Cape Fear CREW, an organization for women in commercial real estate in the Cape Fear region, is accepting nominations for its annual awards of excellence program.

Cape Fear Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) is holding its seventh annual Awards of Excellence ceremony at 11 a.m. March 13, 2025, at the Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center in Wilmington, according to a news release.

The awards recognize excellence and leadership in commercial real estate throughout the area, including the city of Wilmington and the counties of New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Onslow, Duplin, Sampson, Columbus and Bladen, the release stated.

"Projects/Initiatives need to have achieved Certificate of Occupancy or substantial completion between January 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024, to be eligible for submission," according to the release.

CREW accepts nominations from the public and Cape Fear CREW members, along with their companies, colleagues and partners. Nominating a company or submitting projects or deals for consideration is free and the deadline to submit is Nov. 1.

Cape Fear CREW president Sue Meier of Copycat Print Shop stated in the release, “This year, we have refreshed our awards to better reflect the direction of our region’s economic development and growth.”

This year's categories are:

• Best Design: recognizes exceptional design and the intentional and impactful design decisions that were part of a project in the Cape Fear Region.
• Project Excellence - Industrial and Office: recognizes a team who worked together on an exceptional industrial or office project such as warehouses, logistics centers, manufacturing facilities, general office, and medical office and considers factors such as deal complexity, tenant profile, market impact, environmental impact, and innovation.
• Project Excellence – Multifamily, Mixed Use, and Retail: recognizes a team who worked together on a development, major renovation, or redevelopment project in the Cape Fear Region that demonstrates excellence in functionality, aesthetics, economic enhancement, and relationship to surroundings in these sectors, individually or in any combination.
• Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate Award: recognizes an individual who consistently exemplifies Cape Fear CREW’s commitment to paving the way for women within the Commercial Real Estate Industry. 
• Community Enhancement Award: recognizes the critical impact that real estate development can have on the lives of residents and businesses in the Cape Fear Region. 

The full criteria for each can be found online.

Two awards are nominated and voted on by the Cape Fear CREW Board of Directors:

• Impact Award, recognizing an individual or company who has consistently exemplified the traits of outstanding leadership in the commercial real estate industry and who has made a significant contribution to, and has had a significant positive influence on, the Cape Fear region’s commercial real estate industry.
• Beth Quinn Excellence Award, honoring a Cape Fear CREW member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and outstanding contributions toward the success of Cape Fear CREW and exemplifies the values and spirit of the late Beth Quinn, a founder of the Cape Fear CREW Chapter and leader within the region’s commercial real estate industry.

Questions about the awards can be directed to [email protected].