11/06/2014 | by Ron Kuykendall

Nareit today announced the election of its 2015 officers, as well as the members of its Executive Board, the organization’s sole governing board.

Elected Chair was David J. Neithercut, President and CEO of Equity Residential. Neithercut takes the place of Nareit’s 2014 Chair, Ronald L. Havner, Jr., Chairman, CEO and President of Public Storage.

“I am pleased and honored to have the opportunity to serve our industry as Nareit’s 2015 Chair,” Neithercut said. “REITs democratize real estate investment, unlocking access to real estate for investors of all shapes and sizes. My objective this year will be to promote the REIT approach to real estate investment, and I look forward to building on the achievements of Ron and all of the prior Nareit Chairs who have done so much to move the REIT industry forward.”

Other Nareit officers for 2015 are First Vice Chair David B. Henry, Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Kimco Realty Corporation; Second Vice Chair Edward J. Fritsch, President and CEO of Highwoods Properties, Inc.; and Treasurer Timothy J. Naughton, Chairman and CEO of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. All of Nareit’s officers also are members of its Executive Board.

Serving on Nareit’s 2015 Executive Board are: Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., President and CEO, RLJ Lodging Trust; Wellington J. Denahan, Chairman and CEO, Annaly Capital Management, Inc.; Ronald L. Havner, Jr., Chairman, CEO and President, Public Storage; Lauralee E. Martin, President and CEO, HCP, Inc.; Sandeep Mathrani, CEO, General Growth Properties, Inc.; W. Benjamin Moreland, President and CEO, Crown Castle International Corp.; Dennis D. Oklak, Chairman and CEO, Duke Realty Corporation; Doyle R. Simons, President and CEO, Weyerhaeuser; Robert S. Taubman, Chairman, President and CEO, Taubman Centers, Inc.; Owen D. Thomas, CEO, Boston Properties, Inc.; and W. Edward Walter, President and CEO, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Nareit also announced the members of its 2015 Advisory Board of Governors, who are selected by the Executive Board: Andrew M. Alexander, President and CEO, Weingarten Realty Investors; Michael D. Barnello, President and CEO, LaSalle Hotel Properties; William C. Bayless, Jr., President and CEO, American Campus Communities, Inc.; H. Eric Bolton, Jr., Chairman and CEO, MAA; Trevor P. Bond, President and CEO, W.P. Carey, Inc.; Jon E. Bortz, Chairman & CEO, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust; Richard J. Campo, Chairman & CEO, Camden Property Trust; John P. Case, President, CEO & Director, Realty Income Corporation; Randall L. Churchey, President & CEO, EdR; Douglas J. Donatelli, Chairman & CEO, First Potomac Realty Trust; Bruce W. Duncan, President & CEO, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.; Lawrence L. Gellerstedt, III, President & CEO, Cousins Properties Incorporated; Michael P. Glimcher, Chairman & CEO, Glimcher Realty Trust; William S. Gorin, CEO, MFA Financial, Inc.; Steven P. Grimes, President & CEO, RPAI; Philip L. Hawkins, CEO, DCT Industrial Trust Inc.; Rick R. Holley, CEO, Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.; Andrew F. Jacobs, President & CEO, Capstead Mortgage Corporation; John B. Kilroy, Jr., Chairman, President & CEO; Kilroy Realty Corporation; Spencer F. Kirk, CEO, Extra Space Storage, Inc.; David J. LaRue, President & CEO, Forest City Enterprises, Inc.; Stephen D. Lebovitz, President & CEO, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.; Peter S. Lowy, Co-CEO & CFO, Westfield Group; Craig Macnab, Chairman & CEO, National Retail Properties, Inc.; Christopher P. Marr, President & CEO, CubeSmart L.P.; Richard K. Matros, Chairman & CEO, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.; Donald A. Miller, CEO, Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.; Marguerite Nader, President & CEO, Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.; Edward J. Pettinella, President & CEO, Home Properties, Inc.; Colin V. Reed, Chairman & CEO, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.; Joseph D. Russell, Jr., President & CEO, PS Business Parks, Inc.; Michael J. Schall, President & CEO, Essex Property Trust, Inc.; Bruce J. Schanzer, President & CEO, Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.; Thomas E. Siering, President & CEO, Two Harbors Investment Corp.; Wendy L. Simpson, Chairman, President & CEO, LTC Properties, Inc.; Richard A. Smith, President & CEO, FelCor Lodging Trust Inc.; David P. Stockert, President & CEO, Post Properties, Inc.;  Gerard H. Sweeney, President & CEO, Brandywine Realty Trust; James D. Taiclet, Jr., Chairman, President & CEO, American Tower Corporation; Amy L. Tait, Chairman, President & CEO, Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.; Steven B. Tanger, President & CEO, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers; John T. Thomas, President & CEO, Physicians Realty Trust; Thomas W. Toomey, President & CEO, UDR, Inc.; Roger A. Waesche, Jr., President & CEO, Corporate Office Properties Trust; Chad L. Williams, CEO, QTS Realty Trust, Inc.