NAIOP SFBA Engages in Leadership & Advocacy at National Retreat in Washington, D.C.
NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) had an impactful week in Washington, D.C., at the NAIOP Chapter Leadership & Legislative Retreat. This annual gathering brought together chapter leaders from across the country to exchange ideas, discuss industry trends, and advocate for policies that support commercial real estate.
Building Connections and Strengthening Leadership
The retreat kicked off with a welcome reception, where our team had the opportunity to connect with fellow NAIOP leaders, including representatives from the Silicon Valley chapter. These conversations reinforced the value of collaboration and sharing best practices to strengthen our chapter and enhance the support we provide to our members.
Over the next two days, we engaged in a series of leadership sessions and breakout discussions focused on chapter growth strategies, member engagement, and NAIOP’s key advocacy priorities. These sessions provided valuable insights into enhancing the member experience, expanding our chapter’s impact, and navigating the evolving landscape of commercial real estate.
A major highlight of the retreat was learning more about the legislative policies NAIOP is championing, particularly in preparation for Capitol Hill Week. Understanding the key policy issues and how we can effectively advocate for the industry is crucial to ensuring commercial real estate professionals have a strong voice in Washington.
Additionally, we were thrilled to celebrate Maxim Shapiro, MBA, MSF, CCIM, who was nominated as Volunteer of the Year for our chapter. His dedication and contributions to NAIOP SFBA have made a significant impact, and this recognition was well deserved!
Advocacy in Action on Capitol Hill
On Wednesday, our delegation took to Capitol Hill to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for critical policies affecting commercial real estate. Our discussions centered on three key areas:
- Energy policy – Promoting sustainable development and energy efficiency initiatives.
- Tax policy – Supporting fair tax structures that foster industry growth and investment.
- Adaptive reuse – Encouraging policies that facilitate the transformation of underutilized properties into viable real estate opportunities.
Our team met with representatives from the offices of Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. John Garamendi, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, along with additional strategic visits to further amplify NAIOP’s advocacy efforts. These meetings were instrumental in ensuring lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions on commercial real estate and economic development.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up this year’s retreat, we return to the Bay Area inspired and equipped with new ideas to drive our chapter forward. The connections made, knowledge gained, and advocacy efforts will help shape the future of our industry and strengthen NAIOP SFBA’s role as a leader in commercial real estate.
A huge thank you to NAIOP for organizing this invaluable event and to all our fellow chapter leaders for the engaging discussions and collaboration. We look forward to putting these insights into action and continuing to advocate for policies that support a thriving commercial real estate sector.
Stay tuned for more updates as we bring these efforts back home and continue to serve our members with impactful programs and advocacy!
