"In a world where we can feel we can barely keep our noses above water, are you focused on yourself at all? Even a little from a business or personal perspective? Are you excited about your life? Have you made yourself a major priority?" she asked. "Happiness and fulfillment I have found are really the reasons for life."

Berk commented that happiness results from working towards maximizing the potential in your life and how those around you benefit. The event was titled, "Celebrating Yesterday Shaping Tomorrow." We've gotten to where we are today due to the hard work of people, she said. "If you want to know about the shape of tomorrow, it is all about what you are doing in your life up to this moment. Don't settle. Don't rationalize away part of who you are in your very precious life."

She urged the audience to make some level of change in a direction they wished to pursue—regardless of how small it may seem. Analogizing life to a kaleidoscope, she pointed out how one tiny turn can change the essence of an entire design. She ended her comments advising people to be kind and fair to those around them, passionate about themselves, and to pursue the wonderful life that awaits them.

Honoree Amy Rose, the president and CEO of Rose Associates, recalled when she started her career she was looking for an organization where she could make connections, learn from peers and get involved with the greater real estate industry. The Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) was the only group that accepted young members with only two years of real estate experience. She joined AREW in 1991 and later joined the board of directors. "Then Faith Hope Consolo demanded that I be on the charitable board," Rose added.

"Organizations like CREW are critical for women's representation, networking, support and mentoring. My life has been enriched by the friendships that I have made. My career has expanded by the opportunities opened," said Rose. She noted that her company recently hired the advertising firm, Sun & Moon Marketing Communications. This stemmed from her meeting the company's president, Madelyn Kirch, years ago at an AREW luncheon.

The anniversary celebration dated back to the founding of AREW in 1978. New York Commercial Real Estate Women (NYCREW) was created in 2001. In 2014, the two organizations joined forces. In a separate GlobeSt.com interview, gala committee co-chair, Kenne Shepherd, said she is incredibly proud of how smoothly and easily the two groups came together.

Honoree Joanne Podell is Cushman & Wakefield's first and sole executive vice chairman for retail services. She has received the REBNY "Deal of the Year Award" on three occasions. Her assignments have included establishing TD Bank in Manhattan, and the Nike flagship stores in Washington, DC and San Francisco. Some of her clients include Ann Taylor, LOFT, H&R Block, Cole Haan, Dean & DeLuca and Converse.

"All of us recognize the challenges in real estate that we face," said Podell. "There are so many barriers at so many different levels." But she noted the great support from the people attending, and emphasized that "we together, all of us" were making progress for the industry.

Honoree Tommy Craig is a senior managing director, for Hines' New York tri-state office. His assignments include working as the senior project officer for the development management of One Vanderbilt Ave., the Museum of Modern Art West site at 53 W. 53rd St. and 7 Bryant Park. He was out of town on business, so Whitney Zimmerman, a development analyst at Hines, accepted the award on his behalf. She emphasized his gratitude for the honor and his dedication to mentoring.

All 19 photos in the above slideshow were taken by Howard Wexler.

In addition, the Real Estate Forum September issue features Women of Influence with a cover story on CREW Network, the national umbrella organization of all the state chapters.