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Innovator Award
Thursday, March 13 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
The Innovator Award is a distinguished recognition within the Wisconsin Real Estate program, celebrating individuals who personify its enduring legacy of excellence. Recipients of this prestigious honor visionaries who:
- Transform aspirations into reality through their actions and achievements.
- Inspire others to uphold and advance the tradition of innovation within the real estate industry.
- Create impactful contributions, pioneering new ideas or initiatives that leave a lasting impression.
It is a testament to the Wisconsin Real Estate Program’s commitment to fostering creativity, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence in real estate education.
This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Graaskamp Center Innovator Award to Sarah Wick (BBA ’03), Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing, Related Midwest and a dedicated advocate for affordable housing. Sarah leads Related Midwest’s affordable housing practice, overseeing the development and preservation of an impressive portfolio of affordable residences. Over the past decade, she has been instrumental in managing the creation and preservation of nearly 10,000 affordable homes, making a significant impact on communities.
Sarah was honored at the Women Leading Real Estate event, where she and other trailblazers were recognized for their contributions to the industry. Her commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of female leaders serves as an inspiration to all.
About Sarah Wick:
Sarah Wick is a long-time advocate for the importance of affordable housing and currently leads the affordable housing business at Related Midwest. In her role, Wick oversees Related Midwest’s affordable housing development business. Since joining Related, Wick has been instrumental in managing the preservation and new construction of almost 10,000 affordable residences throughout Chicago and the Midwest, representing a total investment of over $1 billion in the modernization of safe, welcoming, affordable communities that families are proud to call home.
Wick has led a number of pivotal projects for Related Midwest including spearheading the revitalization of Lathrop, a multi-year, multi-phase project that is transforming the historic riverfront property into a vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income community along Chicago’s riverfront. Under her management, the first phase of the award-winning renovation was successfully completed in 2019, delivering 414 market rate, affordable and subsidized units, along with a revitalized park and riverwalk, and a second phase totaling another 74 units completed in 2023.
In 2021, Wick led “Affordable Illinois,” an advocacy effort to enact state legislation that offers a reduction in real estate taxes for property owners that provide a set-aside of affordable housing. The change in state legislation will contribute to the creation of numerous affordable housing units, and helped Related Midwest start construction on the first 80 / 20 building in Chicago.
Wick previously served as a project manager at The Community Builders Inc. and Jonathan Rose Companies, where she helped to successfully finance and manage tenant-in-place renovations in Chicago, New York City and suburban New York.
She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a current board member of the ULI Advisory Council, a former board member of the ULI Chicago Women’s Leadership Initiative, and a past protégé of the ULI Chicago Mentorship Program. Wick has also received a ULI Young Visionary Award winner along with a ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative Achievement Award Scholarship. She was named to Crain’s Chicago Business 2019 class of 40 under 40, honoring proven leaders with substantial business and civic contributions.
Wick holds a master’s degree in regional and urban planning from the Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a LEED-accredited professional, signifying core competency in green building principles.
