A Formidable Workforce                

I did it again.  I attended CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Network's annual convention this past week in our nation's capital.  There's always a theme for the convention and this year in a city that many believe remains one of the most powerful in the world, the theme was Power.  Washington, DC is a fascinating place and I could talk with you for hours about it ... the great and not so great, but then I'd be off target with why I titled this column the way I did.    

Workforce came to mind because of the sad state of our workforce is on the minds of all of us as the new Job Plan is debated.  But what I really want to discuss is the powerful workforce I was sequestered with for three days-the women of CREW.  These are simply the most collaborative workers I've ever met.  And there's a lesson in that collaboration for all of us.  

So what is a workforce anyway?  The best definition as far as I'm concerned is, "a group of people collectively doing something for profits."  What I experience each and every year I attend the national CREW conference is energy.  Positive energy.  Enthusiasm.  Passion.  The stuff that gets us out of bed in the morning.  I attend a lot of group meetings and none is like CREW.  And lest you think that I feel they are perfect, I can assure you they aren't.  But they are truly unique and if I was told I had to eliminate all but a couple of the professional associations I work with, CREW would not  get cut.  They bring so much to the table that they're a "workforce" unlike any other.

And theirs is a workforce that remains a minority in the commercial real estate arena.  Yep, still a minority.  And I'm fairly cool with that.  Minority positions require more effort and when that requirement ... effort and the call to work together happens in the right way and has support, it's another kind of force.  A force to be reckoned with.  A force that gets things done.

This same type of workforce is the one I have passionately worked with for most of my career in commercial real estate.  A force of companies and individuals who understand the value of streamlining how we work in this profession so we can be more profitable and satisfied with what we do.  The group of folks that I've had the good fortune of learning from and helping to learn are true leaders.  Like CREW, they too are in the minority.  Why?  Because they are typically people looking for a better way and they are willing to take some risk along the way.  They are committed to be part of a workforce that isn't overly fearful of change.  And it seems to me that the reason they aren't as averse to change is because they're willing to make mistakes for the sake of doing things better.  

I've dedicated a significant part of my business life to working on technologies and processes that help streamline our cumbersome industry.  And it is pretty rewarding...at least it's rewarding when it's not frustrating the heck out of me.  It is rewarding because I can look back and see the progress technology and workflow have made in getting some of what we all do more "default" driven.   

I think of process and implementation of technologies much in the way CREW looks at making connections--Simply vital for survival.   

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Fresh Encounter, Inc. trades as Community Markets, Great Scot Community Markets, Fulmer Community Markets and Sack 'N Save Supermarkets at 31 locations throughout IN and OH.  The supermarkets, featuring bakery, deli, meat and floral departments, as well as a pharmacy, occupy spaces of 9,000 sq.ft. to 36,000 sq.ft. in freestanding locations, strip centers and downtown areas.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months.  For more information, contact Michael Needler, Fresh Encounter, Inc., 317 West Main Cross Street, Findlay, OH 45840  

Inserra Supermarkets, Inc. trades as ShopRite and LML Supermarkets at 23 locations throughout NJ and NY.  The supermarkets occupy spaces of 60,000 sq.ft. to 70,000 sq.ft. in freestanding locations and strip centers.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Rockland counties in NJ and the New York, NY metropolitan area during the coming 18 months.  For more information, contact Rich Chamberlin, Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., 20 Ridge Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430

Stater Bros. Markets operates 167 locations throughout southern CA.  The supermarkets, featuring meat, seafood, produce, deli, bakery and floral departments, as well as a pharmacy, occupy spaces of 44,000 sq.ft. in strip centers.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing market during the coming 18 months.  For more information, contact Bill Corridan or Michael Slaton, Stater Bros. Markets, 301 South Tippecanoe, San Bernardino, CA 92408

Magruders, Inc. trades as Magruders at seven locations throughout MD, VA and Washington, DC.  The supermarkets, featuring produce, meat, deli and seafood departments, as well as offering wine and spirits, occupy spaces of 25,000 sq.ft. to 32,000 sq.ft. in strip centers.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months.  For more information, contact Steven Fanaroff, Magruders, Inc., 11820 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852

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