Press Release (5/4/2026)
Commercial Real Estate Women Miami (CREW Miami) will host “Navigating Real Estate Funds: From Structure to Sponsor Execution,” a breakfast panel focused on how real estate funds are structured and executed in today’s commercial real estate market.
The event will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, 180 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Advance registration is encouraged; discounted rates are available online through May 12 at 11:59 PM, with walk-in rates applying thereafter.
Bringing together professionals with experience in fund formation, sponsor operations, legal structuring, joint ventures, investment strategy, and tax planning, the program will explore how real estate funds are structured and executed in today’s market. Panelists will also share perspectives on current dynamics and approaches for sponsors and investors.
CREW Miami’s Core Pillars
The program reflects CREW Miami’s core event pillars—learning from industry experts, asking informed questions, and building meaningful connections—while providing insight into the financial structures driving real estate investment activity.
Industry Context: CREW Network 2025 Benchmark Study
The program takes place within the broader context of the CREW Network 2025 Benchmark Study, which continues to track progress and challenges for women in commercial real estate.
Key findings include:
- Women comprise approximately 38% of the commercial real estate workforce, a figure that has remained relatively unchanged over the past 20 years
- Women hold about 9% of C-suite roles industry-wide, highlighting ongoing gaps in senior leadership representation
Leadership development, networking, and mentorship remain among the most important factors driving long-term career success- Women report that gender discrimination is now the primary barrier to advancement, a shift identified for the first time in the study’s 20-year history
Within this context, the program brings together an all-female panel of professionals actively structuring funds, advising sponsors, and shaping investment strategies across the commercial real estate landscape.
“CREW Miami’s programs bring together leaders from across the industry alongside the expertise represented within our membership and Board,” said Emily Butler, CPA, Office Managing Partner at CohnReznick (Miami) and 2026 CREW Miami Board President. “This all-female panel highlights the depth of talent shaping today’s commercial real estate landscape and reflects CREW Miami’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue, supporting professional growth, and advancing women within the industry.”
Featured Speakers
The panel will feature industry professionals with experience across fund structuring, legal frameworks, and investment strategy, including:
- Karla Damas, Partner, Cherry Bekaert
• Silvia Fernandes, Chief Legal and Operating Officer, ARCTRUST
• Galina Churchill, Vice President, Investments, Pensam
• Danielle C. Price, Partner and Co-Head Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice – South Florida, Holland & Knight LLP
Event Information
Navigating Real Estate Funds: From Structure to Sponsor Execution
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, 180 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Registration:
$55 Member | $60 Walk-In Member
$70 Nonmember | $80 Walk-In Nonmember
Advance registration is encouraged; register by May 12 at 11:59 PM to receive online rates. Walk-in rates apply after.
More information and registration:
https://miami.crewnetwork.org/events/2026/navigating-real-estate-funds
About CREW Miami
CREW Miami is dedicated to advancing women in the commercial real estate industry (CRE). We are committed to bringing more women into commercial real estate by offering programs such as CREW Careers and UCREW; supporting CRE higher education and training through college scholarships and internships; and providing mentoring to those new to or seeking change within the industry.
CREW Miami will also serve as host chapter for the 2026 CREW Network Convention, taking place September 23–25, 2026, at Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
For more information, visit CREWMiami.org and follow @CREWMiam
