Gail Ayers, CREW Network and CREW Network Foundation

NEW YORK CITY—With tributes ranging from a unique rendition of Hamilton to a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Sule Aygoren, editor in chief of ALM's Real Estate Media Group, CREW Network on Thursday saluted longtime CEO Gail S. Ayers on the eve of her retirement from the organization.

Ayers, who will step down after 11 years as chief executive of the business networking group and its charitable foundation, told the audience at the 2016 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace here that a time of parity for women in the industry hasn't yet arrived despite considerable strides over the years. However, she said, “I see it coming.”

This year's convention, being held at the New York Hilton Midtown this week, drew more than 1,500 attendees. This year's theme, “IMPACT: Career, Industry, World,” celebrated CREW Network members' collective and individual impact on the workplace and greater business community. By day, attendees learned about leadership musts and industry trends through workshops, panel discussions and presentations from powerhouses including Harvard Business School's Amy Cuddy, Ellevest's Sallie Krawcheck and CBRE's Mary Ann Tighe. By night, they celebrated the organization and took in the best of what the Big Apple has to offer.