NAIOP Minnesota Named National “Chapter of the Year”

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, announced that the Minnesota Chapter has been named “Chapter of the Year” for 2009.  Headquartered in Minneapolis, the state chapter was honored in the annual competition’s Large Chapter Category, competing against 12 other chapters of similar size across the country.  “Chapter of the Year” is the most prestigious award presented by NAIOP and it’s more than 15,000 members, and includes a cash grant to be used for member education purposes.

In recognizing the Minnesota chapter for its overall excellence throughout the year, NAIOP highlighted its emphasis on civic leadership and professional member development, citing the Chapter’s “outstanding strength and collaborative approach to raising its visibility as a regional leader in the commercial real estate industry.”

Additionally, NAIOP noted that the Minnesota chapter’s public policy mission has “greatly influenced the state’s policy-making decisions by its involvement. The chapter also strives to engage each member through communication and activities, and is looking to the future with a detailed strategic plan that will guide its growth through 2011.”

NAIOP also praised the local chapter’s success in creating unique continuing education, networking and professional development opportunities for its members. 

Lisa Dongoske, Vice President, NorthMarq, and 2009 Minnesota Chapter President, said the award was the result of the work of “many of the most talented and successful people in our industry here in Minnesota.”

“Despite last year’s tough economy, which was especially hard on the commercial real estate development industry, our members and leadership group rallied to accomplish many new, timely initiatives. Among the most significant in terms of the future was the creation of a diversity task force.”

In response to the year’s challenging business conditions, the chapter also established a hardship policy on program and dues payments for members who lost employment as a result of the recession.

“2009 was certainly special because of the award,” Dongoske added, “but in my mind, we are Chapter of the Year every year!”
 
About NAIOP Minnesota Chapter                                        
NAIOP Minnesota is a chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. With more than 800 members, NAIOP Minnesota is the third largest among the 57 chapters around the nation and Canada, outranked only by Massachusetts and Southern California. 

NAIOP is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial and mixed-use real estate, with more than 15,000 members in North America. NAIOP advances responsible commercial real estate development and advocates for effective public policy. For more information, visit www.NAIOPMN.org.