Leading the Industry Forward
The IPA remains committed to serving our members and leading the conversation on critical issues facing the industry. We are hopeful for a recovery as the U.S. begins to implement reopening plans and global economies rebound from widespread lockdowns.
Despite these challenging times, the IPA has made headway and continues to drive forward our Strategic Plan, initially unveiled at IPAVision 2019 in Toronto. Although our current environment has forced us to adapt previously refined strategies, we are confident that the IPA and industry as a whole remains in a position of strength as we head into the second half of 2020 and look to 2021.
Please see below for further updates from today’s webinar.
Update on IPAVision 2020
After a thoughtful process with input from the IPA’s Board of Directors – as well as our membership as a whole – the IPA has made the decision to cancel IPAVision 2020 in Chicago and move the event to an abbreviated virtual format. The health and safety of our membership is paramount, and the fluidness of our current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic does not provide us with the comfort and confidence that we would be able to structure a robust in-person event while maintaining the health and safety of those in attendance. Further, we recognized based on member feedback that there are various limitations and concerns related to non-essential business travel, and that time and resources are better allocated toward more immediate and critical business needs.
The IPA has convened a committee to structure a virtual IPAVision, and we will be releasing further details in the coming weeks.
Advocacy Updates
Following our Policy & Government Affairs Strategic Planning Retreat in January, the IPA with input from membership identified eight clearly defined policy goals and priorities for 2020. In a matter of just a few weeks following the retreat, those clearly defined goals and priorities were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing fallout from global economic shutdowns.
Since being declared a national emergency in the U.S., the IPA has had to shift course and reorient some of our advocacy to focus on the impact of the pandemic on our membership and determine the appropriate policy response. We encourage you to visit our website for a more thorough update on some of our advocacy initiatives to-date.
The IPA has been and will remain committed to learning more about the impact of the pandemic on our markets and products, determining how to best engage with government and regulators to provide our members with necessary relief. We will continue these efforts throughout 2020 while remaining focused on our long-term advocacy initiatives.
Board-Level Initiatives
Defined Contribution Strategy. Championed by Mark Goldberg, CEO of Griffin Capital Securities, the work around including alternative investments in defined contribution retirement plans is one of the most important initiatives for the future of our industry. Providing greater access to real estate investments as a meaningful way to diversify retail investors’ portfolios has the potential to drive significant growth for our industry for years to come. In addition to Mr. Goldberg, the IPA would like to thank Anne-Marie Vandenberg, President & Chief Operating Officer, RREEF Property Trust Portfolio Manager at DWS Group, and Jeff Taylor, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Black Creek Group, for their support of this critical initiative.
Research. Initially paused in the first half of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPA looks forward to revisiting our data and research initiatives for the collective progress of our industry in the second half of 2020. Thank you to Thayer Gallison, Vice President, Ladenburg Thalmann, for championing this these efforts from the board level.
IPA PAC. Led at the board level by Dan Wagner, SVP of Government Relations, Inland Real Estate Group, the IPA’s PAC allows us to tackle and advance critical advocacy initiatives on behalf of the entire industry, and our efforts are even more important in the midst of key elections happening throughout the year and leading up to the Presidential Election in November.
Membership Engagement. The IPA is committed to attracting new members to meaningfully grow our community, as well as discovering new ways to further engage with our current members, especially in light of new challenges faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical to our growth and engagement strategy is the continued emphasis on our membership needing to reflect the evolving industry, and we always encourage our current members to reach out and connect the IPA with prospective firms. The IPA would like to thank the following individuals for their leadership in this area: Leon Volchyok, Managing Director, Blackstone; Trisha Miller, Executive Managing Director, R.A. Stanger & Co.; Lenny Silverstein, President, COO and Board Member, Preferred Apartment Communities.
IPA Strategic Plan Updates
New 2020 Members. The IPA is pleased to welcome a number of new members to our community in 2020. Please visit our website to catch up on the latest New Member Profiles and learn more about our new members’ firms and business models.
Rising Leaders. The IPA recently introduced 36 dynamic and talented individuals who have been selected to serve on the inaugural IPA Rising Leaders Council. The Council was created under the direction of IPA’s Board of Directors to recognize emerging leaders by providing a unique opportunity to serve the industry. The Council reflects a broad spectrum of IPA member companies. Learn more.
Introducing the New IPA Committees. The IPA previously unveiled its new committee structure as part of our Strategic Plan announced at IPAVision 2019. While committee membership is still being finalized, the IPA would like to acknowledge and congratulate the various individuals elected thus far to serve as Chair/Co-Chairs and Chair/Co-Chair Elects.
- Policy, Regulatory and Legal Affairs Committee. Co-Chairs include Jason Goode, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP; Howard Hirsch, Chief Legal Officer, Griffin Capital Real Estate Company, LLC; Mark Quinn, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cetera Financial Group. Co-Chair Elect is Dan Cullen, Partner, Baker & McKenzie. Additional Co-Chair Elect(s) to be determined.
- Industry Data and Research Committee. Chair is Michael Kell, SVP, Program Management and Business Development, AI Insight Inc. Chair Elect is André Nance, Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.
- Technology, Innovation and Operations Committee. Chair is Christopher Blanchard, Senior Director, National Financial Services, Fidelity. Chair Elect is Mark Lancaster, President and CEO, Great Lakes Fund Solutions, Inc.
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Co-Chairs include Deborah Froling, Partner, Kutak Rock LLP and Vere Reynolds-Hale, Head of National Accounts, Griffin Capital. Co-Chair Elect is Cathy-Jackson-Gent, CEO and Financial Advisor, Global Investment Company. Additional Co-Chair Elect(s) to be determined.
- Industry Products Committee. Chair is Jeff Taylor, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Black Creek Group. Chair Elect is Evan Hudson, Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.
- Compliance and Due Diligence Committee. Chair and Chair Elect(s) to be determined.
Read more about the IPA’s new committees and their mission statements on our website.
Calendar of Events
As always, the IPA’s first priority is the health and safety of our members. In the coming weeks, the IPA will share more details around our plans for currently scheduled in-person and virtual events for the remainder of 2020 as further information and guidance is received from public health officials and government leaders regarding the ongoing public health crisis.
Please visit our website for the latest information on the IPA’s calendar of events and to register for upcoming webinars.
Thank you,
Tony Chereso
President and CEO
Institute for Portfolio Alternatives
