August 2026 Letter to Membership

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” – Helen Hayes

Dear CREW Atlanta Members,

Maybe I was an anxious child, but every August of my childhood was filled with excitement and anxiety. Excitement around my new outfits from Limited Too, a colorful new

Trapper Keeper and Lisa Frank folders… and a sense of anxiety about what the school year would bring. What new subjects would I be learning, and would I struggle with any of them? What would so-and-so be up to this year, and would they still be the jerk they were last year? The night before the first day of school, I never slept.

As adults, those feelings never really go away - they just show up in different ways. Instead of new classrooms, we walk into new projects. Instead of wondering who our teacher will be, we wonder if we’re ready for a new leadership role or challenge. The uncertainty can feel just as real today as it did sitting on the edge of the bed the night before school started. But experience has taught us something our younger selves didn’t know: we figure it out. We learn. We adapt. And before long, what once felt intimidating becomes second nature. As we head into the final third of the year, it’s a good reminder that growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones. Every expert was once a beginner - and one of the greatest strengths of CREW is that so many of those experts are willing to mentor, encourage, and help the next generation of leaders find their footing.

On the horizon, we have several opportunities to continue learning and growing together including in early September, The Art of Leadership: Building a Legacy of Impact program at the Woodruff Arts Center with Hala Moddelmog. Known for her collaborative leadership and deep commitment to Atlanta, Hala has spent more than 30 years leading organizations that strengthen communities, businesses, and now the arts as President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. She will share lessons from her leadership journey and discuss how creativity, connection, and new ways of thinking can help us thrive in a fast-paced world. In August, we have the ACE Tour of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, a Dine Around: Speakeasy Cocktails, graciously hosted by Heather Brown, Yolanda King, and Laura Young, and if you are considering joining CREW or are newer to organization, our Potential New Member Event is the perfect opportunity to learn more about CREW Atlanta and discover where you can find your place within this incredible community.

As summer begins to wind down and our calendars inevitably fill back up, I hope you'll continue making time to invest in yourself and in the incredible network of professionals that makes CREW Atlanta so special. None of us has all the answers, but together we have an incredible depth of knowledge, experience, and support.

Thank you for everything you do to strengthen our industry and to champion women in commercial real estate. Your willingness to lead, learn, mentor, and encourage others is what makes our organization thrive.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events.

Let's do this together.

Dana Ladd
President
CREW Atlanta