NAIOP Rocks!

NAIOP Greater Philly prez Rich Gottlieb helms a chapter of over 100 commercial real estate pros, an org he's been a part of for two decades. Among the chapter's big initiatives this year, he tells us: lobbying for community enhancement and infrastructure development to advance economic growth, as well as organizing educational outreach opportunities and trolley tours of topical development sites. We also can't forget the fun networking: Here's Rich emceeing the chapter's inaugural Battle of the Bands in April, with an assist from NGKF's Anne Klein, who co-chaired the event.

Over 300 turned up at World Cafe Live to watch six real estate rockers and their bands duke it out. D2 Solutions' John Schwartz and his band Swamp Rats took home the top prize. The other contestants: Herman Miller's Brian Dusinberre (Wheelhouse), Liberty Property Trust's Anne Cummins (The Champs—we see what you did there, Anne), CoStar's Mark Dougherty (Alice's Garage), Langan Engineering's Chris Hagar (Civil Disobedience), and Pennoni's Jon Savage (New Rockers). Portions of the event's proceeds were donated to Project HOME. After their sets, Brian and John (pictured at left) joined forces for a number accompanied by Philly legend Tommy Conwell (far right).

John showing off his prize. The event had so much interest, Rich says, that NAIOP may have to schedule tryouts before next year's battle (and thinks he may have found a backup career as a concert promoter just in case that gig in real estate doesn't work out—his day job is SVP at Keystone Property). In the interim, he hits the (roof) deck today at 2.0 University Plaza for NAIOP's Rooftop Happy Hour and is looking ahead to June 18's breakfast panel on the suburbs at the Crowne Plaza West, followed by the annual NAIOP/CoreNet Golf Outing at Green Valley Country Club on July 28.