CREW Makes Unexpected Choice During Awards

OAKLAND, CA—With this being National Women's History Month, it seems fitting that the commercial real estate organization comprised mainly of women would make history. The three Bay Area chapters of Commercial Real Estate Women, recently meeting for the annual awards gala, did something totally unexpected during the ceremony: they gave the “Inspirator of the Year” award to a man.

Alan Collenette, who oversees the San Francisco, Sacramento and Marin County offices for Colliers International, looked more surprised than any of the 400-plus guests. He said it was a surreal experience when he heard his name announced and made his way to the stage to accept the organizations' top honor, GlobeSt.com learns.

“I was totally unprepared when my name was called. I had helped another CREW member in my office who had asked for my assistance in preparing some remarks in case she won and, as we sat together, she kept asking me to include how I had recruited her and others,” Collenette tells GlobeSt.com. “Now, looking back, I can see why she wanted me to be prepared in case I won this truly amazing honor. I was just shocked from my head to my toes.”

Looking across the sea of mostly female faces, Collenette told the audience that not only was he stunned that three women's groups would name a man to receive its highest honor, but that he would be that man. But those who know him and have witnessed his tireless efforts to increase the number of women in an industry long dominated by men weren't surprised at all.

He explained that the early impetus for his desire to champion women in business was the example set by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother worked tirelessly to get the Scottish government to pass laws mandating decent working conditions for women, children and men in the Glasgow factories during the Industrial Age. Then, it was his mother, who survived the Scottish Blitz when Axis bombers killed hundreds of civilians and left thousands homeless. She went on to raise four children and teach school well into her 60s in the most crime-ridden areas of London.

He told the audience that the challenge for men in being champions of even the most basic 50/50 standard of equality in the workplace is that others will think they are trying to score points or gain a business advantage.

“What I say to that is, to hell with that!” he said. “Who cares what other people might think? The very idea that it is bold or radical to seek proactively to have a balanced workplace where women and men are valued equally is truly absurd. In short, we men need to get over ourselves, stop waiting for things to just happen and be equal prime movers ourselves. Now!”

Colliers collected a second award, winning an honorable mention in the “Break the Ceiling: Corporate Leadership” category. After having some time to reflect between congratulatory handshakes, the usually eloquent Collenette said he was nearly speechless for the first time in a long, long time.

“I am humbled, I am stunned and I am deeply moved that my efforts to bring more women into our industry and into Colliers has been recognized by so many women at the same time,” he said. “But the award doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to all the members of CREW and to the entire Colliers management team from top to bottom, who not only have supported my efforts in this endeavor, but have encouraged others in roles similar to mine to do the same: recruit the best and the brightest without regard to gender.”

CREW chapters from the East Bay, Silicon Valley and San Francisco held the event at the Paramount Theater. The event was titled “ELEVATE: An Event Honoring Diversity and Women's Leadership in Commercial Real Estate.” The chapters handed out honors in a variety of categories designed to recognize achievements by women in the Bay Area.

OAKLAND, CA—With this being National Women's History Month, it seems fitting that the commercial real estate organization comprised mainly of women would make history. The three Bay Area chapters of Commercial Real Estate Women, recently meeting for the annual awards gala, did something totally unexpected during the ceremony: they gave the “Inspirator of the Year” award to a man.

Alan Collenette, who oversees the San Francisco, Sacramento and Marin County offices for Colliers International, looked more surprised than any of the 400-plus guests. He said it was a surreal experience when he heard his name announced and made his way to the stage to accept the organizations' top honor, GlobeSt.com learns.

“I was totally unprepared when my name was called. I had helped another CREW member in my office who had asked for my assistance in preparing some remarks in case she won and, as we sat together, she kept asking me to include how I had recruited her and others,” Collenette tells GlobeSt.com. “Now, looking back, I can see why she wanted me to be prepared in case I won this truly amazing honor. I was just shocked from my head to my toes.”

Looking across the sea of mostly female faces, Collenette told the audience that not only was he stunned that three women's groups would name a man to receive its highest honor, but that he would be that man. But those who know him and have witnessed his tireless efforts to increase the number of women in an industry long dominated by men weren't surprised at all.

He explained that the early impetus for his desire to champion women in business was the example set by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother worked tirelessly to get the Scottish government to pass laws mandating decent working conditions for women, children and men in the Glasgow factories during the Industrial Age. Then, it was his mother, who survived the Scottish Blitz when Axis bombers killed hundreds of civilians and left thousands homeless. She went on to raise four children and teach school well into her 60s in the most crime-ridden areas of London.

He told the audience that the challenge for men in being champions of even the most basic 50/50 standard of equality in the workplace is that others will think they are trying to score points or gain a business advantage.

“What I say to that is, to hell with that!” he said. “Who cares what other people might think? The very idea that it is bold or radical to seek proactively to have a balanced workplace where women and men are valued equally is truly absurd. In short, we men need to get over ourselves, stop waiting for things to just happen and be equal prime movers ourselves. Now!”

Colliers collected a second award, winning an honorable mention in the “Break the Ceiling: Corporate Leadership” category. After having some time to reflect between congratulatory handshakes, the usually eloquent Collenette said he was nearly speechless for the first time in a long, long time.

“I am humbled, I am stunned and I am deeply moved that my efforts to bring more women into our industry and into Colliers has been recognized by so many women at the same time,” he said. “But the award doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to all the members of CREW and to the entire Colliers management team from top to bottom, who not only have supported my efforts in this endeavor, but have encouraged others in roles similar to mine to do the same: recruit the best and the brightest without regard to gender.”

CREW chapters from the East Bay, Silicon Valley and San Francisco held the event at the Paramount Theater. The event was titled “ELEVATE: An Event Honoring Diversity and Women's Leadership in Commercial Real Estate.” The chapters handed out honors in a variety of categories designed to recognize achievements by women in the Bay Area.