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A Year of Achievements and Pathway to the Future

Robert CutlipWe conclude 2006 with a sense of great accomplishment and with the knowledge that we, as an association, are on a path to offer greater service to our membership. Our achievements in 2006 were possible due to the dedication and commitment of our Chapter leadership, the Board and my Executive Committee friends. And I want to personally thank each and every one of our national staff for their tireless efforts and their focus on improving service to our membership.

One of the more gratifying accomplishments this year has been the growth of the association itself. We now have more than 14,000 members and have added three new Chapters. We have broadened our outreach to younger professionals through NAIOP Now and our Emerging Leaders Program. We have also begun a relationship with the African-American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP) organization as well as expanded on our relationships with other industry groups, including Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), Real Estate Associates Program (REAP) and the Mexico Association of Industrial Parks (AMPIP).

Among NAIOP’s great strengths has been its focus on education, and we are proud that we have expanded our programs on mixed-use, with two Mixed-Use Summits at Atlantic Station in Atlanta and Santana Row in San Jose. We also conducted a mixed-use senior leadership retreat in Dallas for 15 seasoned professionals in this development arena. We were also a sponsor and participant in the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) Mixed-Use Conference in Hollywood, Florida, which drew approximately 1,000 attendees.

We are extending our education programming to better serve both entry-level and senior members of our industry. For entry level professionals, we initiated a Webinar program and are planning to roll out a new commercial real estate fundamentals course beginning in the first quarter of 2007. For senior members, we held a CEO Retreat in Scottsdale in December.

Our economy, our industry and our association will continue to face challenges in 2007 and beyond and we are addressing them in a number of ways. Regarding the goods movement issue, for example, we completed a survey of the United States seaports to estimate future demand and the capacity of the existing system. The survey concluded that ports and container volume will continue to grow as a result of increasing international trade and will stress our infrastructure. As an association, we must unite and seek solutions, based on these research findings.

cartoonNAIOP has completed a strategic plan, approved by the Board, to help us manage an effective transition to the future. The plan is based on what our members identified as key priorities: expanding and diversifying membership; extending education programs to the local Chapter level -- serving entry- and senior-level members better; and increasing NAIOP advocacy efforts at the state and local levels. Your Board and national staff are implementing programs to meet these objectives.

Finally, on a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed serving you in 2006 and thank you for this privilege. Traveling to our many Chapters this year has been a sincere pleasure and confirms to me that our local leadership is strong and prepared for the challenges ahead. We all face a shrinking world, which creates issues and opportunities in our respective markets. I ask you to expand your participation level in NAIOP because together, we will create success for our companies in this dynamic environment.

Robert Cutlip
2006 NAIOP Chairman of the Board
Senior Vice President, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

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