Federation’s Jewish Commercial Real Estate Network (J-CREN) only launched this fall but it has taken off in a huge way, connecting a fresh new generation of real estate professionals to Jewish life. Steven Cadranel, a member of the J-CREN Steering Committee who has organized a series of mentoring lunches said, “Atlanta is a great market to make real estate your career. J-CREN capitalizes on the collaborative nature of our business, and it offers many opportunities to engage with the Jewish community.”
Case in point — several J-CREN members have already stepped up by pooling funds to create a $180K match for donations to the Ukraine Emergency Fund. “There’s no limit to how much we all enjoy sharing our professional experiences, but at the same time these J-CREN participants are also looking to launch more meaningful Jewish journeys. Their passion and commitment is impressive,” Cadranel said.
Mendy Ruder, who is new to Atlanta said,” J-CREN has helped me familiarize myself with the different organizations within the community. Not only has joining provided actionable insights into getting involved, I actually have a sizeable deal under contract with someone I met through J-CREN 2 months ago!”
Scott Pergament was also enthusiastic. “The J-CREN lunches have been a great way to immerse myself within the Jewish community while networking and gaining mentorship from individuals within the real estate industry. They’ve been a springboard for me to connect and learn about the Jewish organizations within the Atlanta area.”
Joey Galanti agreed, “I’ve always enjoyed networking with people, learning from experts, and playing Jewish geography, so these mentoring lunches have been exceptionally rewarding for me. Listening to Steven Cadranel share his experiences has provided me with valuable insight that I will undoubtedly use throughout my career. Interacting with other Jewish professionals becomes even more delightful when we make connections. For instance, Mendy’s girlfriend’s grandfather and my fiancé’s grandfather started a business together decades ago. Small world!”
J-CREN’s Spring networking event is coming up on Wednesday, March 30, 5-6:30 pm. Learn the story of the newly completed Star Metals – a pioneering mixed-use district in Atlanta’s thriving West Midtown neighborhood. Meet your colleagues and experience one of Atlanta’s newer commercial real estate projects. There is no fee to attend, though space is limited to 200. Register here.