New Global Chairman Appointed to Urban Land Institute

Thomas W. Toomey, Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of UDR, Inc., a $16 billion multifamily real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, has been named the new Global Chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

ULI is a global, multidisciplinary real estate organization whose work is driven by 40,000-plus members dedicated to responsible land use and building thriving, sustainable communities. Mr. Toomey, a longtime ULI member, ULI Trustee and ULI Foundation Governor, will serve a two-year term that ends June 30, 2019.

As ULI Global Chairman, Mr. Toomey will emphasize the Institute’s delivery of member value and mission advancement, with the overarching goal of ensuring that ULI continues to lead the future of global urban development. Mr. Toomey sees his global role as an opportunity to support and facilitate members’ efforts to advance ULI’s mission in each of the three regions in which the Institute has a presence --- the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Thomas W. Toomey has been appointed Global Chairman of the Urban Land Institute.

“Real estate is an ever-evolving local puzzle. What ULI brings to real estate is a global knowledge network that consists of our members, and that is unique,” Mr. Toomey said. “One of the most important things I can do as Global Chairman is help members take full advantage of ULI’s vast knowledge base to strengthen the impact they are making in cities worldwide.”

During his term, Mr. Toomey plans to focus on several critical areas, including:

• An expansion of ULI’s highly regarded advisory services program, which, for 70 years, has helped hundreds of communities around the globe solve complex urban development challenges, from revitalizing downtown cores to reusing obsolete retail space to increasing affordable housing. ULI is aiming to further open the program to more members and more communities.
• Technology advancements to connect members -- including ULI’s most senior leaders as well as those new to ULI -- and facilitate the creation of volunteer opportunities that match their areas of interest and expertise, and improve member-to-member networking through online communities.
• Refinements to ULI’s content to ensure that it is based on member expertise, is forward-looking, applicable to members’ day-to-day work, and that it highlights practices that make a solid business case.
• An expansion of ULI’s membership to include more offerings for entire companies, rather than just individuals.