On Tuesday, February 2, CREW Boston and the CREW Boston Educational Foundation hosted a UCREW Panel, bringing together CREW Boston members and students from Boston College’s Women in Real Estate (WIRE) group.
The panel featured a diverse range of experienced commercial real estate professionals, each sharing their subject matter expertise. Students gained insights from experts across a wide range of fields, including Banking/Commercial Lending, Engineering, Asset/Property Management, Title Insurance, Construction, Development, Acquisitions/Dispositions, Corporate Real Estate, Legal Services, and Human Resources.
Panelists included:
- Banking/Commercial Lending: Rachel Bandi, VP Commercial Loan Officer, Rockland Trust Company
- Engineering: Abigail Day, P.E., Associate Vice President, Technology Design Services and Smart Building Practice, CannonDesign
- Asset/Propert Management: Kristin Gowdy, Senior Vice President of Asset Management, Northbridge Companies
- Title Insurance: Megan Fanning Rapone, Esq., Vice President and Commercial Counsel, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company National Commercial Services
- Construction: Rebecca Caulfield, Vice President Preconstruction Services, PIDC Construction, LLC
- Development: Bella McKinnon, Project Manager of Tenant Improvements, Waterstone Properties Group
- Acquisitions/Dispositions: Hannah Jacobs, Analyst, Investments, The Bulfinch Companies, Inc.
- Corporate Real Estate: Wanda Lee, Senior Project Manager, VVA, Drees & Sommer
- Legal Services: Smriti Choudhury, Associate, Mintz, Levin Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
- Human Resources: Meghan Clements, Director, HR Advisory, BXP
Moderated by WIRE Co-Presidents Hanna Hoffman and Elliot Dyroff, the panel followed a dynamic question-and-answer format, creating an interactive and engaging discussion. CREW Boston members shared their career journeys, insights into their respective fields, and practical advice for students aspiring to enter this male-dominated industry. It was a valuable opportunity for students to learn directly from seasoned professionals and gain inspiration for their own paths in commercial real estate.
Following the discussion, the panelists joined students for an intimate dinner at six round tables. With one to two experts at each table, students had the opportunity to engage in personal, in-depth conversations, ask sector-specific questions, and build meaningful connections with leaders in their fields.
A heartfelt thank you to WIRE Co-Presidents Hanna Hoffman, Elliot Dyroff, and Liv McHugh for organizing such a thoughtful, engaging, and seamlessly run event — especially while balancing the demands of their senior year. Their dedication and leadership were instrumental in the program’s success.
We are also grateful to Taylor Perkins, Associate Director and Instructor; Jennifer Kelley, Assistant Director of Programs; and Julia Turner, Administrative Assistant — all with Boston College’s Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action, as well as to our outstanding panelists for generously volunteering their time to connect with and inspire students.
