NAIOP Arizona Lawless, Carr, Lydon, Cheney and Tratt were on hand to accept the awards, flanked by Tom Bisacquino and Ashley Powell.

PHOENIX—With a winning streak of 11 years of receiving a national award, the NAIOP Arizona chapter was named large chapter of the year at the annual merit awards gala held during the 2016 NAIOP chapter leadership and legislative retreat in Washington D.C. This is NAIOP Arizona’s second large chapter of the year honor, also winning it 10 years ago. NAIOP Arizona also won the large chapter merit award in the education category.

NAIOP president Tim Lawless tells GlobeSt.com: “We are delighted that our volunteers have launched many innovative initiatives and we are pleased that those achievements have been honored by our peers in the industry. The young professionals group program was a key linchpin in that victory.”

Joining Lawless in Washington were NAIOP Arizona representatives, Tammy Carr of Mortenson Construction, Tony Lydon of JLL, Andrew Cheney of Lee & Associates, Molly Ryan Carson of Ryan Companies US and Jonathan Tratt of Tratt Properties.

“In particular, I would like to thank last year’s chairman, Tom Johnston, Savills Studley, who made it his priority to expand and improve our educational offerings. I am proud that our trade association puts on a platform of events where deals get done that create jobs for our economy,” said 2016 chairman Bob Hubbard of LBA Realty.

NAIOP Arizona captured the large chapter award for education on the merit of its developing leaders mentor program, a nine-month, 40-hour education, networking and leadership program. The mentor program is a nine-month, 40-hour education, networking and leadership program.  Throughout the program, six group events were held. Protégé and mentor pairings were announced and the group was provided an overview of a case study. Four education panel events were held in which guest speakers who were experts in their respective fields provided information necessary to complete the development case study. To complete the program, participants pitched development proposals (case study) to a group of investors (judges) during a graduation event.

The mentor program is designed to educate, develop, connect and elevate the next generation of commercial real estate leaders. Its goal is to provide the future leaders of the real estate industry with a broad-based understanding of the critical components of the business, key business and operating principles, introduction and networking opportunities with leading industry executives, and the development of a peer group of young executives from a range of real estate disciplines.