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Hear from Chief Estella D. Patterson about her journey in law enforcement and her position as Chief of Police. Estella D. Patterson was appointed as chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) on Dec. 1, 2025. She returns to Charlotte, after serving 25 years with CMPD and three and one-half years with the Raleigh Police Department. Chief Patterson’s career reflects her passion and commitment to public service. Her priorities lie in reducing violent crime and disorder, enhancing community engagement and collaboration and improving employee morale and wellness. Chief Patterson began her law-enforcement career in 1996, as a member of the 123 recruit class of CMPD. Over the next 25 years, she served in a variety of roles from academy trainer to patrol sergeant, division commander, recruitment commander and Internal Affairs commander. She was promoted to deputy chief of police in 2019 and assigned over the Administrative Services Group and later the Patrol Services Group. In August 2021, Chief Patterson was selected as chief of the Raleigh Police Department, serving until 2025. As Raleigh’s top cop, she led the capital city’s police department of over 900 sworn and professional staff employees. During her tenure, she introduced several firsts, including a Civilian Crash Investigations unit and the Raleigh Police Department Foundation. Additionally, she led efforts to reduce violent crime and restore trust between the community and police. Aside from serving her community, Chief Patterson served our country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005. She completed combat tours in Kosovo and Iraq and was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Chief Patterson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma. She is a graduate...

Join CREW Charlotte for a US Economic Outlook with Anna Kovner, Executive Vice President and the Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Anna Kovner is Executive Vice President and the Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.  She advises the Bank's president on matters related to monetary policy and leads the Research department, which includes economic research, regional analysis, community outreach and development, publications, and economic education. Her research spans corporate finance, banking and macrofinance, with articles published in the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and the Review of Financial Studies, among others.   Before joining the Richmond Fed, she held multiple economic research leadership roles within the New York Fed’s Research and Statistics group, most recently leading work assessing systemic risk and financial stability as director of Financial Stability Policy Research. She received an AB in Economics from Princeton, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and her PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University.   The Revelry 11:00 a.m. - Networking 11:30 a.m. - Luncheon Meeting $60 Members/$90 Guests     Thank You to Our Sponsor  

Join CREW Charlotte for the 2026 Speed Mentoring event with women who have paved the way in Charlotte’s commercial real estate. Be prepared to meet with C-Suite executives and real estate leaders as these accomplished mentors bring their unique skills and experience to help you take the next step in your professional journey. Each interaction gives you seven minutes to connect, ask bold questions, and gain fresh insights before moving to the next mentor. It’s all about gaining multiple perspectives in a short, impactful timeframe.   What to Expect: A welcoming, Galentine-themed environment perfect for genuine conversations. Opportunities to speak with several mentors and expand your network. Thoughtful prompts and guidance to help you make the most of your time. Come prepared with questions like: Have you ever been at a crossroads in your career? How did you navigate it? What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d had earlier in your leadership journey? How do you balance your professional success with personal priorities? What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a leader, and how did you overcome it? Encouraging Vulnerability: This is your chance to ask the questions you don’t often feel you can ask. Be open, be curious, and don’t hold back—it’s what makes these conversations truly valuable.   Mentors: First Name Last Name Field Organization Title Adrienne Bain Finance JPI Managing Director Tonya Brandon Commercial Real Estate TIAA COO, Global Real Estate Sherri Commander Property Management Lincoln Property Company Senior Property Manager Sara Downing Construction Business Development Clancy & Theys Construction Company Senior Director of Corporate Marketing Lauren Edwards Construction Management/General Contracting Brasfield & Gorrie Chief Preconstruction Manager Ann Erickson Interior Design/Space Planning Northwood Ravin Vice President of Design Portia Grant Accounting Childress Klein Division Controller Randy Hopkins Appraisal Hopkins Consulting and Review, LLC President Bryan Johnson Commercial Real...