Thirteen CREW Boston members traveled to Costa Mesa for CREW Network’s Winter Leadership Summit on February 5 & 6, 2026. The Boston delegation connected with members from across the country through working sessions and Summit programming, while also strengthening local ties over shared meals and time together.
CREW Boston attendees included: President Kate Carter; President-Elect Amy Prange; Immediate Past President Shelly Gouin; CREW Network Foundation Immediate Past President Gayle Bourdeau; CREW Network Board Member Jill Sharif; CREW Boston Board Members Gretchen McGill, Jocelyn Goglia, Heidi Cashman, and Lindsie Tosca; CREW Delegate Sarah McGillicuddy; and members Jennifer Sutherby, Lisa Strope, and Joanna Hunt.
Summit theme: Relationships
CEO and President Alison Beddard opened the Summit and assumed leadership from outgoing President Cindy MacMillan. She introduced the Summit theme: Relationships. In her remarks she challenged members to write a gratitude letter. She also shared a simple leadership reminder for the days ahead: “Be Present, Be Bold, and Be Vulnerable.”
In her address, she outlined five areas of focus for CREW Network in 2026:
- Promote and amplify the 2025 Benchmark Study in conjunction with the MIT Center for Real Estate. The fifth Benchmark Study measures compensation, representation, and career satisfaction across the commercial real estate industry and highlights both progress and factors that influence career satisfaction for professionals across gender, ethnicity, and background.
- Renew CREW Network’s strategic plan
- Digital transformation
- Reevaluate growth and global strategy
- Develop a 360-degree communications strategy to engage members
Sessions and member experiences
Attendees participated in leadership and professional development sessions throughout the Summit. Best-selling author Cyndie Spiegel encouraged members to practice gratitude and notice “microjoys,” even in a complicated, imperfect reality; an approach she described as realistic optimism.
The Summit also included opportunities to reflect and connect through dine-arounds, speed networking, and celebrations recognizing the newest class of CREW Network Visionaries, who have each donated more than $10,000 to the CREW Network Foundation in support of advancing women in commercial real estate.
Naomi Chavez Peters guided participants through the True Colors Assessment and facilitated breakout discussions on how communication preferences and personality styles shape collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership, both at work and beyond.
Members of the Boston delegation also shared best practices with other chapters during Presidents’, Network Board, Foundation Board, and Delegate breakouts, while building new relationships through the broader Summit programming.
Ways to engage with CREW Network
There are many ways to get involved with CREW Network. The Boston Chapter’s CREW Network Committee meets monthly. To be added to the invitation list, please email CREW Boston’s Delegate Sarah McGillicuddy at
smcgillicuddy@brplusa.com.
CREW Network also hosts events throughout the year, including the leadership summits and convention dates below. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend:
- 2026 Spring Leadership Summit: June 17–18, 2026, Minneapolis Minnesota
- 2026 Convention + Fall Leadership Summit: September 23–25, 2026, Miami, Florida
- 2027 Convention + Fall Leadership Summit: September 29–October 1, 2027, Phoenix, Arizona
