Cape Fear Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), a new local chapter of the national organization, has elected officers to serve for the remainder of the year and will host its first monthly meeting on July 23 aboard the Henrietta III.

Beth Quinn of First Citizens Bank has been selected as president, Heather Millen of Commercial Interior Resources, LLC is vice-president, Lynn Harris of Century 21 Brock & Associates is secretary, and Jennifer Presnell of RSM McGladrey, Inc. is treasurer.  Dana Pellizzarri of Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP was selected as membership chair. The length of term is one year, although because the chapter was started midyear the current officers will serve only until the beginning of 2011, said Lynn Harris, a founding member and officer.

The lunch cruise will feature guest speaker Kelly Mehrtens, UNCW Athletic Director, according to the Cape Fear CREW website. Members are encouraged to bring prospective members as guests, Harris said.

CREW is a national organization (with a presence in Canada) of more than 6,000 members. It was started in the 1980’s to help women in commercial real estate and related fields advance their careers through networking opportunities. CREW accepts members representing a wide variety of professional fields; over 40 are listed on the Cape Fear CREW website.

“We’ve tried to reach out to women from all disciplines,” said Dana Pellizzarri, mentioning asset management, law, interior design and government. “We’re trying to make it a diverse group.”

Launched officially at an event on June 3, Cape Fear CREW is now 20 members strong and is seeing growth, Pellizzarri said.

“Our ultimate goal is to be nationally affiliated with the CREW network,” said Pellizzarri. The membership requirement has been met, she said, so national affiliation is only a matter of paperwork.