, it would require an immense amount of work and dedication. And with so many other worthwhile organizations already restraining available time, any new organization would have to have tremendous value. Just "filling a void" would not be sufficient. Knowing all of that, this remarkable group of women STILL volunteered.
 The meeting ended with the creation of an Interim Board - led by Founding Officers, President Sue Runnells (top of page), Secretary Jane Smith (below right) and Treasurer Donna Ripley (left) of Grubb & Ellis - six committees with Co-Chairs, and a mission statement.
 In 2003, President Sue Gravett (below left) of Henry S. Miller Commercial, TCN, led CREW Austin in it's introduction to the Austin community. The success was immediate, evidenced by the immediate and dramatic increase in membership. By the end of 2004, President Sue Runnells had followed Gravett's lead, and increased membership to over seventy-six! 2005 President Jane Snoddy Smith (right), of Fulbright & Jaworski, continued with what has obviously been a successful model, increasing membership to 93.
 CREW Austin's 2006 President, Rhonda West (below right) of West Commercial Real Estate Services, started 2006 with a bang by hosting the CREW Network Delegates Council in February. Over 120 CREW members from all over North America attended the event - making it the most highly-attended Delegates Council meeting in CREW Network history. Rhonda continued to grow CREW Austin's membership and expand its diversity by focusing on a year full of programs with a "Networking".
 CREW Austin, part of the national CREW Network, has proven time and again that networking, support and encouragement amongst members works. Outside of its mission statement, CREW Austin has a very simple philosophy: We work together, we play together. We promote each other, we support each other. It's that simple.
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