CREFC’s Women’s Network celebrates milestone year with full-day program focused on leadership, professional development, and the future of CRE finance

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The CRE Finance Council (CREFC), the trade association representing the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry, will host its 10th Annual Finance Forward Symposium on October 1, 2026, in New York City. The full-day event will bring together commercial real estate finance professionals for insights into industry trends, professional development, networking, and mentoring.

Hosted by CREFC’s Women’s Network, the Finance Forward Symposium is designed to provide a platform for professionals at all stages of their careers to connect with peers and mentors, enhance their skills and stay ahead of the changes shaping the commercial real estate finance industry.

“Reaching the 10th year of the Women’s Network Symposium is an exciting milestone and a testament to the value of bringing our industry together to learn, connect and grow,” said Jeehae Lee, Senior Managing Director and Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Bridge Investment Group and 2026-2027 CREFC Women’s Network Chair. “This year’s program offers a great mix of timely market insights, practical professional development, and opportunities to build meaningful connections with colleagues and mentors. I look forward to welcoming industry professionals from across the industry for a day focused on navigating what’s next in commercial real estate finance.”

The day will feature a diverse program addressing both the business of commercial real estate finance and the skills needed to navigate an evolving industry. Featured sessions include:

• The Art of Human Intelligence: From Reading Signals to Resolving Conflict: A keynote presentation by Evy Poumpouras, former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, interrogator and NBC News law enforcement and national security analyst. Drawing on more than 12 years with the Secret Service, including assignments protecting U.S. presidents and service in the agency’s elite polygraph unit, Poumpouras will share insights on communication, leadership, psychology, resilience and navigating high-stakes situations.
• Table Talks: Elevating Your CRE Career: A fast-paced, moderator-led rotation of roundtables designed for professionals at every level to exchange ideas, build connections and gain practical insights.
• Market Crossroads: The Evolution of CRE Finance: A discussion examining how a rapidly evolving CRE lending environment ─ shaped by higher rates, liquidity and regulatory shifts, and new competitors ─ is driving the rise of creative capital and deal structures, and how market participants are navigating cash flow stress and distress to get transactions done.
• A Mosaic of Stories: Reimagining Space: A conversation exploring adaptive reuse and redevelopment ─ from uncovering hidden value in underutilized assets and navigating regulatory complexity, to structuring deals, solving design constraints, and applying real-world lessons to bring challenging projects successfully to life.

Event Details:

• When: Thursday, October 1, 2026
• Where: Citi | 45 Hubert Street | New York, NY 10013
• Program
• Registration

Guest Bartending Fundraiser Benefiting Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Following the Finance Forward Symposium, CREFC members are invited to a guest bartending fundraiser benefiting Living Beyond Breast Cancer from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Printers Alley in New York City. Some of the industry’s leaders will be serving as guest bartenders for the evening in shifts, each representing a competing team. The highest fundraising team will determine which group of industry leaders takes home bragging rights.

Registration for the fundraiser is separate from the Symposium. The registration fee covers food and beverage costs, and a donation to the Living Beyond Breast Cancer fundraiser is also required to attend.

Register for the Guest Bartending Fundraiser

To learn more about CREFC’s upcoming conferences and events, please visit this page.

About CREFC
The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) is the trade association for the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry with a membership that includes more than 400 companies and 19,000 individuals. Member firms include balance sheet and securitized lenders, loan and bond investors, private equity firms, servicers, rating agencies, and borrowers. For over 30 years, CREFC has promoted liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in the commercial real estate finance markets, and acted as a legislative and regulatory advocate for the industry, playing a vital role in setting market standards and best practices, and providing education for market participants. For more information, visit www.crefc.org.

CREFC Women’s Network

The CREFC Women’s Network is dedicated to enhancing the visibility, profile, and advancement opportunities of women in the commercial real estate finance industry. The network provides a structured platform for women’s initiatives within CREFC, as well as opportunities for networking, mentoring, and professional development.

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SOURCE CRE Finance Council