REFA Connecticut forms Young Professionals Network

The Real Estate Finance Association of Connecticut (REFA) has formed a Young Professionals Network (REFA YPN) with the objective of helping individuals that are new to, or lightly experienced in, the commercial real estate industry and who desire to better establish themselves within the professional real estate community. REFA YPN provides young professionals an opportunity to get involved with events and programs that will provide exposure to all facets of the industry and to build and establish new relationships while advancing industry knowledge, fostering career growth, and having a rewarding and enjoyable time while doing so. The association meets throughout the year at various networking events, community service volunteering projects, and career advancement seminars, the next of which will be an executive roundtable discussion held at the winter social which takes place on January 23, 2014 at Hotel Zero Degrees in Norwalk. At this event, prospective REFA YPN members will have the opportunity to participate in small group setting (4-6 per table) roundtable discussions from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., with senior executive industry leaders heading each table and available to field questions. The industry leaders include Investor/Developers Randy Salvatore of RMS Construction, David Fiore of Marcus Properties, asset/property Managers Bob Hartt of Hartt Realty Advisors and Jeff Newman of Empire State Realty Trust and leasing and investment sales brokers Al Mirin of Cushman & Wakefield of CT and Tom Pajolek of CBRE. Following the roundtable discussions and prior to the holiday social, there will be a half hour of networking with the senior professionals. The executive roundtable discussions are a great opportunity to gain direct exposure to senior real estate executives with proven track records of success in various industry specialties including asset management, property management, investment management, development, investment sales and leasing brokerage.