News from the Chicago Chapter

President’s Message: Continued Collaboration Provides Blueprint to Chapter Success in 2022

By Colleen Needham, CPM®, ARM®, CAM
IREM Chicago 2022 President

This past year has been defined by the election of a new president, the COVID-19 vaccine being made widely available, and reduced pandemic restrictions. We had to identify what was best for us personally and professionally, decisions which impacted our choices to attend weddings, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries; and yet we continue to thrive. It’s not what was expected for 2021, but through it all we have been able to bring our members education, leadership, mentorship, and guidance.

For over 10 years, I have served the Chapter as a volunteer on several different committees and over the past three years served on the Executive Council. I earned my Accredited Residential Manager certification, which was my first step to becoming and IREM member. In 2016, I earned my Certified Property Manager Certification, which was not only a personal achievement, but a commitment to myself and Draper and Kramer.

As the incoming president of IREM’s Chicago chapter, I look forward to building on the many successes of our past president, Steve Schimmel, CPM®, who was challenged with finding new ways to engage members while navigating the pandemic. It’s our goal to create awareness about IREM, find new ways to support our members with education, tools and networking opportunities through events, in-person and virtually.

With 2022 just around the corner, we have an obligation to continue the theme from 2021 to “Reconnect, Re-Engage and Re-Invigorate,” our promise to the IREM Members and Industry Partners through smart and reasonable goals.

Football legendary coach Vince Lombardi stated it best by saying: “Individual commitment to a group effort: That is what makes a teamwork, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

It’s also what makes IREM Chicago work.

The goals for the Chicago Chapter will capture the essence of those set for 2021 and expand on them in order to push our members and Industry Partners to think outside the box and define what IREM means to them.

With that said, our goals to help guide IREM Chicago in 2022 will be:

1. Host Industry Partner-led mini events across the suburbs and downtown.
2. Create micro committees that are inclusive to all members and allow the freedom of participating within the Chapter on a smaller scale.
3. Ensure that all members are recognized, know they have a voice, and that our chapter provides Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We will accomplish this first step of DEI by creating a committee to establish a roadmap to provide an overall direction and DEI vision that supports the Chapter initiatives and IREM. Recognition, action, and outreach will be our guide.

The above blueprint, of course, may be changed. The Chapter leadership and staff welcome thoughts and comments. Please share at: [email protected]. 

Wishing all a safe and happy holiday season, and a prosperous year ahead. I look forward to serving as your President in 2022.