In today's technology driven business world, social networkshave become increasingly important to professional development andsuccess. Specifically, a diverse network built on trust canincrease one's power and reach exponentially through exposure tounique skill sets and knowledge. This methodology can be applied toillustrate RPAI's success in the execution of our focusedoperational platform, which benefits from the synergy between thelocal knowledge and networks of our diverse leasing team and thescale and depth of our national tenant contacts andrelationships.

Almost two years ago, RPAI announced a strategic plan to focusour concentration of properties within 10 to 15 core markets, asignificant reduction from the approximately 80 markets in whichRPAI operated at that time. The strategic plan looks to repositionour assets to amass 3 to 5 million square feet of retail withineach core market, thus not only improving our focus but alsocreating significant scale within each market and thereforeincreasing RPAI relevancy to its regional retail partners as well.One example of this is our significant presence in the Dallas-ForthWorth area, where RPAI owns approximately 4 million square feet,ranging in asset type from lifestyle centers such as Southlake TownSquare and The Shops at Legacy in Plano to grocery and poweranchored centers such as Lincoln Park and Parkway Towne Crossing.As our portfolio within DFW grew, so did our local operationalteams, thus allowing us to maximize our knowledge of and presencewithin the MSA, resulting in a better understanding of its needs aswell as shopping and traffic patterns. We are able to leverage thisfirst hand, real time knowledge to assist retailers in their siteselection process and assessment of a new market, as evidenced inthe numerous first to market deals that RPAI has brought to Texas,including Columbia Sportswear and HMK.

Our successes in DFW further illustrate how the decentralizationof our leasing efforts through the creation of dynamic localoperational teams has and continues to allow RPAI to capitalize oneach one's unique skill sets and intrinsic knowledge obtained fromliving and working within its respective markets. As wecontinue to have open dialogues with our national retailers aboutopening and expansion plans, we are able to optimize the reach ofour expansive network by leveraging the invaluable and unparalleledinsight regarding local trends and dynamics in order to continue tobe a true market leader.