2025 President's Spring/Summer Message

Dear HRACRE Members,

As we transition from the vibrant spring and into the summer, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and highlights from our organization. This year has already been filled with successful programs and events, and we are eager to continue this momentum in the coming months.

Firstly, we are delighted to report the success of our "Focus on the Peninsula: Opportunities and Updates" event. The attendance was outstanding, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Hosting on the Peninsula has proven to be a fantastic choice, and we appreciate everyone who participated and contributed to its success.

Our Design Awards at the Neon District were another highlight, showcasing some truly remarkable projects within our market. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Candi James for her exceptional role in guiding us through the nominations and winners. Her dedication and lovely sense of humor made the event truly memorable. Much appreciation to all of our Design Awards committee members for making it a success!

Looking ahead, we have several exciting events on the horizon that we encourage you to attend. On May 21st, join us at the Westin for the Pembroke Square Redevelopment Project. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about this significant development. Additionally, mark your calendars for June 5th for our annual Golf Outing in Williamsburg. Registration and sponsor sign-ups are now open, so don’t miss out on this great day of networking and fun. We are also eagerly anticipating the Beach Bash, co-hosted with CREW, at The Shack on 8th on July 17th. This event promises to be a fantastic time, and rest assured, if the weather does not cooperate, we have an indoor space ready to ensure the event goes on. Please come join us for a refreshing Crush and great company!

Our organization is buzzing with positive energy. It is thanks to the hard work of all of our committees. I wanted to take a quick opportunity to highlight a few recent successes of those committees.

Membership Committee is focusing on our YPN initiatives as well as planning events to highlight the benefits of joining HRACRE. The committee is also brainstorming ideas to increase new members to the organization. As current members, it is always refreshing to connect with someone that has recently joined! Please continue to consider your professional contacts that would benefit from the HRACRE membership.

The Legislative Committee has been diligently working to bring live legislative updates to our HRACRE website. This new tool will allow members to stay informed about the stances HRACRE has taken on proposed bills. A recent success story from this committee is the veto of the Solar Canopy bill by Governor Youngkin, following our members' direct outreach. Kudos to the Legislative Committee for their hard work and dedication!

As we head into summer, I am particularly excited about our internship program, which kicks off on June 9th. The interns bring fresh energy to our member organizations, and the structured program offers them a comprehensive view of the Hampton Roads commercial real estate industry. Please take the time to introduce yourselves and connect with our interns whenever possible.

Thank you all for your continued support and participation. Here’s to a fantastic summer ahead!

Warm regards,

Kelli Fox

2025 HRACRE President