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| Move Ahead on All Fronts Learn and Grow with NAIOP | |
 The only constant in the commercial real estate business is change and NAIOP is at the forefront of that change to help you, its members, learn, grow and adapt as this exciting industry evolves. NAIOP's recently developed strategic plan reflects this effort to keep ahead of the curve and national board members will review this plan before the November 2006 board meeting. The strategic plan renews NAIOP's commitment to support the local chapters in their programs. In addition to this commitment to our Chapters, three key elements emerged during the strategic planning process: to wholeheartedly embrace mixed-use development, while never losing focus on our office and industrial development roots; to recognize and respond to globalization and its effects on our industry and the general economy; and to redouble our efforts to facilitate diversity within our industry. NAIOP recently held two highly successful mixed-use summits, which were designed for senior-level executives and based on NAIOP's unique interactive format. Attendance was limited to 35 people at each. The first focused on a mixed-use project called Santana Row, San Jose, California, and the second on Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Georgia. These two projects could not be more different and the lessons learned at each will help attendees as they plan their own mixed-use projects. Globalization is a reality for everyone in our business. Many companies are actively participating in the international arena -- like ProLogis, NAIOP's 2005 Developer of the Year. Yet even if you are 100 percent focused on your local market, globalization still affects you because your tenants are pursuing deals abroad. That is why NAIOP is seeking to connect with its counterparts around the world, like our strategic alliance partner AMPIP (the Mexican Association of Industrial Parks), and to continually update and educate our membership on globalization. A third focus for NAIOP is to promote and enhance diversity within our industry. To that end, I am pleased to report that as part of a NAIOP contingent, in July I participated in the inaugural Global Diversity Summit in Commercial Real Estate in Atlanta. This brand-new event was a smashing success, with over 350 attendees and representation from all the major players in the industry.  The most effective way for each of us to attract the best and brightest to our companies is to have a large pool of talented candidates from which to choose. To develop that large group, great efforts must be made to draw people into our industry who might otherwise never select this career path. Another critical reason to promote diversity within our companies is to better reflect the growing diversity of our tenant base.Fortunately, all this and more will be fully explored at development '06, NAIOP's not- to-be-missed annual conference, which this year will be held from October 30-November 2, 2006 at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, California. Top-notch educational programs and keynote speakers offer you the information you need to stay ahead of all of the changes in our industry. Join us to touch base with your peers and seize the opportunities you will find at development '06. Robert Cutlip 2006 NAIOP Chairman of the Board Senior Vice President, Highwoods Properties, Inc. Copyright © 2009 - National Association of Industrial And Office Properties |
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