CHICAGO - (November 15, 2021)
Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, a national full-service real estate firm, today announced Colleen Needham, assistant vice president and general manager, was installed as the 2022 president of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Chicago chapter during a Nov. 10 meeting at Revolution Brewing in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Needham officially assumes her duties on Jan. 1, 2022.
A 20-year industry veteran, Needham joined Draper and Kramer in 2009. Since 2018, she has served as the general manager of Lake Meadows, a nine-building, 1,869-unit rental community in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood that has been managed by Draper and Kramer for more than 65 years.
“We are proud of Colleen’s many achievements and thrilled with her much-deserved appointment as president of Chicago IREM, an organization that is integral to our industry’s education, ethics and legislative success and that provides enriching opportunities for professional development and industry leadership for our team members,” said Julie Stevlingson, senior vice president and director of management services at Chicago-based Draper and Kramer. “Colleen exemplifies our promise to Draper and Kramer employees that they can grow their career with us, developing professionally both within their jobs and through educational programs and involvement with respected industry organizations like IREM.”
Chicago IREM has almost 700 members, including professionals who manage office, industrial and multifamily properties throughout metropolitan Chicago. Needham, who joined the chapter in 2010, has also acted as its president-elect, secretary and treasurer, and been a member of and chaired legislative and membership committees. She was the recipient of the chapter’s Leadership Award in 2016. Needham is also involved with IREM nationally, having held the position of vice chair of the national IREM Legislative Public Policy Committee, which she will chair in 2022.
“I feel fortunate to be a part of IREM, which, as a supplement to my work at Draper and Kramer, has given me a community and ongoing source of education for each stage of my career,” said Needham. “IREM not only provides the industry with valuable education, it also gives us something bigger to belong to, with opportunities for leadership, discussions about diversity and inclusion standards, best practices and ways to nurture newcomers to the field.
“As the incoming president of IREM’s Chicago chapter, I look forward to building on the many successes of our past president, Steve Schimmel, who found new ways to engage members while navigating a pandemic,” she added. “I will continue to elevate and create awareness of IREM, promote the theme of ‘ReConnect, ReEngage and ReInvigorate,’ and find new ways to support our members with educational and networking opportunities.”
A Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Accredited Resident Manager (ARM) through IREM, and a licensed broker with the National Association of REALTORS®, Needham started her career in residential property management in 2001. She joined Draper and Kramer as a property manager in October 2009 and became property manager at Lake Meadows in 2016. She was named senior property manager in 2017, general manager in 2018 and assistant vice president and general manager in 2019. Needham has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago.
About Draper and Kramer, Incorporated
Founded in 1893, Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, is a trusted financial and property services provider with a deep commitment to people, excellence, service and integrity spanning more than 125 years. Family-owned and one of the leading privately held real estate services firms in the U.S., Draper and Kramer is headquartered in Chicago with a national reach and broad offering of services. The company’s decades-long heritage has evolved over the years to meet the needs of its clients and today spans expertise in residential and commercial development, acquisition, property management and leasing; debt and equity financing for commercial properties; and residential mortgage services through affiliate Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. Draper and Kramer provides a single source of real estate-related counsel to a diverse group of real estate investors across the U.S. including corporations; private and institutional owners and users of real estate; government agencies; and foundations. For more information, visit www.draperandkramer.com.
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Editors:
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Patty Cronin, [email protected], (312) 267-4513 or Abe Tekippe, [email protected], (312) 267-4528.
