Commercial

CREW Miami Awards $15K in Scholarships and Announces 2026 Board of Directors

Published on December 18, 2025

Holiday Party & Awards brings together South Florida’s commercial real estate community.

Commercial Real Estate Women Miami (CREW Miami) brought South Florida’s commercial real estate community together for an evening of celebration, recognition, and reflection at its annual Holiday Party & Awards. Held on Wednesday, December 10, at Lucid Art Gallery in the Miami Design District, the event marked a festive close to a year defined by leadership, education, and meaningful impact. Members and guests from across the region gathered to honor the organization’s accomplishments and the individuals helping shape the future of commercial real estate, particularly women entering and advancing within the industry.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of CREW Miami’s annual scholarships. This year, the organization awarded $15,000 to outstanding female students pursuing careers in commercial real estate–related fields, reinforcing CREW Miami’s long-standing commitment to education and access. The 2025 scholarship recipients include Peyton Recer, a Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Miami School of Law, Class of 2027, and the recipient of the Roslyn K. Berrin Scholarship; Patricia Llerena Perez, an architecture student at the University of Miami, Class of 2028; and Pietra Ingletto Wagner, a finance and real estate student at the University of Miami, Class of 2027.

“Receiving this scholarship reinforces my commitment to building a career in commercial real estate,” said Pietra Ingletto Wagner. “CREW Miami’s support provides both financial assistance and encouragement as I prepare to enter the industry.”

CREW Miami’s scholarship program supports female undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in real estate-related disciplines at Miami-Dade County institutions who maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The Roslyn K. Berrin Scholarship, awarded annually, honors one of South Florida’s pioneering women in commercial real estate and is funded in perpetuity through a dedicated endowment.

As the organization looks ahead, CREW Miami leadership emphasized the collective power of connection and community. “CREW Miami is built on the belief that when women are connected, supported, and visible, the entire industry is stronger,” said Josie Legido Correa, Director of Business Development for Florida at JWR Construction and CREW Miami’s 2025 Board President. “Throughout the year, our programs—from scholarships and mentorship to educational events and signature gatherings—created spaces for learning, collaboration, and genuine relationship-building. Backed by the global reach of CREW Network, we are proud to foster a community that opens doors, advances careers, and helps women grow together in commercial real estate.”

In 2025, CREW Miami delivered a robust calendar of programming designed to educate, connect, and elevate its members and the broader commercial real estate community. The organization hosted 22 events and welcomed more than 1,000 professionals, ranging from hard hat tours and educational panels to virtual cafecitos and signature gatherings such as the annual Golf Tournament and the Tri-Chapter Anatomy of the Deal program. The year also featured fireside chats with local CRE leaders Avra Jain and Ramola Motwani, expanded next-generation outreach through UCREW events at the University of Miami and Florida International University, and paired five emerging professionals with experienced mentors for one-on-one career guidance.

Additionally, CREW Miami awarded more than $12,000 in professional development scholarships for members to attend CREW Network Convention and Leadership Summits, issued $15,000 in student scholarships, and delivered enhanced visibility and value for corporate sponsors through integrated events and strategic social media engagement. As the holiday season set the tone for the year ahead, the celebration reflected not only a successful year, but a continued commitment to opportunity, leadership, and the advancement of women across South Florida’s commercial real estate landscape.

2026 Board of Directors Announcement:

CREW Miami also announced its 2026 Board of Directors, representing leadership across development, finance, law, construction, design, and professional services:

Emily Butler, Office Managing Partner – Miami, CohnReznick LLP; Chapter President
Julia Grachova, VP of Business Development and Governmental Legal Affairs, Fuse Group Investment Companies; President-Elect
Josie Legido Correa, Director of Business Development – Florida, JWR Construction; Immediate Past President
Sarah Zhou, Senior Manager, BPM; Treasurer
Jennifer Hernandez, Partner, Avila Rodriguez Hernandez Mena & Garro LLP; Board Secretary
Melinda Sherwood, Principal, Revelie PR; Communications Director
Zeynep A. Talu-Balci, Founder, Makos Real Estate; Education Director
Shannon Wilson, Associate Director, Mortgage Banking, Berkadia; Programs Director
Staci Merchant, Partner, Merchant Insurance Solutions; Hospitality Director
Jennifer Kusek, MBA, CPA, Controller, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Signature Events Director
Dorota Lopez, CEO & Lead Designer, GFD Design Group; Sponsorship Director
Brenda Saavedra, Founding Principal, Landy Saavedra, PLLC; Legal Director
Cristina Zampieri, Senior Vice President, Intercredit Bank N.A.; Membership Committee Director
Wendy Ruiz Cofiño, Vice President, FALKE Atlantic Corporation; Member Services Committee Director

New board members for 2026 include Melinda Sherwood, Zeynep A. Talu-Balci, Jennifer Hernandez, Jennifer Kusek, and Dorota Lopez.

Jennifer Hernandez; Jennifer Kusek; Melinda Sherwood; Dorota Lopez, Brenda Saavedra, Sarah Zhou, Zeynep A. Talu-Balci, Staci Merchant, Julia Grachova, Mabelle Perez, Shannon Wilson, Isabela Montalvo, Emily Butler, Josie Legido Correa, Yvonne Nyakana, Cristina Zampieri.
Not pictured: Rodolfo Javier Hernandez, Holly Cohen, Wendy Ruiz Cofino

Shannon Wilson, Brenda Saavedra, Karla Damas, & Jennifer Hernandez

Patricia Llerena Perez, Pietra Ingletto Wagner, Peyton Recer

Marcie Gregorio and Payal Tak, Owner of Lucid Design District

Emily Butler, 2026 CREW Miami President and Kara Olesky CREW Miami Member

Isabela Montalvo, Finance Associate at Scout Cold Logistics, 2025 Education Committee Director_ Peyton Recer Juris Doctor candidate, University of Miami School of Law, Class of 2027, Roslyn K. Berrin Scholarship recipient_ Josie Legido

Isabela Montalvo, Finance Associate at Scout Cold Logistics, 2025 Education Committee Director_ Patricia Llerena Perez, University of Miami, Architecture, Class of 2028 _ Josie Legido Correa, Director of Business Development for Florida