National Forums

Be a part of NAIOP's flagship program for exclusive networking and experience exchange.

National Forums Groups

The National Forums are chaired by a prestigious group of industry leaders. A list of the existing Forums and the 2025 National Forums Leadership follows. (Based on members' interest, new National Forums are created from time to time.)

National Forums Chair
Kurt Browning, Partner, Titan Development LLC

General Forums

All NAIOP members with a minimum of 10 years related experience are eligible to apply for an appointment to these Forums.

Capital Markets Forums (multiple)

Open to members actively involved in buying or selling, lending or borrowing for commercial real estate properties. More than 50 percent of members will be developers, owners or investors.

Cold Storage Development Forum

New forum description coming soon.

Deal and Investment Concepts Forum

Drawing from both a diverse geographical and product type expertise, members bring experience in all aspects of real estate investment from research, architecture, development, construction, leasing, debt & equity capital markets, investment sales, and investment management. Both open and led discussions focus on changes and challenges encountered in the marketplace by members, best practices, professional and personal development, and specialized education related to distinct sectors of the industry.

Development and Transactions Forum

E-commerce Forums (multiple)

Open to members actively involved in the development, design and operation of new generation retail distribution facilities. (More than 50 percent of members will be developers, owners or investors).

Entrepreneurial Investment and Development Forum

Comprised primarily of developers and owners of office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use real estate properties with portfolios from 1 to 50 million square feet. Through case analysis and discussion, members share and develop strategies to identify new opportunities, mitigate risk, and overcome organizational challenges. All market sizes are represented with a number of members having extensive experience in secondary and tertiary markets. The Forum is diverse in terms of age with membership ranging from mid-career professionals to seasoned industry veterans. The different age demographics in this group creates a dynamic environment where each generation brings different skills and talents to the table.

Healthcare and Life Sciences Forum

New forum description coming soon.

Investment Management and Strategy Forum

National Industrial Perspectives Forums (multiple)

Office and Industrial Trends Forum

Real Estate Investment and Development 1 Forum

A diverse group of mid to upper-level professionals across a broad range of real estate categories and geographies. The group focuses on industrial/office/multifamily acquisitions and development and institutional level asset management and capital markets. Discussions range from global and national economic topics to micro level deal and market specific conversations. The diverse nature of the group fosters broad discussions and perspectives beyond a specific investment category, spanning deal level topics to institutional level management and allocation.

Redevelopment Forum

The United States is witnessing a resurgence in the redevelopment of single use properties into mixed-use, pedestrian friendly developments fueled by demographic trends indicating demand for dense, walkable communities. This forum focuses on opportunities and challenges surrounding redevelopment in both urban and suburban environments. The majority of members are developers, owners, and investors, with the balance made up of other professionals typically engaged in this type of complex commercial development.

Technology in the Built Environment Forum

The Technology in the Built Environment Forum is open to owners and other professionals who play a strategic role in the selection, integration and adoption of CRE related technology. The goal of the Forum is to establish best practices in: utilizing technology; becoming an effective adopter; managing risk; and overcoming obstacles to replacing underperforming CRE technology solutions. Specific areas of focus for the Forum are related to software and technology for: construction; building operations analysis; managing the tenant relationship; financial analysis; automation of CRE back-office operations; and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in utilizing data. Members also address the impact that emerging trends such as AI/machine learning and drone technologies will have on the future of the industry.

Trends in Real Estate Development Forums (multiple)

Open to a diverse group of real estate professionals who wish to focus on industry trends such as technology, sustainability, workplace, leasing and developing commercial real estate.

Limited Forums

NAIOP Principal members with a minimum of 10 or more years related experience are eligible to apply for an appointment to these Forums.

Business Park Development Forum

Limited to Principal (Full or Affiliate) Members, this forum is comprised of developers, investors and owners of industrial, office and retail real estate properties within business parks and as single-asset developments. Members are located throughout the US and range from small companies to large funds. Because of the diverse make-up of its members, this forum engages in interesting confidential discussions regarding a wide-ranging number of topics relating to commercial real estate.

Diverse Asset Development Forum

Comprised primarily of developers, investors, and owners of office, industrial, retail, multi-family, senior living, and mixed-use real estate properties, with widely varying portfolio size and geographic coverage. Members are located throughout the US. Through confidential deal-specific case analysis and discussion, members share and discuss strategies to overcome current market challenges, mitigate risk, and manage organizational challenges. All market sizes are represented with a number of members having extensive experience in primary and secondary markets.

Diversified Development Forum

Family-Owned Business Forum

Generally comprised of C-level members of family-owned real estate companies. While many of the forum members are members of the owning family, others are independent professional managers. In addition to holding discussions on real estate strategies and related aspects, this Forum focuses on how to navigate the unique advantages and complexities of family-owned businesses including family dynamics, succession planning, ownership, distributions, generational transitions and more.

General Counsel Forum

Open to Principal and Associate members who have a leading role in providing counsel to and within commercial real estate firms. The Forum focuses on the issues that corporate counsel face within commercial real estate companies and practices and on such transactions as acquisitions, dispositions, leases, finance transactions, joint ventures, and mergers, among others.

Industrial Acquisitions Forums (multiple)

Limited to Principal members with a leading role in the acquisition of industrial properties. These Forums focus on the issues facing investors and owners in this process.

Industrial Development Forums (multiple)

Limited to Principal Members actively involved in industrial property development, ownership and investment.

Investment Management Forums (multiple)

Limited to Principal Members actively involved as owners, developers or investors in investment properties and related real estate acquisitions and disposition transactions, including representatives of financial institutions, insurance companies, pension funds, public employee retirement systems and private investment groups.

Marketing and Leasing Forum

Limited to Principal Members who have a leading role (department heads and vice presidents) in a developer's or owner's marketing, property sales or leasing areas. This Forum focuses on issues facing these functions from owner, investor and developer points of view as they relate to office and industrial properties.

Mixed-Use Development Forum

Limited to Principal Members actively involved in mixed-use property development, ownership and investment.

Office Development Forums

Limited to Principal Members actively involved in office building development, ownership and investment.

Office Development Forum

Private Developers Forums

Limited to Principal Members who are real estate developers or owners from privately owned companies and want to focus on the operational aspects of their businesses, as well as development issues.

Real Estate Investment and Development 2 Forum

Limited to Principal members with a leading role in the acquisition of office properties. This Forum focuses on the issues facing investors and owners in this process.

 

Developing Leaders Forums  (multiple)

Open to members with at least four years of related commercial real estate experience who would like to learn and network with senior industry professionals and peers at the national level.

 

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