Each year, Transwestern and our sponsors honor an individual, or individuals, who have made a noteworthy contribution to the commercial real estate industry as a whole, and to the Washington metropolitan area in particular.

Private Sector TrendSetter
George F. McKenzie
President and CEO, Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, the oldest publicly traded REIT in the country, has long been among the Washington, DC real estate community's most prominent members. In December 2011, the Trust distributed its 200th consecutive quarterly dividend of equal or increasing rates. This 50-year track record of success is testament to WRIT's sound investment strategy and powerful operating platform.

Since joining the Trust in 1996, George F. McKenzie has been instrumental in guiding the REIT's performance. In recent years, WRIT has repositioned its portfolio to focus on acquiring high quality properties inside the Beltway, near major transportation nodes and regional health care centers, and in areas with strong employment drivers. The successful $350 million disposition of WRIT's industrial portfolio, completed in November 2011, was a major milestone in achieving this objective. For his visionary leadership and distinguished record of accomplishment, we are very pleased to honor George McKenzie as our 2012 Private Sector TrendSetter of the Year.

Public Sector TrendSetter
Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Since joining the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in 1983, Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., has seen office space in the county grow from 32 million square feet to more than 115 million square feet, while jobs have increased from 243,000 to more than 600,000. As a result, the real estate tax rate has decreased from $1.47 to $1.07. Fairfax County is now the second-largest suburban office market in the United States and is perennially cited as one of the top jurisdictions in the country to live, work, shop and play.

Over the past few years, companies such as Volkswagen, Hilton Worldwide, Verisign, Northrop Grumman and, most recently, Bechtel, have established headquarters in Fairfax. As the President and CEO of the FCEDA, Dr. Gordon has been the driving force behind this success. His innovative policies have made him a sought after consultant to city and state governments throughout the U.S. and around the world. For his tireless advocacy and steadfast leadership, we are very pleased to honor Gerald Gordon as our 2012 Public Sector TrendSetter of the Year.