Boston – The New England Chapter of CoreNet Global has completed its eighth consecutive year of partnership with the Commercial Real Estate Success Training (CREST) program, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the corporate real estate industry.
Launched in 2017, the chapter’s DEI Committee has played a pivotal role in shaping the mentorship component of the CREST internship experience. Each summer, the program matches underrepresented students and emerging professionals with senior leaders in commercial real estate. In 2025, the initiative successfully supported 19 mentor-mentee pairs from June 2 to August 8, creating meaningful industry connections and pathways for professional growth.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the New England Chapter of CoreNet Global for pairing me with such a knowledgeable mentor,” said Osama Abdelmaaboud, a 2025 CREST intern and Master of Architecture student at Boston Architectural College. “CREST goes beyond technical training—it emphasizes networking and relationship-building, which are essential for long-term success.”
The CREST program, founded by Milton Benjamin of KAGE Growth Strategies, provides paid internship placements at top real estate firms, while also facilitating workshops, professional development, and access to industry leaders for college juniors, seniors, and graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds.
“CoreNet has delivered an unmatched and highly valued resource to the CREST program,” said Benjamin. “Despite unfair criticism of DEI initiatives, the CoreNet-CREST relationship continues to prepare young, underrepresented talent for meaningful careers in real estate. That value is exceptional.”
This year, the New England Chapter deepened its support by offering complimentary student memberships to all CREST interns, valid through December 31, 2026. These memberships grant access to CoreNet’s regional resources, programming, and events—many of which are designed specifically for students entering the industry.
“As a designated CREST Champion, our chapter is proud to support this transformative program financially and operationally,” said Adam Fandrey, CoreNet Global – New England Chapter President and Senior Vice President at Middlesex Savings Bank. “The real estate industry is constantly evolving, and our partnership with CREST remains critical in creating pathways for emerging professionals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.”
Beyond office experience, CREST interns also participated in social and networking events—organized with help from the CoreNet community—that exposed them to the broader commercial real estate ecosystem in a dynamic, inclusive setting.
This mentorship-driven model has become a hallmark of CoreNet Global New England’s DEI strategy, inspiring a new generation of talent to consider careers in real estate and giving members an opportunity to give back through guidance and leadership.
As CoreNet Global – New England and CREST look ahead to the program’s ninth year, the organizations remain committed to scaling their impact, demonstrating that intentional mentorship, inclusive leadership, and real-world experience are not only compatible with industry success—but essential to it.
