News, November 29, 2018
ARA Announces Firm Professional Women's Network
American Realty Advisors (“ARA”) is pleased to announce the launch of a firm professional women’s network, “ARA WE.” The “WE” stands for “Women Empowered through Networking – Knowledge – Inspiration.” The women’s network was formed to provide ARA’s professional women the opportunity to come together to share accomplishments, discuss challenges, identify ways to improve company performance, better their work and community environments, and support women’s professional growth within ARA and the commercial real estate industry.
ARA WE is organized around three empowering programs, Social and Networking, Learning and Mentoring, and Community and Charity. Each ARA WE gathering and event will be centralized around one or more of these program themes.
Martha Shelley, Executive Vice President, Portfolio Management and ARA WE organizer comments, “These three empowering themes provide a variety of ways of supporting each other, promoting women leadership, and advancing women in the CRE industry. ARA WE gives us the opportunity to connect through social events and networking both within and outside the organization, as well as to learn from each other and develop programs that allow us to strengthen our expertise and skill sets. An additional aspect of ARA WE is the chance to share our knowledge and experiences within our local communities by expanding our network to other women in the industry and the broader commercial real estate community. This will come in the form of mentoring other women through volunteering or contributing to organizations that support women’s advancement, career growth, and leadership.”
Since the forming of ARA WE, the network has held three events to build its foundation through engagement and idea sharing. The third event held in early November was a highlight of the network’s initial year. The dinner event featured three senior women executives in the CRE industry who shared their experiences, challenges, and career breakthroughs as well as insights and advice on work-life balance and inspiration for building successful careers within CRE. ARA WE also invited two women students from UCLA and USC with a college focus in CRE to join the event to build their industry relationships and inspire the next generation of CRE women.
Stanley Iezman, Chairman and CEO at ARA adds, “Firm leadership is excited to support the formation of ARA WE. It is much needed in our industry and ARA is pleased to provide this opportunity to our valuable women colleagues. Establishing this network allows existing employees to connect and mentor our female colleagues from different departments (asset management, investment, legal/compliance, marketing, client relations, risk management) and at different experience levels. Connecting ARA women through this network strengthens our firm and encourages new perspectives and it has the potential to inspire and assist all women in finding a successful career path.”
More information on ARA WE will soon be available on the ARA website.
For questions, please contact: Martha Shelley, Executive Vice President, Portfolio Management, 213.233.5732, mshelley@aracapital.com.