News & Info
March Newsletter
President's Report
Amy Nagy, Sinatra & Co., 2021 NAIOP Upstate Chapter President
This year, the mud that signifies the arrival of Spring seems particularly welcome, following the seemingly longest winter ever. I hope in the long days and nights of this past year that our chapter members were able to find some useful ways to pass the time to increase both personal and professional satisfaction. An item that recently landed in my lap, saving me from yet another evening of binging, was offered through NAIOP's corporate offices.
You may have missed that NAIOP has committed to the next generation of CRE leadership, along with increasing diversity in commercial real estate and therefore has developed a scholarship program for students pursuing a degree which will lead to a career in the commercial real estate industry.
I was honored to be invited by NAIOP to participate as a reviewer of the applications for this year’s scholarship program. I was one of a group of many, yet it provides me with the opportunity to share with our chapter the great things I found coming from the future leaders in our field. Reading the perspectives of these young people, and digging into how hard they have worked to find a path into commercial real estate is fascinating. For many, the field of commercial real estate was not a profession that they had experience with while growing up. What I gather is that many in the next generation are clearly taking a very deliberate path into the profession because they see the field of real estate as impactful and relevant to so many facets of the communities in which we live. I can attest that those I reviewed had a much broader view of the field than I had at the start of my career. At the start of my career, you either developed real estate, or sold it. Today the field has a niche for every interest and skillset.
The applicants I had the good fortune to review have strong interest in using the profession to build stronger communities. Many connected the benefits of affordable housing as a community asset, embraced diversity as an important part of our neighborhood fabric and advocate for good design as something that comes out of meaningful collaboration and thoughtful decision making.
I want to invite you to consider mentoring those who are new to our industry, paticularly those who may not bring a generational history to the field as they start of their career. I think you'll find they have so much to offer, and are ready to both learn from you, but also share their broad vantage of the industry.
Enjoy the start of what hopefully will be a welcome shift out of this long period. As the world opens up, don't forget to take a junior associate or student to lunch. I think you'll enjoy it!
Advocacy News
In 2021, the NAIOP Upstate Advocacy & Legislative Committed launched a new programming initiative: Economic Development Coffee Hour. Each month, we invite key economic and development decisionmakers to our committee meetings for informal, intimate conversation about current priorities, initiatives and opportunities for NAIOP members to get involved. Committee members and advocacy sponsors are welcome to attend each month.
In February, we were joined by Brendan Mehaffy, Executive Director of the City of Buffalo Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning. Brendan discussed the administration’s current initiatives and challenges, especially those rising since the pandemic. Highlighted were the City’s priorities around infrastructure development and the ‘Race for Place’ effort to make downtown Buffalo a more livable place that can attract a diversity of residents, workers and employers.
We look forward to meeting again in March. Contact Dan Leonard for more informatio.
Calendar of Events
You bring the sandwich and we'll bring the speakers. The chapter is pleased to welcome Denise Juron-Borgese of Ciminelli, Kyle Sayers of LeChase and Dave Beinetti of SWBR who will bring us luchtime conversation at noon on March 19 when A Developer, An Architect and a General Contractor Walk Into a ... ZOOM. Pre-registration is a must. Click here to join us for this free event.
Our final event for this three-part series Noon Zoom is April 15.
Don't foget to mark your calendar for the NAIOP Golf Outing on August 23! More details to follow!
Community Service
Peter Cammarata has been a staple of NAIOP leadership for many years. He has served the real estate community with his service as President of the Buffalo Urban Developement Corporation and been a leader bringing many progressive projects to life. With his announced April 2 retirement, the NAIOP board and chapter membership wish him the very best and are grateful for his witty commentary at many of our Annual Awards Dinners.
ROUND UP
The Bonadio Group is conducting its real estate industry survey and needs your help in providing confidential insight. Participants will be entered to win a $100 gift card and will receive a full copy of the report.
Ciminelli Brokerage Team Forms Alliance with Newmark Ciminelli has entered into an alliance agreement with Newmark Group, Inc., a world leader in commercial real estate services. Newmark Ciminelli, will provide services across Western New York.
BOMA will present an update on the progress of the highly-anticipated 201 Ellicott Street and The West End, two downtown Buffalo projects on March 17! Register here.
Have something to be shared? Send it to Amy Nagy at [email protected]
