Louisiana Tops Nation for Most Engaged Workers
There is not only a very interesting, but very important article about a Gallup study which was recently published.
Louisiana ranked #1 in the nation for states whose workers were most engaged in their jobs – meaning they are inolved in and enthusiastic about their work. Not only is this a feel-good story, but it also has significant underlying implications for new businesses looking to locate here. Worker satisfaction, engagement, and quality of life tied to the cost of living makes our state a very desirable place to do business. When you add this accolade to the many others that have come out lately, we are definitely a place of the future .
From a personal point of view, I know that our team at Stirling is actively engaged and contributing at the highest levels on all fronts.
President’s Message: What Happens in Vegas Doesn’t Stay in Vegas!
Last month’s International Council of Shopping Center’s (ICSC’s) RECon 2013 in Las Vegas was very encouraging. Overall attendance for the retail real estate industry’s biggest annual global event was over 35,000, a 10 percent increase from 2012 and a post-Recession record. Attendees and exhibitors, including retailers, developers, lenders and brokers, expressed optimism about the health of the U.S. retail real estate industry. I also noticed more young people coming into the industry, a trend I haven’t seen in many years…or maybe I’m just getting old.
It was quite obvious to me that everyone at the convention was more relaxed, but busier than in recent years. Our Stirling team had a full slate of productive meetings for all our properties, and we were all touting the strength of the Gulf South market. There was significant interest in our current development projects – Mid-City Market that will open next month in New Orleans, Fremaux Town Center under development in Slidell, and our recently announced Magnolia Marketplace project in New Orleans. We expect to finalize many deals from our meetings for these and other properties.
[wpvideo 0nNAm2jd]Another exciting development at Stirling Properties is the opening of our new office in Mobile, Alabama! Our new office will help us to expand our presence in the region in an area that is experiencing exponential growth. You will be hearing more specifics about this in the very near future!
The window of opportunity is definitely open for us now and we are all working hard to take advantage of this momentum. What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas – it will produce positive outcomes for us at Stirling and the Gulf South. Stay tuned for more news!
Stirling Properties’ Marty Mayer to Serve as Divisional Vice President of ICSC
Marty Mayer, President & CEO of Stirling Properties, has been elected to serve as the Vice President of the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) Southern Division. This was made official during ICSC’s Annual Meeting of Regular Members, held during ICSC RECon in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As an ICSC Divisional Vice President, Mr. Mayer has also been appointed to serve on the Government Relations Advisory Committee.
Mr. Mayer currently serves on the Executive Committee of ICSC’s Worldwide Board of Trustees and has previously served as the Co-Chairman of ICSC’s Open Air Center Committee and as Louisiana State Director and Louisiana State Operations Director for ICSC.
Forbes ranks New Orleans #3 for Information Technology Jobs
In a recent Forbes article, “The Cities Winning the Battle for Information Jobs,” author and researcher Joel Kotkin ranks Greater New Orleans as #3 in the USA, behind only technology heavyweights Silicon Valley and San Francisco. In the article, he states “Perhaps the most dramatic player is third-place New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, where information employment is up 28% since 2009”. The information sector in metro New Orleans “is very broad-based, including companies in digital effects, videogames, software development as well as a burgeoning film and television industry,” writes Kotkin. “The recent decision by General Electric to place its new technology center and its 300 new technology jobs in New Orleans is another sign of the Crescent City’s emergence as a viable information hub.” Additionally, when you consider the recent announcement of IBM in Baton Rouge, it is even more impressive for our super region in general.
Based on the employment growth in the IT sector over the long-term (2001-2012), mid-term (2007-2012) and the last two years, as well as momentum, the Top Ten Tech metros are:
- Silicon Valley
- San Francisco
- New Orleans
- Bostom
- Austin
- Atlanta
- San Antonia
- Raleigh
- Phoenix
- Nashville
You can read the entire article, including more detail on the methodology, here.
Marketplace Fairness Act Passes Senate
After many years of campaigning by ICSC and other trade organizations, the U.S. Senate voted 69 to 27 yesterday to approve S. 743, “The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013,” moving the legislation one step closer to enactment. As I mentioned in my recent President’s Message, the passage of this bill is critical to the Commercial Real Estate industry, brick-and-mortar retailers and perhaps more importantly, to our State.
There is more work to be done before the Marketplace Fairness Act can become law. Now it must be approved by the House of Representatives, so there will be more challenges ahead and much education that needs to take place. I encourage you to contact your Representative today!
Marty Mayer selected for Young Leadership Council’s 2013 Role Model Class
Marty Mayer, President & CEO of Stirling Properties, is among 25 New Orleanians recently selected by Young Leadership Council (YLC) for their 2013 Role Model class. YLC, a non-profit civic organization that develops leadership skills through community projects, will honor each Role Model at their 27th Annual YLC Role Model Gala.
Every year, a committee composed of members of the YLC Board of Directors and Role Models from previous years selects 25 members of the New Orleans community who serve as outstanding examples for the young talent that YLC represents. Honorees distinguish themselves by promoting a positive attitude and an unyielding desire to enhance the quality of life in the New Orleans region, striving to unite the community in collaborative efforts for its future prosperity, serving as exemplary role models to young talent, and making significant contributions in their specific fields of endeavor.
“For over 26 years, we have identified leaders in our community who represent the qualities that YLC works hard to promote in our members. This year’s honorees are no exception,” said Richard Pavlick, 2013 YLC Board President. “We are excited to honor this group of outstanding individuals at this year’s Role Model Awards Gala.”
Other members of the 2013 Role Model class include:
- Charlotte A. Bollinger, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.
- Marsha A. Boudy, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation
- Nannette Jolivet Brown, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- John M. Duck, Adams and Reese LLP
- Ben Hales, New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans
- Juli Miller Hart, Projects With Purpose
- Paul Hoolahan, Sugar Bowl
- Janet R. Howard, Bureau of Governmental Research
- Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans
- John Landrum, Intralox LLC
- Patricia LeBlanc, LeBlanc Butler LLC
- Peggy Mendoza, City Year New Orleans
- Virginia Miller, Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald
- Kenneth Polite, Liskow & Lewis
- Ann Rabin, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
- Dorothy “Dottie” Reese, DMM & Associates, LLC
- Stephen Romig, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors
- Stephen Rosenthal, Strategic Comp
- G. Albert Ruesga, PhD, Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Yaye Sarr, D.D.S., Smiles To Geaux
- Chris Schultz, Launch Pad & Flatstack
- Pamela Senatore, Generation Louisiana LLC
- Ann Tuennerman, Tales of the Cocktail
- Warner Williams, Chevron
About Young Leadership Council
The Young Leadership Council is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization created to develop leadership through community projects. Through volunteer-created community projects, the YLC recruits and retains young professionals to New Orleans, creating a positive impact on the quality of life in the region. The oldest, independent YPO (young professionals’ organization) in the country, the YLC has raised more than $25 million to support community projects in and around the New Orleans area since 1986.