A record number of applicants applied for the 2020 NAIOP Arizona Developing Leaders Mentor Program, known as the Young Professionals Group (YPG).
Twenty-six protégés, or young professionals, who come from all corners of the Valley’s commercial real estate industry, were selected to participate. This year’s first event was a YPG Kick-Off at The Gladly. Each protégé in the six-month program will attend educational seminars and complete a development case study by the end of the program.
The 2020 class comprises Diego Almarel, Strategic Office Partners; Alex Anstey, Willmeng Construction; Jim Bulsiewicz, Hines; Christopher Campbell, BNC National Bank; John Coughlin, Prologis; Ashley Dykstra, Kinney Construction; Aaron Fox, Cushman & Wakefield; Joey Hakola, RED Development; Jimmy Hoselton, Newmark Knight Frank; Ryan Kates, STORE Capital; Ian Kennedy, The Remson Group; Austin Knebel, LevRose Commercial Real Estate; Stephanie Lanman, Leading Edge Real Estate.
Franklin Lee, Sharp Construction; Jonathan Loe, Sherman & Howard; Taylor McDonald, Whiting-Turner; Mike McWilliams Jr., Plaza Companies; Ashley Nye, Trammell Crow Company; Greer Oliver, Cushman & Wakefield; Adam Olson, CEVA Logistics; Brice Pall, Enterprise Bank & Trust; Jackson Paquette, SRP; Michael Roberts, JDM Partners; Scott Scharlach, Waterford Property Company; John Schott, Everest Holdings; and David Stull, CBRE.
The 2020 Co-Chairs are Mollie Zemer, Senior Development Association, Barclay Group; and Josh Tracy, Director of Real Estate Development, Ryan Companies US.
This year’s mentors are Phil Breidenbach, Colliers International; Megan Creecy-Herman, Prologis; Keith Ernest, VanTrust Real Estate; John Orsak, Lincoln Property Company; and Cathy Thuringer, Trammell Crow Company.
“The YPG program offers its participants insight into the components and complexities of evaluating a commercial development project,” said Thuringer, a long-time mentor of the YPG program. “The knowledge gained throughout the program together with the ability to work closely with industry leaders as mentors provide a valuable platform to further the professional growth of the proteges.”
Projects present market analysis statistics, architectural site plans, market studies and marketing plans, construction budgets and exit strategies to the judges for the final presentation by five teams.
The NAIOP Arizona Developing Leaders YPG program deepens young leaders’ knowledge of the industry and helps develop invaluable relationships with some of the industry’s most successful professionals.
All NAIOP members who are age 35 or under are eligible to apply for the YPG program, whether they joined through the Developing Leader membership category or as part of a corporate membership.
