NAIOP Chapters
NAIOP DC | MD
Members: 445
President: Timothy M. Zulick, CBRE
Executive Director: Sally T. Modjeska
Gear Up for Year Up
For the last three years, NAIOP DC|MD has hosted Gear Up for Year Up, a professional coaching day. Year Up’s mission is to provide urban young adults with the skills, experience and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education.
An office furniture showroom hosts the event, with an abundance of small classrooms, comfortable seating and workstations for mock interviews and private discussions. After introductory remarks by NAIOP CEO Tom Bisacquino, the chair of NAIOP DC|MD’s Outreach Committee, and a spokesperson from Year Up, students rotate throughout the space to meet with different NAIOP member “coaches.” These members offer professional support on work-life balance issues, fashion and personal grooming consultations, and more information about the CRE industry. To support their job search efforts, each student receives a portfolio and some personal business cards. The event concludes with a rooftop networking reception which provides another opportunity for the students to hone their skills.
The event requires about 30 volunteers to act as mentors. It is very popular among board members and senior executive members and so typically isn’t difficult to staff. Most volunteers have returned each year. When more volunteers are needed, specific NAIOP members are targeted to ensure there is a mix of industry disciplines for the students to meet with. This event is one of the ways in which our chapter tries to support our local community.
NAIOP Minnesota
Members: 731
President: Sonja Dusil, CBRE
Executive Director: Tony LeClerc
Goal: To create a more diverse and inclusive commercial real estate industry
Article in the Star Tribune, July 29, 2017: "Collaborative tackles diversity issues in commercial real estate."
Is diversity a part of your strategic plan, mission or goals?
- Minnesota chapter created a goal in the 2009-2011 strategic plan
- The Minnesota Chapter will reflect a broader diversity of membership
- In 2010, MN chapter conducts a demographic survey of their membership
Is there a committee or task force to support your diversity initiatives?
- NAIOP MN creates a Diversity Task Force in the Fall of 2009
- January 2010, MN chapter board approves Diversity Task Force Recommendations:
- Communicate importance of increasing diversity within the chapter
- Obtain better demographic information on our members
- Outreach to other associations/groups for collaboration
Are there other associations/groups to collaborate with on diversity initiatives?
- The Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative is formed in 2011. Members include college partners, other individuals in MN CRE industry and these 9 local CRE associations:
- NAIOP MN, MSCA (shopping centers), ULI, CREW, IREM (property managers), MNCAR (Brokers), CoreNet (corporate real estate executives), BOMA (building owners and managers)
What needs have you met with your initiative?
- Created a scholarship program that benefits 4 area universities – each association contributes $500
- Five commercial real estate companies participated in three career fairs in Minneapolis high schools
- Supports a corporate work study program with a local high school
- Supports the STEP-UP program that provides critical job training and hands-on experience for Minneapolis youth.
- Invite students to MNCAR business expo to learn about the CRE industry
Next Steps
- Created working groups in the collaborative
- Communications, events, scholarship administration and outreach
- Creating a 501c(3) in order to pursue additional funding
NAIOP Wisconsin
Membership: 300
President: Lyle Landowski CCIM, Colliers International
Chapter Executive: Kirsten Villegas
Goal: To create a more diverse and inclusive commercial real estate industry
How did NAIOP Wisconsin get involved with the ACRE program?
The Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Program is an industry-supported initiative that recruits and retains minorities for professional careers in the field of commercial real estate. The ACRE program was created by Professor Mark Eppli and the Marquette University College of Business in 2005 and is now administered through LISC Milwaukee in partnership with Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
The Board of Directors felt it was essential to be part of this great program and offered their support of the program.
Are there other associations/groups to collaborate with on diversity initiatives?
The Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program is an industry-supported initiative that recruits and trains minorities in the City of Milwaukee for professional careers in the CRE industry.
NAIOP, Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, IREM and Commercial Association of Realtors, Wisconsin all contributed to the program.
What are the current outcomes of your diversity initiative?
The goal of ACRE is to expand minority representation in the commercial real estate fields of development, property management and construction management. This program offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of these industries while creating a valuable network of fellow students, ACRE graduates and Industry Professionals.