Philip Hawkins, president and CEO of DCT Industrial Trust (NYSE: DCT), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview at REITWorld 2016: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge.
Next month marks the 10-year anniversary of DCT’s initial public offering.
A key part of DCT’s strategy is its network of local personnel who are able to build relationships and “stay in tune with what’s going on,” according to Hawkins.
“That’s never changed and is more important than ever,” he said.
As for business conditions, Hawkins said he has never seen a better operating environment for the industrial sector. “Supply is in check, but it’s demand that’s driving the business, and it’s coming across all sectors, all sizes, all markets,” he said.
In addition to demand from e-commerce retailers and traditional retailers responding to changes wrought by e-commerce, Hawkins said he is also seeing “really healthy demand” from traditional consumption-orientated companies. The food and beverage, auto and homebuilding sectors are strong components of current demand, according to Hawkins.
Meanwhile, Hawkins said the general election has not changed his outlook. “I feel as good about our business as I did a week ago,” he said.