SAN DIEGO—NAIOP San Diego will concentrate on reaching out to newly elected public officials, identifying and supporting alternative funding sources for affordable housing and streamlining the government development-approval process, among other things, chapter president Dennis Visser, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, tells GlobeSt.com. The chapter recently reported that during 2017, Visser and the NAIOP board of directors will continue focus on value-added networking and educational opportunities; its Developing Leaders and mentorship programs; the University Challenge, tasking local university real estate student teams against each other to devise a development proposal; philanthropic initiatives, including the chapter's ongoing support for local US Marines; and influencing legislative affairs that affect the commercial real estate industry.

We spoke with Visser about his goals for the organization this year and how the organization's focus is changing as we move through the current real estate cycle.

GlobeSt.com: What are your goals for NAIOP this year?

Visser: Our goals are always directed by our overarching mission to promote job creation and enhance economic development in commercial real estate. As the professionals who build the places San Diegans work, play and learn, we have a desire and a responsibility to be part of the political and civic conversations shaping our city. Our legislative goals range from water security to supporting the community plan update process, as well as participating in other current issues affecting commercial real estate and those that may surface. We will also continue to support our dynamic Developing Leaders program and mentorship sessions as well as the regular educational seminars we provide for our members and our many charity programs.

GlobeSt.com: What are the main issues the organization is tackling in 2017?

Visser: San Diego has several newly elected public officials, so we will prioritize reaching out to them to share the mission and initiatives of NAIOP, as well as background about San Diego's commercial real estate industry. We will also continue to identify and support alternative funding sources to the commercial linkage fee for affordable housing and continue to oppose any attempt legislatively or by initiative to implement a statewide split-roll property tax. Other initiatives include supporting long-term infrastructure planning and broad-based funding and continuing to support the implementation of the Pure Water program. Of great importance to many civic and industry groups, including ours, is streamlining the government development-approval process, which will continue to be high on our agenda as well.

GlobeSt.com: How do you see the focus of the organization changing as we continue to move through the current real estate cycle?

Visser: We continue to enjoy a strong economic market, but bull markets will always be balanced with bears, so our objective is to equip our members, regardless of the economic environment, with the tools they need to support their businesses and continually educate their teams. The high level of involvement in NAIOP of executives from our member firms adds to the membership value NAIOP provides through networking events, mentoring opportunities and educational seminars. Our focus has always been on our members and their needs, so we will continue to deliver value and access to leadership, regardless of market highs and lows.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about NAIOP's new board?

Visser: Our board is composed of the best and brightest in San Diego's commercial real estate industry. Each individual has proven their willingness to work hard and deliver results, both in their careers and within our organization. Our chapter has repeatedly been recognized within the larger, international NAIOP organization for launching new programs, growing our membership and increasing our charitable giving every year. We each care deeply for San Diego, and our chapter is fortunate to have so many people, both on our board and in our general membership, who are so devoted to making San Diego a better place to live, work and learn and to elevating and expanding our chapter.

We spoke with Visser about his goals for the organization this year and how the organization's focus is changing as we move through the current real estate cycle.

GlobeSt.com: What are your goals for NAIOP this year?

GlobeSt.com: What are the main issues the organization is tackling in 2017?

GlobeSt.com: How do you see the focus of the organization changing as we continue to move through the current real estate cycle?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about NAIOP's new board?

Instant Insights /

NAIOP San Diego's Main Issues for 2017

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