IREM’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

We recognize that everyone in the real estate management profession has a voice and a place within IREM. We must honor the diversity of our community. It’s our commitment to provide value that makes a difference in the lives of all stakeholders.

Our DEI vision: IREM is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that continues to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’ll be better tomorrow than we are today.

Diversity for us means we embrace our similarities and differences. We welcome a myriad of all races, ages, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, creeds, nationalities, national origins, and individuals with disabilities to our community.

Equity for us means that we acknowledge that everyone starts from a different place. We elevate individuals by continuously being progressive in identifying and removing unintentional barriers that may impede access and success.

Inclusion for us means we will create an environment where individuals in our profession feel valued, respected, supported, and welcome to bring their authentic selves to IREM.

DEI Strategy

IREM’s DEI strategy, adopted in 2021, identifies these priorities, with initiatives and tactics that are near-term and long-term and are enterprise wide:

Work stream

Recognition, action, and outreach

Outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
IREM was a sponsoring organization of the Association Forum’s Welcoming Environment initiative research and summit.
IREM Foundation Diversity Scholarship assists IREM members from underrepresented groups with the cost of tuition associated with achieving an IREM certification.
IREM Foundation is a founding partner of CORE – Career Opportunities in Real Estate: Professions of Choice, Not Chance.
IREM Foundation partners with NAA Education Institute hosting a virtual career fair to elevate new and diverse talent.
The Diversity & Inclusion Succession Initiative (DISI) recognizes IREM members from underrepresented groups who are committed to diversity in the workplace and in the real estate management profession. Thanks to a generous grant from the IREM Foundation, 10 qualified candidates are selected and receive funding to attend the IREM Global Summit.

2022 and previous DISI leaders

"IREM makes diversity a priority as an organization because it sees the value of bringing in all sorts of ideas, and opinions, and perspectives into real estate. We know that each building's a little different, each market is a little different. And as a result, we need people that think differently and come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences to tackle the idiosyncrasies of our particular properties."

Kasara Smith, CPM^{^®}

2020 IREM President Cheryl Gray, CPM^{^®} and Jasmyn Sylvester, CPM^{^®} discuss the importance of diversity in the real estate industry and property management profession at the 2020 Virtual IREM Summit.

2020 IREM President Cheryl Gray, CPM^{^®} and 2020 Virtual IREM Summit keynote speaker John Register chat about how to approach conversations related to diversity, inclusion, and race.

Resources

IREM educational content

IREM Articles:

Skills on-demand:

IREM podcasts: From the Front Lines

Unconscious Bias in a Pandemic with Kelly Charles-Collins, Esq., MBA and CEO of HR Legally Speaking (Spotify, Apple Podcasts)
Gender and Diversity in Commercial Real Estate with Wendy Mann, CEO, CREW Network (Spotify, Apple Podcasts)

Other Content

Toward Cultural Diversity

Workplace Diversity Does Matter

Diversity Delivers: Four Tips for Embracing Differences

Success in DEI is a Journey That Needs to Start Today

5 questions to get your started

Crises as a Catalyst

Diversity Inclusion Three Actions

Racial Equity Tools Glossary

Social Media

Follow our social media channels to see the latest diversity and heritage recognitions.

DEI Advisory Board

Established in 2007, the Diversity Advisory Board, renamed DEI Advisory Board in 2022, works on a national level to support execution of IREM’s DEI strategy, be DEI ambassadors, develop DEI best practices for chapters, and support other IREM governance bodies on their DEI impact. The 2022 DEI Advisory Board consists of:

Kaci B. Hancock, CPM®, ACoM - Houston, TX, REIS Associates (Chair)
Neil R. Cadman, CPM® - El Segundo, CA, Cadman Group (Vice Chair)

Michael L Adcock, ARM® - Manor, TX
Todd Anderson – Herndon, VA, Moore & Associates
Kurstie Butcher, ARM® – Lake In the Hills, IL, Draper and Kramer
Nthabiseng Chambela, CPM® – South Africa, AECI Property Services
John Dempsey – Pearl River, NY, NYU
Glenn L. French, CPM® – Raleigh, NC, G. L. French & Associates, Inc.
Chevalle Hardison, CPM® – Washington, DC, Easterly Government Properties
Kristin E Hiett, CAE - Addison, TX
Jean R. Lespinasse, ARM® – Newton, MA, Barkan Management Company
Imanu Lewis – Lakewood, OH, Westerly Apartments
Rachel Mondelli – Salt Lake City, UT, Bridge Property Management
Michelle L. Olson, CPM® – Los Angeles, CA
Kimberly Parker, CPM® – Boston, MA
Christy S Paul, ARM® – Southfield, MI, Volunteers of America, MI
Marc Paylor, Robbinsdale, MN
Karoline Peralta, ARM® – Boston, MA, Virtue Properties
Ashley Rodriguez – Austin, TX, Endeavor Real Estate Group
Jae A. Roe, CPM®, ACoM – Norfolk, VA, The RMR Group
Terrence Robillard – San Francisco, CA
Tasha M. Rush, ARM® - Romeoville, IL
Jasmyn C. Sylvester, CPM®, ACoM – Snellville, GA
Cecilia Andrade Tavares, ARM® – Fall River, MA, The Fairways
Sharon Turner, CPM® – Columbia, MD, Enterprise Community Investment Assets
Tiffany Tatiana Wright, ARM® – Hackensack, NJ
Ziomara M. Young, CPM® – Grand Prairie, TX, W3 Luxury Living