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Local Product Councils
Local product Councils are a topically focused, multi-disciplinary group of mid and senior level professionals, involved in the transaction side of real estate who commit to meet on a regular basis, develop trusted connections and share best practices, as well as real-time deal metrics.
All Local Product Councils are now accepting new members. Apply here.
Local Product Council Structure
Success of the Local Product Councils is built on passionate leadership, participation, and creating the right mixture of expertise. Councils provide opportunities for leadership and volunteer involvement in ULI at the local level by fostering a culture of openness, promoting excellence in programming, and sharing of issues critical to the land use planning and real estate development industries.
Local Product Councils are led by co-chairs who are responsible for content, guest speakers, schedule and membership of the council. Membership of each council will be in the range of 25-40, and council Members will be expected to attend regularly and participate in the information exchange. Each product council will determine its meeting frequency, but will range from 4-5 meetings each year. Membership in Local Product Councils is free, but open only to ULI Members, including seats for YLGs as appropriate. If a product council membership is full, a wait list will be created.
In addition, each Local Product Council is responsible for planning and executing one large program/event each year for the broader ULI Boston District Council, consistent with the strategic goals of ULI Boston, but they may also create small programs related to their priority area.
Basic Guidelines for a ULIB Local Product Council :
• Must be a member of ULI to join a local product council
• Non-ULI members may attend a meeting as a guest but must join ULI to attend future meetings
• Product council size may range from 25-40, as determined by the co-chairs
• Local product councils meet regularly as determined by the group
• All members must actively participate in discussion and sharing information
• Regular attendance is required to remain on the product council
• Member must have relevant knowledge of subject matter
• No more than two members of a firm may sit on the same product council
• Diversity of member expertise (service providers, developers, lenders, etc)
• Seats will be made available for YLGs on each council
• Seek diversity of membership by gender, ethnicity, age
• Limited number of guest seats for each meeting
How do I become involved in a local product council?
• Click the Navigator Link associated with the council you are interested with and submit your interest.
Boston Market Council (BMC)
Topically focused on transactions and development within the context of the local real estate market. This multidisciplinary group includes principals, investors, developers, brokers, and related service providers and advisors.
This group will meet approximately once a quarter, or four times a year.
Boston Market Council Chairs: Kris Galletta, Nordblom, David Gillespie, AvalonBay Communities, and Sam Hallowell, Newmark
Housing & Economic Development (HED)
Topically focused around issues of housing affordability, housing policy, and the creation, development and financing of urban multi-family housing in all income categories. This multi-disciplinary group includes for-profit housing developers, CDC’s, housing investors, public sector leaders, and housing design and construction firms.
Housing and Economic Development Chairs: Halle Auerbach, MP Boston and Ricky Ochilo, MassHousing
HED is Sponsored by
Infrastructure, Environment, and Society Council
The Boston Infrastructure, Environment, and Society Council focuses on infrastructure and ESG topics within commercial real estate. Topics may include permitting and policy issues related to sustainability, resiliency, mobility, inclusion, and community benefit.
Infrastructure Council Chairs: Matthew Ciborowski, Arup; Lionel Lucien of MassDOT, and Jed Ruccio, Mirrione, Shaughnessy & Uitti, LLC
Real Estate Technology Council (RETC)
A multidisciplinary, collaborative network where real estate practitioners and technology providers can share, debate, and hone their ideas. Members are thought leaders in development, finance, management, leasing, brokerage, design, engineering, law, government, and academia. The mission is simple: By providing a place for real estate and technology professionals to collaborate, we believe we can accelerate the pace of innovation across the entire community.
Urban Development Council (UDC)
Focused on trends that drive development patterns and shape the urban environment and the public realm. It will identify emerging development opportunities, policy changes and design strategies that will impact Greater Boston as well as the global economy. This group is comprised of developers, economists, investors, public sector leaders, and urban designers.
Co-chairs: Kevin Sheehan, Greatland Realty and Alex Toteva, Harvard Allston Land Company
Women's Leadership Initiative Council (WLI)
The mission of the WLI is expressed in its four primary objectives:
- Promote the advancement of women, throughout their careers, as leaders in the real estate industry.
- Increase the number of women who serve in leadership positions in the real estate industry and in ULI.
- Increase the visibility of women leaders in the real estate industry and in ULI.
- Increase the number of women who are active ULI Full members, and support the development of young women members as leaders in ULI and in their professions.
ULI Boston/New England’s Women’s Leadership Initiative is kicking off 2019 with upcoming programs and convenings organized by the WLI Steering Committee. In the summer of 2019 we launched the WLI Council.
WLI Council Chairs: Vickie Alani – CBT Architects, Mitali Biswas – Goulston & Storrs, Beth Witte – RMR Group.
NEXT Council
Focused on the NEXT leaders, neighborhoods, markets and innovations, this council is for members aged 35-45. NEXT members share their experiences and expertise on a variety of land use and real estate issues to form a cohesive and trusted network.
Co-chairs: Chloe Bouscaren, NBBH, Kendin Carr, Colliers International, and Julia Wynyard.