THE GLASS CEILING

Watch out, fellas: 43% of the pros entering the CRE market are women, compared to 36% in '05. However, a Cornell study for CREW says men still earn more money than women with the same experience. C-Suite  positions also continue to be mostly male: 9% of the female respondents hold one vs. 22% of the guys. Men also report earning more from variable compensation forms (bonuses, stock options, and the like). We snapped HFF Houston senior managing partner Susan Hill (a national CREW director), incoming 2012 CREW Network national prez Diane Butler (of Dallas' Butler Burgher Group), and Cushman & Wakefield's Paula Nelson last Wednesday at a Dallas CREW meeting presenting the study.

Across gender lines, though, a higher percentage of total compensation comes from base salary (58% in '05 to 67% in '10). That's good news for the ladies, considering that Susan speculates that women avoid variable compensation packages, especially 100% commission jobs. ?Women gravitate to safer positions," she says. Also, men don't mind asking for what they want, whereas women want to be recognized for their achievements. She thinks the younger generation entering real estate will bring greater equity and will step up to fill senior positions.

Sitting at our table almost always guarantees 15 minutes of fame. Sitting here are Hall Financial Group's Kim Butler, Mohr Partners'Paula Nodwell and Shelly Christenson, Herrin CRE?s Sharon Herrin, and Churchill Residential?s Benetta Rusk; standing are Majestic Realty Services' Nancy Manor and Quorum Commercial's Debra Peek-Haynes. While passing the rolls, we learned thatAddison magazine named Paula one of the 16 most influential female executives based in the North Dallas Corridor. Congrats!

While we're talking Dallas CREW: The organization recently hosted its 25th anniversary CREW Classic. The golf tournament and coinciding CREW in the Community auction has now raised $3M to support local non-profits. Here are Dallas CREW prez and Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell partner Vicky Gunning, former NBC sportscaster (and auction emcee) Scott Murray, auction co-chair Suzanne Brasuell of Entos Design, and event chair Brenda Blake of B&J Financial Services.