About Our Industry

We are involved

Developers Diversified is an active member of the shopping center industry.  Our executives serve in many capacities---including board, panel, and committee positions---for our industry associations and related organizations, including the National Association of Real Estate Trusts (NAREIT), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Our employees hold certifications within the shopping center industry, including Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS), Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM), Certified Marketing Director (CMD), and many hold senior designations to these certifications as well.

Below are links to websites for three industry associations:
Industry recognition

Developers Diversified has been acknowledged for its progressiveness in architectural design, outstanding employment practices, and innovations in marketing.  A few of the distinctions we have earned over the past few years:
  • Multiple gold and silver MAXI awards, which are given by the International Council of Shopping Centers for outstanding marketing initiatives in the shopping center industry.
  • Earned NAREIT's Gold Award for Management's Discussion and Analysis for Large CAP REITS for four consecutive years. 
  • Named one of the industry’s fastest-growing developers by Chain Store Age magazine, 2005 - 2008.  Also ranked by the publication as a fastest-growing acquirer, 2005, 2007, 2008
  • Received Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management's Centurion Award nine times for outstanding growth. 
  • In 2008 and 2009, Developers Diversified received the NorthCoast 99 award, which acknowledges Northeast Ohio's top workplaces for their efforts in attracting, motivating and retaining top performers.
  • In 2009, two employees received the ICSC John T. Riordan Professional Education Scholarship, which encourages professional education and furthers the career development of retail real estate professionals.
For more information, interesting facts and economic data about the shopping center industry, please click on the links below.