Quarterly: Spring 2002

CBQ >> Spring 2002 Issue

Remarks from the President

I feel very grateful to be following in the footsteps of Scott Johnston and Susan Thomas as GWCAR President. Their guidance and leadership have given the association a strong foundation. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the Board and staff to build on that foundation and increase the relevancy of the association to its members.

By focusing on providing useful information and education, we can enhance the value of GWCAR for its members. We are an organization of professionals who know our individual markets and specialties. GWCAR's role is to bring us together as professionals and inform us on the big picture, including the economy and regional trends.

We have many opportunities throughout the year to educate and build community, including State of the Market, RealTOUR, the Maryland Expo and our regional breakfast meetings. This year's RealTOUR will be in an exciting new format. For the first time ever we will tour Washington by boat, getting a first hand look at waterfront development along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. The event is scheduled for June 3 this year, so mark it on your calendar.

While educational events and community building are very important to our association, I must also mention the importance of our government relations activities. Our public policy volunteers and GWCAR's highly capable government affairs staff have made great progress on critical issues.

For example, we have great news from DC: the HomeStart Regulatory Improvements Acts that seeks to streamline the permitting process was successfully passed out of committee by a unanimous vote and will likely receive a similar endorsement from the entire council. Gene Kenney, Carol Mitten, and I attended several meetings with Chairman Cropp, Harold Brazil, David Catania, and Phil Mendeleson to urge its passage.

And we were successful in Montgomery County in fighting off talk of an amendment that would have allowed the county to challenge commercial property tax assessments.

The value of our association extends beyond the meetings we hold and the information we provide. Through out government affairs efforts, we are striving to create an environment that promotes the business of commercial real estate. I am pleased to serve you this year as your President and welcome any ideas you may have to strengthen the association.

Phillip Thomas 2002 President