Eliza Solender

The president of Dallas-based Solender/Hall Inc., Elizabeth Solender, and CBRE were recently honored by Commercial Real Estate Women with the group’s first “Circle of Excellence” awards.

It’s the CREW network’s top honor, recognizing individuals and companies that advance the commercial real estate industry and show support for the organization’s mission.

CREW noted Solender’s success at combining her real estate background with nonprofit service: She has “become a special advocate for her clients, many of which are nonprofit boards that have unique real estate needs that are not often understood by the typical commercial real estate professional. She has been able to effectively negotiate deal after deal with organizations that often focus on charitable missions, and has created a niche practice within the real estate industry that makes her an innovator and industry leader.”

The group also praised her involvement in CREW. Solender has served as president on both the local and national levels, and is the founder and chair emeritus of the CREW Network Foundation. She also is director and president of an investment group with fellow CREW members, called Mujeres Empresarias Inc., which invests in industrial and office properties.

CBRE was also recognized by CREW, which called it “a forward-thinking company that not only supports, but embraces the organization’s mission to advance the achievements of women.”

The awards were presented by CREW’s current national president, Diane Butler, of Dallas-based Butler Burgher Group, at a national CREW conference in Chicago. Accepting the award on behalf of CBRE was Cal Frese, CEO of the firm’s Americas division.