Lance: Our chapter leadership just returned from DC where we spent time talking to legislators about the issues impacting commercial real estate. Some of those discussions included strategies to bring middle class jobs back to California. At the federal, state and local level, we need a serious, realistic discussion about how to remove barriers to job growth, and incentivize the development of middle class jobs. One of the ways we're addressing this is through our efforts for CEQA reform, where unintended costs and unnecessary delays in completing important projects negatively impact the ability to provide needed jobs and community benefits.

GlobeSt.com: What are the biggest legislative challenges in store for the industry this year?

Lance: There are many legislative challenges to our industry but two in particular stand out. As stated above, CEQA reform is a major priority for our industry and our chapter's Legislative Affairs Committee. It needs to be reformed because it can indefinitely delay good projects for reasons that have nothing to do with protecting the environment. Another priority is defeating any Split Roll Legislation/Resolutions. Our chapter is planning to take the necessary efforts to prepare for a 2018 statewide ballot initiative.

GlobeSt.com: What does the Chapter envision for the next generation of young leaders, especially based on its commitment to fostering YPG and other outreach?

Lance: We have a very strong commitment to fostering young leaders. Our Young Professionals Group (YPG) was launched about 11 years ago and its alumni now number more than 400. These are the industry's future leaders. For this reason, NAIOP SoCal and YPG are working to build well-rounded professionals that know they have a support system in place. It's a safe environment to ask questions and make connections that may very well last a lifetime. Along with YPG we've been funding an annual $7,500 fellowship through the Center for Real Estate at the University of California, Irvine and this year we'll celebrate two decades of our annual USC versus UCLA Real Estate Challenge where real estate graduate student teams compete on evaluating potential development projects.

LOS ANGELES—NAIOP Southern California has named its new executive board for 2017, and they are already getting to work at the issues impacting the Southern California real estate market. The chapter leadership, which has President Lance Ryan at the helm, recently went to Washington DC to meet with legislators about the issues that are impacting the market, namely the need for more middle-class jobs in California. To find out more about their meeting and the chapter's plans for the year, we sat down with Lance for an exclusive interview.

GlobeSt.com: What is the greatest challenge to CRE in SoCal this year?

Lance Ryan: There is a major challenge that at the macro level touches all areas of our lives, the economy and impacts everyone's future. It's the lack of middle-class jobs in California. In Los Angeles and Orange counties and the Inland Empire, 2.9 million people live below the federal poverty line. Although there has been a lot of positive data in the media on California job growth, that growth has largely been in low paying jobs, not middle-class jobs. We have not yet seen a return of the middle-class jobs that were lost in the last recession.

GlobeSt.com: How is NAIOP SoCal working to address this for the industry?

Lance: Our chapter leadership just returned from DC where we spent time talking to legislators about the issues impacting commercial real estate. Some of those discussions included strategies to bring middle class jobs back to California. At the federal, state and local level, we need a serious, realistic discussion about how to remove barriers to job growth, and incentivize the development of middle class jobs. One of the ways we're addressing this is through our efforts for CEQA reform, where unintended costs and unnecessary delays in completing important projects negatively impact the ability to provide needed jobs and community benefits.

GlobeSt.com: What are the biggest legislative challenges in store for the industry this year?

Lance: There are many legislative challenges to our industry but two in particular stand out. As stated above, CEQA reform is a major priority for our industry and our chapter's Legislative Affairs Committee. It needs to be reformed because it can indefinitely delay good projects for reasons that have nothing to do with protecting the environment. Another priority is defeating any Split Roll Legislation/Resolutions. Our chapter is planning to take the necessary efforts to prepare for a 2018 statewide ballot initiative.

GlobeSt.com: What does the Chapter envision for the next generation of young leaders, especially based on its commitment to fostering YPG and other outreach?

Lance: We have a very strong commitment to fostering young leaders. Our Young Professionals Group (YPG) was launched about 11 years ago and its alumni now number more than 400. These are the industry's future leaders. For this reason, NAIOP SoCal and YPG are working to build well-rounded professionals that know they have a support system in place. It's a safe environment to ask questions and make connections that may very well last a lifetime. Along with YPG we've been funding an annual $7,500 fellowship through the Center for Real Estate at the University of California, Irvine and this year we'll celebrate two decades of our annual USC versus UCLA Real Estate Challenge where real estate graduate student teams compete on evaluating potential development projects.