The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation and Regency Centers Corporation has launched the ICSC Foundation Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship. The Fellowship combines mentoring, education, networking and speaking engagements to make this a coveted endowment in the retail real estate industry. The fellowship was made possible by a gift of $100,000 from Regency Centers to the ICSC Foundation in honor of Mary Lou Fiala who served as the association's 49th worldwide chairman. Before stepping down in March 2009, Fiala served as president and COO of Regency Centers Corporation, a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, operation and development of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers.
"Mary Lou has been the consummate chief operating officer since 1999, providing extraordinary leadership for Regency as well as the industry," explained Martin Stein, Regency Center's chairman and chief executive officer. "Funding this fellowship was the perfect opportunity to honor and perpetuate Mary Lou's dedication to mentoring our future leaders and instilling the values and highest ethical standards that she exemplifies and that Regency cherishes," Stein added.
Launching in 2010 the Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship will annually recognize an outstanding professional under the age of 30 who personifies Mary Lou Fiala's passion and commitment to retail real estate, and has the potential to make a lasting contribution to the industry. At the heart of the program is an appreciation of Mary Lou's qualities and values. "The ICSC Foundation shares Mary Lou's belief that active participation and mentorship can be invaluable in adding a unique perspective to the next generation of industry leaders," said Valerie Cammiso, executive director of the ICSC Foundation.
This prestigious fellowship will be awarded annually to the candidate that exemplifies passion and commitment to retail real estate through professional excellence and an active commitment to helping others through service in their communities, profession or fields of research. Each Fellow will devote significant efforts over their one-year fellowship to pursuing a project designed to benefit and promote the retail real estate industry.
The fellowship will include a one-year mentorship with an industry leader; an all-expense-paid course of study at the John T. Riordan School of Professional Development; a special invitation to attend RECon, the Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas, NV; and the honor of participating in a number of speaking engagements at industry events during the award year.
Prior to working with Regency, Fiala served as managing director of Security Capital Global Strategic Group Inc. where she was responsible for the development of operating systems for the firm's retail-related initiatives. She is a member of the board of directors for Regency Centers Corporation, a member of the board for Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a board member of Stir Crazy, Inc., and a board member of CNL Macquarie Global Growth Trust. Fiala also served as the 2008 - 2009 worldwide chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers of which she remains an active member on its executive committee.
The ICSC Foundation promotes and rewards community support efforts and provides undergraduate, graduate-level and retail real estate practitioner's educational scholarships. Established in 1988, the ICSC Foundation is the non-profit public charity of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 60,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academic and public officials.