Local real estate businesswomen are going out on a WIRE.
Formed in 2003, the Baltimore-based Women Investors of Real Estate Group unites professional businesswomen in the region in an educational and networking organization. Consisting of about 100 real estate investors and professionals, WIRE looked to break the “old boys” real estate professional network and provide an entryway for new female professionals.
“The biggest goal of WIRE is to make women more educated in real estate investing. It can be commercial or residential, but we want to make them more empowered to make their own decisions,” said Dawn Sheehan, an employee of Baltimore-based Express Real Estate Auctions and the founder of WIRE.
And local businesswomen are reaping the benefits.
“What WIRE does is introduce me to the different facets so I can pick and choose what I want to do,” said Laura Carpenter, a WIRE member and investor with Baltimore-based Deal Source Solutions. “It?s nice to have a network. If I don?t know the answer, there are people there that I can talk to. The members are interested in the same things: motivated business owners and know what it takes to own a business.”
Meeting primarily in Baltimore the first Wednesday of every other month, WIRE draws members and attendees from not only the region, but Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Washington.As the group grows, incorporates guest speakers and holds networking events, the ultimate goal is to expand even more, while staying true to the original mission.
“Real estate investors as a whole forget that they are business owners. So in addition to how to work with contractors and find the right tenants, we have meetings on how to create the right business plan and network and market yourself,” Sheehan said. “We have other topics besides just the nuts and bolts.”
At a glance
For more information about or to contact WIRE:
www.wirep.com/about.cfm
410-242-WIRE
