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Learning About Opportunities Here and Around the Globe

Robert CutlipOur customers' businesses are going global and therefore our industry must do likewise. But learning how to expand our horizons can be an enormous challenge if we approach it as individuals. That is why NAIOP is spearheading two important missions this year.

NAIOP and its strategic alliance partner AMPIP (the Mexican Association of Industrial Parks) jointly presented a Business Mission to Mexico in Toluca City, just outside Mexico City in late May. During this three-day program, which was hosted and sponsored by the Government of the State of Mexico, participants toured office and industrial sites in Toluca City, including a SAM's Club distribution center; the office market of Santa Fe City; and a Kellogg's plant. Mexico President Vicente Fox was an
                                      invited guest.

In September, there will be a 10-day NAIOP Global Excursion to China, where NAIOP members, as well as representatives of the University of Cincinnati Board of Executive Advisors and AMPIP, will explore China's real estate development.

Tours will include a deep water port tour; a ProLogis warehouse in Shanghai; the P&G facility in Guangzhou; the Wal-Mart logistics center in Shenzhen-Hong Kong and more. Intrigued? Learn more about it by visiting www.naiop.org.

Globalization isn't the only overarching trend affecting our industry, of course. Our members have clearly been exploring mixed-use opportunities in their own markets. NAIOP has responded to the industry's thirst for knowledge about this emerging business in a number of ways. We have established mixed-use Forums and included mixed-use seminars as part of the education program of our Annual Conference. We also sponsored two mixed-use Summits in June, in San Jose, California, and Atlanta, Georgia; featuring in-depth tours of outstanding developments in these cities.

NAIOP has also partnered with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in presenting a mixed-use panel at the ICSC Spring Convention in May in Las Vegas. In November, we will partner with the ICSC again to present a Mixed-Use Conference in Hollywood, Florida.

Improving educational opportunities, promoting our legislative priorities and increasing networking opportunities is an ongoing process, so NAIOP has embarked on a strategic planning process to gauge precisely what will be of greatest value to our members. We are gathering information in focus groups, surveys and phone interviews to learn what you need and how you see our association evolving. Our members are our future and our mission is to help you get there successfully. We welcome your thoughts as we strive to continuously improve your NAIOP experience.

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

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