CORFAC News

Hollywood, FL (June 2, 2011) –CORFAC International President Charles Sevier, SIOR, CCIM announced three major initiatives to grow the organization under new leadership and expand its global affiliations through multiple channels.Certain of the initiatives have been in development for months while the announcement last week that Jones Lang LaSalle would acquire King Sturge spurred additional action by CORFAC. The three CORFAC initiatives are: it has hired a new executive director – Susan S. Newman, who has extensive international experience in commercial real estate; CORFAC has taken steps to join FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation and CORFAC has formed an International Affiliation Task Force.CORFAC International has hired real estate association management veteran Susan S. Newman as its future Executive Director, with her term becoming effective January 1, 2012.Concurrently, CORFAC International has taken action to become a principal member in FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, based in Paris, France, with operations in 65 countries and encompassing more than 120 professional associations.In addition, CORFAC has formed an International Affiliation Task Force to identify and recruit prospective affiliates in key international markets. Members of the task force have already had discussions with prospective affiliate firms in Europe, India and China.The Task Force is initially comprised of the Steering Group members of the CORFAC International Committee – Ray Lyons, SIOR, CCIM [Thomas L. Johnson Realty/CORFAC International], James Garibaldi [The Garibaldi Group/CORFAC International], and Steve Podolsky, SIOR [Podolsky Northstar CORFAC International]. The task force will be supported by dozens of CORFAC principals who are members of the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® (SIOR) and FIABCI. Further, the Executive Director/designee – Susan Newman, has a vast network of real estate relationships throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America that will be especially beneficial as CORFAC forges new affiliations around the globe.“Commercial real estate is not a ‘one-size fits all’ industry and CORFAC International has a unique organizational structure and business culture that merits a prominent place among its peers. The new initiatives are necessary steps to ensure and expand the health, prosperity and competitiveness of our organization in the global marketplace,” said Sevier, who is also a principal with Crump Commercial/CORFAC International in Memphis, TN Steve Podolsky – who is one of the founders of CORFAC and its past president (1992) as well as a past president of FIABCI-USA (2003/2004), expressed appreciation for King Sturge while at the same time he sees new opportunities for CORFAC: “King Sturge has been a good ally of CORFAC since 1995 and our affiliation was mutually beneficial. Through the years, many of us developed close personal relationships with numerous King Sturge executives and brokers and we wish them the best in the future. Despite the departure of a 15-year ally, many of us believe that there is significant upside to new opportunities that will emerge from this change, foremost among them the ability for CORFAC to globally align with independent entrepreneurial firms and brokers that are more like CORFAC, and with a clearer focus on owner/occupier work, tenant and landlord representation, and corporate services work.”Ms. Newman will assist the International Affiliation Task Force until she starts work on a full-time basis in mid-November as part of a transition period with outgoing Executive Director Tom Bennett, who retires at the end of this year after 12 years of stellar service to CORFAC International.She is leaving the post as Secretary General (chief executive officer) of the U.S. Chapter of FIABCI (FIABCI-USA) to take the leadership role at CORFAC.“Tom Bennett has done a phenomenal job during his tenure and raised the bar for CORFAC International,” said Doug Marshall, Vice President of CORFAC International and the chair of the CORFAC 2012 Transition Task Force with primary responsibility for recruiting the new executive director. He is also a principal with The Klabin Co./CORFAC International in Los Angeles, CA.“In Susan Newman,” added Mr. Marshall, “we found and retained one of the best association executives in the commercial real estate industry and the perfect choice for CORFAC. All of us have a great deal of confidence in Susan and her abilities to lead and sustain CORFAC’s competitive advantages.” Susan S. Newman BioNewman brings a proven track record of highly successful association management in international commercial real estate to CORFAC International. Among her career highlights, she established the International Real Estate Federation’s U.S. Chapter (FIABCI-USA) after its separate incorporation from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 1991. As interim CEO of FIABCI in Paris in 2010, Ms. Newman worked with 20 international committees and advised the World President and leadership on protocols, procedures, statutes and strategy to effectively communicate and educate its 3,500 members in 65 countries. She has represented FIABCI-USA at international real estate trade shows and conferences and is a well known and respected leader with numerous industry contacts in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Earlier in her career, Ms. Newman was interim CEO of CORFAC International and both Senior Director of Programs and Education Director for the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). She is fluent in French and conversational in German. The Virginia resident graduated from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.About FIABCIThrough its individual, academic, company, and professional association members located in 65 countries, through its worldwide network FIABCI members have access to real estate professionals in all specialties around the world, including brokers, appraisers, counselors, real estate finance experts, developers, builders, asset and property managers.FIABCI is the only international real estate organization representing the entire spectrum of the real estate industry. FIABCI-USA’s mission is to open the international community to its members on a local, national, and international level, so that they may develop a broad base of real estate contacts that will translate into increased business opportunities and, ultimately, financial success. About CORFAC InternationalCORFAC International is one of the largest commercial real estate services organizations in the world and founded in 1989. U.S.-based CORFAC is comprised of privately held entrepreneurial firms with expertise in office, industrial, corporate services, retail real estate and property management. In association with FIABCI – the International Real Estate Federation, BDIin Mexico,five independent firms in Canada, Rios Commercialin Puerto Rico and Panama-based Latin American Corporate Property Services, CORFAC International has 80 offices in the Americas and a market reach to 65 countries worldwide.  For more information on CORFAC, contact 954-923-6160, info@corfac.com or visit www.corfac.com.