NAIOP Colorado

DLs Dine with Industry Icons

Submitted by Rob Boydston

On the evening of March 4, approximately 60 Developing Leaders and 10 Senior Executives gathered for the third annual 'Dinner with the Icons' at the Magnolia Ballroom in Downtown Denver.  This popular event allows DLs to interact with industry-leading professionals or “icons” in an intimate setting and gain from their market knowledge and candid career advice.  The Icons carousel from table to table in 32 minute increments, providing DLs access and exposure to multiple professionals from various real estate disciplines throughout the evening.  In addition to the dinner program, DLs were also provided a networking opportunity with a cocktail hour immediately preceding dinner.
 
Special thanks are due to the participating professionals who are truly iconic in the Denver market and beyond:
 
Michelle Brokaw, CEO – Fleisher Smyth Brokaw, LLC
Marshall Burton, Senior VP - McWhinney 
Frank Cannon, Development Director – Continuum Partners, LLC 
Tom Clark, Vice President – Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation 
Chris Ernst, Senior VP – Aardex, LLC 
Lea Ann Fowler, Shareholder – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck 
Lane Hamilton, Vice President – KeyBank National Association 
Walter Rakowich, CEO - ProLogis 
Susan Stanton, Vice President Business Development – CLC Associates 
Mary Sullivan, Senior VP – CB Richard Ellis 
 
This successful event is a demonstration of NAIOP Colorado Chapter's commitment to helping young professionals develop and propel their career within the real estate industry.  To learn more about the Developing Leaders program, please go to http://www.naiop-colorado.org/devleaders.html.

To see pictures from the event, click on the link below.

NAIOP Colorado Day at the Capitol - Part 2

Submitted by Bryan Reid, Peak Civil Consultants

NAIOP and ICSC co-hosted the “Commercial Real Estate Day at the Capitol” on Friday, February 26th.  The half-day event featured short speeches by several prominent figures within the Colorado Government including:
• Senator Dan Gibbs – Chair of Senate Transportation
• Senator Shawn Mitchell
• Senate Republican leader Josh Penry
• House Speaker Terrance Carroll
• Secretary of State Bernie Buescher
• Don Mares, Director of the State Department of Labor and Employment
• Representative David Balmer
• Representative Joe Rice

Topics discussed included current and planned initiatives in transportation, the future of the TABOR, proposed urban renewal initiatives, the state budget approval processes, and the general inner workings of the state’s legislature.  Additionally, the group was given the opportunity to experience firsthand the inner workings of the House of Representatives by visiting the floor while in session.

The experience was one that every NAIOP member should take advantage of.  For many, the actions of the government, both at state and federal levels seem to happen without regard to constituent input.  The visit to the Capitol not only offered an opportunity to place faces with names, but it also put the process and issues being dealt with into proletarian terms. 

Although its cliché, the future of the state (and the country) truly lies in the hands of its citizens, but only if the citizens take an active role in determining the future.  This event raised my awareness about the importance of voicing your thoughts and opinions to your representatives and the ease in which this can be accomplished. 

NAIOP Colorado Day at the Capital - Part 1

Submitted by Randall Phellps, Kimley-Horn

While many of us say “we elected our representatives to represent our interests, I’m done”, that attitude does not result in statutes that meet our needs or the interests of our industry and community.

The NAIOP/ICSC Day at the Capitol on February 26th was a great event. I was enlightened through the short presentations from nearly a dozen representatives and senators. Their personalities, humor and interaction showed that they were not an elite group but rather regular citizens working to represent us.

Some practical advice that EVERYONE should do RIGHT NOW:
1) Look up on http://www.votesmart.org/ who has been elected within your zip code. Bookmark that page and print that list out for your records.
2) Click on their names to get a lot more information about their recent votes, speeches, etc.
3) At the very bottom of their page is a rating from the Colorado Union of taxpayers. They give ratings from 1 (worst) to 100 (best) relative to their votes on legislation to increase taxes. Higher scores indicate that they are voting against tax increases.
4) In the lower right corner is their e-mail and website information.
5) Now here’s your action for the day. It will only take you 5 minutes and I’ve made it easy for you, so just do it..
a. Click on one of your reps/senators e-mail link.
b. Place the following text in the subject line “I live in your district”
c. Then place the following text in the body of your message “Dear Rep/Sen _______, I am a resident in your district at ____(your address). I am contacting you today simply to introduce myself. I am in the real estate ___(banking, brokerage, development, service) industry. My work primarily involves (consulting with parties interested in making investments in real estate,) creating and sustaining jobs and to spur economic growth here in Colorado.
As issues come up that you would like to apply my business experience to, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

Now to the greatest part of the day. I was able to meet, on the House floor, my representative, exchange cards and have a brief conversation. Please do your part by getting connected to your representatives. Should you wish to reach me, my e-mail address is randall.phelps@kimley-horn.com.  

 

NAIOP Colorado wins big at this year's Annual Chapter Merit Awards in Washington DC

Each year in February, the leadership of the Colorado Chapter of NAIOP travels to Washington DC for the Annual Chapter Leadership and Legislative Retreat.  During this time, leaders from all 53 NAIOP chapters come together to network, share ideas and learn new strategies to improve the organization for you, its members.  The highlight of this Retreat is the Annual Chapter Merit Awards.  This evening gala showcases the best of the best from every chapter.  Each fall, Chapters submit nomination forms in 14 different categories, which are then read by a panel of judges from across the country.  The winners are then honored during the Awards program.  This year, NAIOP Colorado was proud to win top honors in 4 categories!

Education – for the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge

Sustainability Program – ResourceSmart Colorado

Technology – for our integrated communications (website, NAIOPVoice blog, email blast, LinkedIN, etc)

and for all of her hard work…

the first two-time winner of the Chapter Executive Director of the Year Award – Kathie Barstnar!

Congratulations NAIOP Colorado and to all the volunteers who work to make our Chapter programs a success not only on the local level, but the best of the best in the nation!  To read the full press release, click here.

Work Options for Women - Women Cook! Dining for a Difference

Now in its 6^th year, Work Options for Women is excited to once again promote this successful fundraising event to support the WOW program’s “recipe for success.”  The WOW program combines hands-on food service training at two food service establishments with case management, job placement, and follow-up services, implementing what research shows are best practices in job-training to help students move from poverty to self-sufficiency. 

This year’s event will be held Monday, May 3^rd from 6:00 – 8:30pm at Temple Emanuel.  This event has sold out for the past 3 years so find out now how you can be a part of this exciting event!  Click Here for more details, ticket purchase and sponsor opportunities.