Celebrating 10 years of the Commercial Real Estate Success Training (CREST) Program, Accordia’s Co-Managing Partner and founder of CREST Dick Galvin recently joined program alumni, mentors, representatives, sponsors, and partners at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston.
The CREST Program evolved from a prior internship called the CVP Career Academy launched in 2014. The initiative supports commercial real estate and related companies in their commitment to attract underrepresented students of color and women to the industry.
“Both Accordia and the Dorchester Bay City team remain committed to ensuring diversity in real estate and it can start all the way at the collegiate level,” said Galvin. “I’m proud to see programs like CREST continue to prosper as we seek to create an equitable and inclusive workforce in CRE.”
In addition to the CREST’s alumni and supporters, attendees of the Omni Seaport Hotel gathering included this year’s CREST intern Quang Ngheim.
Quang Nghiem, 2023 CREST intern
He’s a Senior at Suffolk University Boston where he studies Entrepreneurship with a minor in Real Estate. He says programs like CREST are a great steppingstone that will help influence his career path after graduating.
“I’ve always been interested in creating changes both in the community and beyond,” said Nghiem. “The CREST program has taught me that it is possible to make those changes through progress, teamwork, and enhancements to the environment around us.”
Kelly Taylor, Associate VP of Investments at Accordia Partners and 2018 CREST intern
Accordia is proud to see the impact programs like CREST have had on the Commercial Real Estate industry in the Boston area. With over 190 interns hired and now engaged in full-time roles within CRE, this impact is evident.
Notably, Accordia celebrates the achievements of its own Kelly Taylor, who began her journey as a CREST intern in 2018 and has since been promoted to the position of Associate VP of Investments at Accordia.