Commercial RE group looks to create Idaho chapter

BOISE — Idaho commercial real estate professionals are working with national representatives of NAIOP, Inc., to generate interest in establishing an Idaho chapter of the commercial real estate development association. CRE professionals will hear about the organization and its benefits during a free breakfast at Boise Center East on Tuesday, April 4.

The 501(c)6 association, which advocates for effective public policy, bills itself as “the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate” and the related investment industry. It provides education, networking and advocacy for its 20,000 North American members, with opportunities to participate in legislative affairs efforts. It has 52 chapters across North America thus far.

“This breakfast is to let the market know that NAIOP is seriously interested and intends to build a chapter in Idaho,” said Diana Tucker, vice president for membership and chapter relations for NAIOP based in Herndon, VA. “We are also holding that breakfast to explore interest from the market as well, so we’ve spoken with a number of leaders who are helping us champion NAIOP.”

“Our team, along with LDK (Ventures) and Van Auker Companies have been working in the background on this for several months to get National to approve an Idaho Chapter,” said Paul Bennett, director of business development for Uprite Construction, a design build and construction management firm in Boise, with main offices in Irvine, CA.

Mark Selvitelli, NAIOP president and CEO, and Kim Snyder, 2023 chair, will discuss the association, with representatives from Boise firms Uprite Construction, LDK Ventures, and Van Auker Companies joining the panel.

To register for the free event, and for more information, contact Beth Gulding at [email protected] or phone (703) 674-1406.

Tucker said following the event, and other informational meetings, the process of incorporating the Idaho chapter will begin. Once launched, NAIOP will begin accepting Idaho members.

The association cites adaptive reuse, tax policy and regulatory policy among its legislative priorities. On the education side, it offers on-demand courses on CRE best practices, research webinars, and corporate training course packages. Members can  choose individual course modules. Its Center for Education also offers certificate programs, where students earn credit for their certificates through core classes.

NAIOP’s corporate committees include those which meet over issues in business development, editorial content, education, government affairs and membership and chapter relations. It publishes reports covering such topics as industrial space demand forecasts, economic impacts of commercial real estate in the U.S. and Canada, and office space demand forecasts, among others.