Owen D. Thomas, chief executive officer of Boston Properties, has been elected as the new ULI global chairman. In his two-year tenure, Thomas will guide the Institute’s delivery of member value and mission-oriented work.

Ten years ago, ULI Colorado launched its Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI). The grass-roots program has become a model within the Institute for fostering education and career opportunities for people of color and women that is now poised for national growth. ULI is leveraging a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to expand the REDI program throughout its network of district councils in the United States to St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, and Indiana.

Outgoing ULI Global Chairman Thomas Toomey was honored at the 2019 Spring Meeting by the Institute’s leadership at the Global Governing Trustees dinner, which was held at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. In remarks to the group, Global Chief Executive Officer Ed Walter praised Toomey for his leadership and the financial support he provided for the creation and implementation of ULI’s Global Strategic Plan, which seeks to improve the member experience through investments and initiatives to strengthen member engagement and impact.

Outgoing ULI Global Chairman Thomas Toomey reflected on the Institute’s uniqueness as well as its future as an organization with a strong philanthropic culture during remarks made at the 2019 Spring Meeting’s closing session. “What makes [ULI] unique is that our work, performed by ULI members and real estate leaders, changes people’s lives by changing cities for the better. No other real estate institution comes close to doing so much for so many,” Toomey said.

ULI Americas President Gwyneth Cote emphasized to Spring Meeting attendees the importance of connecting the Institute’s local initiatives to other areas of the organization, sharing insights based on numerous meetings with district councils since joining ULI’s executive team in December. “Each visit reaffirms the much-cited quote ‘ULI is only as strong globally as it is locally,’” Cote said

As we head to Nashville for our 2019 Spring Meeting, I am encouraged and enthused about the progress being made at ULI to improve the member experience. Our initial efforts will be on display at the meeting, with more member-informed, interactive programming designed to foster a broader exchange of ideas and knowledge as well as more member-to-member connections. The event, which follows a highly successful Midwinter Trustees Meeting, Europe Conference, and Asia Pacific Convivium held this winter, will serve as additional confirmation of ULI’s status as the gold standard for real estate organizations.

ULI Global Chief Executive Officer W. Edward Walter is the featured thought leader in the latest edition of “Leading Voices in Real Estate.” Walter reflects on his early years in real estate with Trammell Crow Residential; his service as chief financial officer and chief executive officer for Host Hotels and Resorts Inc.; why real estate continues to attract the best and brightest; and what he believes distinguishes ULI from other real estate organizations.

Lizanne Galbreath, who serves as managing director of Galbreath & Company, spoke recently at a ULI leadership event in Columbus. Her grandfather, John W. Galbreath, founded the John W. Galbreath Company in 1921, which eventually became one of the largest development companies in the United States, and was also a founding member of ULI.

The ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance, a worldwide alliance of leading real estate owners, investors, and financial institutions committed to reducing carbon emissions across the global property industry, has announced the addition of three new members: Kilroy Realty, the Howard Hughes Corporation, and Morgan Creek Ventures.

ULI Global Chief Executive Officer W. Edward Walter provided highlights of the Institute’s Global Strategic Plan, which will help strengthen member engagement and impact, during remarks at the 2018 Fall Meeting’s closing general session.