Press Releases

MINNESOTA’S RYAN COMPANIES US, INC.NAMED NAIOP 2007 DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR
Impressive design-build portfolio, corporate social responsibility and extensive community involvement contribute to firm’s selection

August 15, 2007

Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the nation’s leading trade association for developers, owners, investors and other professionals in industrial, office and mixed-use commercial real estate, announced today that Ryan Companies US, Inc. is the winner of NAIOP’s coveted Developer of the Year award.

Ryan is a leading national commercial integrated design-builder, developer and real estate manager headquartered in Minneapolis. In operation for more than 69 years, Ryan utilizes a single-source approach to the development/design-build process and specializes in office, retail, industrial, health care, mixed-use and hospitality projects across the United States.

“Ryan is recognized throughout the industry for its development of outstanding projects, and it is NAIOP’s privilege to recognize this company for its contributions to both the real estate development community and NAIOP,” said Thomas J. Bisacquino, NAIOP president.

NAIOP will present the 2007 Developer of the Year award to Pat Ryan, president of Ryan Companies US, Inc., and its senior management team on Thursday, October 18, during NAIOP’s conference, development ’07: the annual meeting for commercial real estate, in Atlanta.

Presented annually to one member-developer company that best exemplifies leadership and innovation in the commercial real estate industry, the Developer of the Year award is determined by a five-member selection committee of industry peers that uses six criteria to evaluate entries: industry and business leadership; involvement in NAIOP; quality of products and services; financial consistency and stability; ability to adapt to market conditions; and social consciousness. Past winners of the award include Bentall Capital, ProLogis, Colonial Properties Trust and Lowe Enterprises.

“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the exemplary people who have helped build and grow this company,” said Pat Ryan. “What makes Developer of the Year even more meaningful for Ryan is that it comes from a commendable organization like NAIOP that shares our commitment to this industry. Since our beginnings nearly 70 years ago, Ryan’s objective is to Build Lasting Relationships. It drives our growth as a company and inspires every project we develop. We would not be the company we are today without those relationships and the people who make them.”

Company Focuses on Exceptional Service and Building Lasting Customer Relationships
Ryan’s high standards of service and dedication to the highest quality levels has enabled the company to build lasting relationships with regional customers in addition to large national clients such as Target, The Hartford Company, Deere and Company and Starwood Hotels. From its early roots in Minnesota, the company has since expanded its base of operations to include offices in Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Tampa, San Diego, and in Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.

Ryan has been the recipient of numerous national awards citing excellence in design, reconstruction and preservation for Midtown Exchange, Midtown Exchange Apartments and Chicago Historic Lofts in Minneapolis and TASER International Corporate Headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., the restoration of the Grain Belt Brewhouse and the National Phoenix award for The Quarry, a shopping center in Minneapolis.

Sustainable design and construction is also a major focus for Ryan and the company has embraced the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standard, with 75 percent of the Architecture and Engineering department and 50 percent of Ryan’s project managers attaining LEED certification by fiscal year end in 2007-2008. Ryan’s portfolio currently includes several LEED-certified projects and the company has set a corporate goal to increase the percentage of LEED-certified projects to at least 20 percent next year. In addition, Ryan has built a national reputation for its brownfield development.

As part of the award criteria, the Developer of the Year is also recognized for its demonstration of a strong commitment to its local communities and the NAIOP association, both on the local and national levels. Community involvement is a Ryan tradition and an important part of the company’s corporate culture. Many of Ryan’s employees also serve on NAIOP’s local and national boards and are active members in more than five chapters across the country.

“While our collective abilities make us a good developer and design-builder, our culture and values are what make Ryan great,” said Ryan. “Getting involved to help make strong, healthy communities is the right thing to do and it’s just good business. That is why we provide numerous opportunities for each employee to support their communities in any number of ways. This investment of spirit yields tremendous returns – it’s a win-win for communities and Ryan.”

About NAIOP: The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties is the nation's leading trade association for developers, owners, investors and asset managers in industrial, office and mixed-use commercial real estate. Founded in 1967, NAIOP comprises more than 15,000 members in 54 North American chapters and provides networking opportunities, educational programs, research on trends and innovations and strong legislative representation. For more information, visit www.naiop.org.

Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a leading national commercial real estate firm offering integrated design-build and development as well as asset, property and facilities management services to customers. For more than 69 years, Ryan has used a single-source approach that offers flexibility in defining the scope of a project and strength in providing effective, timely solutions resulting in a higher certainty of success. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, visit www.ryancompanies.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAIOP CONTACT:
Kathryn Hamilton, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
(703) 904-7100, ext. 165

RYAN COMPANIES CONTACT:
Ella Carlsson, Marketing Communications Specialist
(612) 492-4474