This year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with developers, owners, investors and many others from retail, office and industrial sectors across North America. I’ve seen firsthand the creativity and energy evident in projects spanning all sizes and shapes, and I’ve talked with the passionate professionals who are so dedicated to improving their communities. These examples prove that our industry is innovative and healthy.

As a reflection of our members, NAIOP is financially strong and forward-thinking.

But we still have work to do. We have challenges ahead with respect to some important legislative issues, and our advocacy team continues to be a voice for our members and the entire industry. This is a pivotal year for our industry, with upcoming mid-term elections and critical legislation on the horizon.

This year, I’ve been focused on the importance of recognizing and embracing diversity in the industry.

While we have made progress in the past decade, minorities and women are still under-represented. NAIOP is 80 percent male and 92 percent Caucasian. In order to make our organization more representative of the workforce at large, I’m proud to share that NAIOP has incorporated increasing diversity as a goal in our three-year strategic plan. I look forward to watching this organization grow and evolve into a more diverse, collaborative group, and I thank you for your support of this important initiative.

In closing, I would like to thank all of you for providing me with the opportunity to serve as your chairman. It has been an honor, a privilege and a phenomenal experience.