Let’s talk about the convention. First, the dates Let’s talk about the convention. First, the dates. They’re the same as last year, but we’re shifting back to our traditional Wednesday through Saturday schedule. Where is it? It will be held in Bellevue, which is on Seattle’s East Side, right in the heart of Bellevue’s shopping and entertainment district. Now, let’s talk about the theme. For the last couple of years, we’ve talked about how our perspective can shape us, and we’ve talked about the rewards of taking risks and making bold choices. At this point, we decided it was time to put the focus on getting it done and making it happen. So with that in mind, the theme is “ACTivate – Action Creates Transformation.” To truly make a change, you have to take action, so we hope you’ll hit the start button and join us in Seattle.

Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley featured speaker Carla Harris Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley Author Our opening session speaker will be Carla Harris, who is vice chairman and managing director of Morgan Stanley. She is phenomenal – not only is she on just about every list of powerful women in business, but she’s also an accomplished gospel singer who has released three CDs and performed around the world. She’s also the author of two books, Expect to Win, and Strategize to Win, which was just released in December of last year.

Former CNBC Chief Economist featured speaker Marci Rossell Former CNBC Chief Economist Our capital markets session will be hosted by someone you may already know – Marci Rossell, the former CNBC chief economist and co-host of Squawk Box. If you haven’t seen her before, she’s hysterical – she’ll have you rolling with laughter while she’s explaining complex economic issues. She’s known for her engaging style and for making complicated economic issues relevant to our lives, families and careers.

Rita McGrath Business Strategist Author featured speaker The Friday morning speaker will be Rita McGrath, a Columbia Business School professor and author considered to be one of the most “disruptive” thinkers on the subject of competitive strategy today.

Former U.S. Secretary of State keynote speaker Madeleine Albright Former U.S. Secretary of State And our keynote speaker will be none other than Madeleine Albright, the first female secretary of state for the United States, and at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. Though retired from government service, she is currently serving as chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. She is also a professor in the practice of diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. In 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. She is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including her autobiography, “Madam Secretary: A Memoir.”

Education Sessions Mixed Use: An Old Concept That is New Again The Rise of the Urban Campus The Why’s, What’s and Who’s of Healthcare Facility Investors Crowdfunding & Crowdsourcing: Going Global – Looking Local Public-Private Redevelopment: Opportunities for Success Growth of EB-5 and Role of Future Development Seniors Housing: Where Do We Go From Here (and How Do We Get There?) Stackable Cities: Up in the Air and Under the Ground Logistics Trends and Impact to CRE Across the U.S. Foot Traffic Ahead – The Impact of Walkability on Multifamily Investments Experiential Real Estate: Where Are Consumer Demands Taking Bricks-and-Mortar Retail? Here’s a look at some of the education sessions on the schedule. It’s a great mix of interesting topics, from “stackable cities” to crowdfunding, to walkability and multifamily trends. All the descriptions are in your brochure and on the website, so you can find out more information about any of these sessions there.

Exploring Seattle: Learning Excursions Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Headquarters Tour Managing a City Within a City – An Inside Look at Microsoft’s Corporate Campus Reinventing Suburban Downtown (Bellevue Walking Tour) Seattle Waterfront: The Past Present and Future Starbucks Coffee Headquarters – Brewing a Rich & Robust Working Environment Understanding Amazon’s Growth in South Lake Union The learning excursions planned for Seattle are top notch. As you all know, the Seattle area is home to some of the most innovative corporate space in the world, and you’ll have an inside pass to learn about the design strategies behind some of these powerhouses. There’s Starbucks, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, just to name a few of your options.

CREW Network Foundation Red or White Party Friday, Oct. 2 Also, don’t miss the Foundation’s Red or White Party at the iconic Pacific Tower! Plan to stay over Friday evening to wrap up the convention in style. Join us in raising a glass in your red or white best and help fund our continuing efforts to bring more women into commercial real estate. This year’s celebration will be held inside the Pacific Tower, a recognized Seattle landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Perched on top of Beacon Hill, the Pacific Tower has amazing 180-degree views stretching from the Olympic Mountains through Puget Sound, downtown Seattle, Lake Washington, Bellevue and finally to the Cascades. We hope you’ll join us for this festive evening in one of the most exclusive buildings in the Seattle area. Proceeds benefit CREW Network Foundation

We want to see as many of you in Seattle as possible We want to see as many of you in Seattle as possible. If you haven’t yet experienced a CREW convention, you really should set aside the time and money – it’s worth it. The convention is where everything comes together and you can really see the bigger network that we’re all a part of. Altogether, this convention promises to be a great event, and we hope you’ll ACT now and register at crewnetwork.org!