Sustainable Feature
Q&A Featuring Michael Shohet, Sustainable Development Committee Past-Chair
What inspires you and motivates you to practice environmental sustainability within your profession and personal life?
I've always had a keen interest in technology and particularly building technology. Environmental sustainability is a real driving force behind many of the latest innovations in building design and technology. The need to protect our planet for future generations is a catalyst for change in our industry. Although it is still somewhat difficult to make high performance buildings pencil, the gap is narrowing and much of our efforts need to be focused on education.
What initiated your involvement in the NAIOP Sustainable Development (SD) committee?
When I first joined NAIOP in 2006 I really wanted to get the most out of my membership and getting involved in a committee was really the best way to do that. The SD committee was a great choice for me as it offered some opportunities for learning and to connect with some like-minded people in the industry for the exchange of ideas. The SD Committee is still an untapped resource for the NAIOP membership. We have a huge knowledge base within our organization that many of us could really benefit from.
How has your experience on the committee impacted your overall experience with NAIOP?
In general, being involved in a committee is essential in getting the most out of your membership. It is tough to make real connections with people at the monthly breakfasts. Committee involvement has really allowed me to meet great people in our industry and has given me the opportunity to get my personal and our company brand out there. The SD committee has a core group of people that are really committed to the cause of educating our membership on environmental issues as they pertain to our business. We've got a group of subject matter experts that I've learned a great deal from. It's also been fun to work with the other committees to help plan membership events with a “green” focus.
How has serving as committee chair added value and applied to your day to day profession?
Serving as a committee chair has been a great experience. It was fantastic to work with such an energetic and passionate group of people. My involvement in the committee has allowed me to build a diverse network of industry professionals and experts in their field. That network will be invaluable to me as our industry recovers and we start to build new projects.
The committee is thankful for Michael's commitment and dedication to the cause over the past year. His leadership has paved the way for greater opportunities to expand the Sustainable Development committee, further enhancing value to NAIOP membership. We welcome new committee chair, Jody Belsick of Walker Engineering and look forward to her leadership in the coming year.
If you would like to be considered for the Sustainable Feature or you would like to nominate your business for an up-coming feature, please submit nominations to Jody Belsick at jbelsick@walker-eng.com.
By: Tracy Skenandore, Republic Services
NAIOP SD Committee Member
