Brussels Belgium…The World President of FIABCI, The International Real Estate Federation, has presented a 2009 Medal of Honor to Elizabeth Belenchia of Spartanburg. Belenchia, President of Carroll Properties Corporation, and 30 year veteran of International Real Estate, has served the organization in the area of Legislation and Environment, initiating an International Student Eco Film Festival on “Water as it Relates to Real Estate”, and a Global Prix de ’Excellence Sustainability Award for projects that are “More Than Green”. She was appointed in 2008 as an Industry Expert of the Working Group developing a new International Standard, ISO 26000, which is to be launched in 2010. She is the only real estate representative to the 400 member international group which met in Santiago, Chile and is continuing negotiations toward the final draft. This is a holistic global design for Social Responsibility.
In addition Belenchia has been leading the international activities the Federation conducts through its 50 year NGO status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. As the lead delegate to New York, and facilitator of delegates in Bangkok, Santiago, Geneva, Vienna, Addis Ababa and Beirut, she has been a participant in the Climate Change activities in Poznan, Poland in 2008 and attended the World Business Council meetings at the invitation of the UN Global Compact in Copenhagen in May 2009, prior to the present negotiations. Locally, Belenchia has established an international record of locating companies from 24 countries into Upstate South Carolina. Her present focus and leadership in Sustainability has put her on the forefront as a Task Force member for Core Net Global, an organization of Corporate Real Estate professionals;
