NAIOP-MD Selects Tom Ballentine as Vice President for Policy & Government Relations

Baltimore, MD (May 13, 2008) - Tom Ballentine has been selected as Vice President for Policy and Government Relations by The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Maryland Chapter. Mr. Ballentine has 19 years of experience in state and local land use issues and has represented the Home Builders Association of Maryland (HBAM) before state and local governments in Maryland.

Most recently Mr. Ballentine was HBAM's Director of Policy and Government Relations.

In his new role, Mr. Ballentine will track legislative issues affecting commercial real estate, land development and construction, develop NAIOP public policy agenda and serve as an industry advocate.

NAIOP-Maryland created the position in order to establish the commercial real estate industry as a more frequent participant in local land use issues and to broaden NAIOP's contribution to the land use policy discussions that take place in state agencies and before the Maryland General Assembly.

"Tom is our chapter's first full-time professional and, given his long-term experience working on real estate issues in Maryland, is uniquely qualified to assume this position," stated Cole Schnorf, President of NAIOP-Maryland. "He has a proven track record of policy analysis and message development. The NAIOP board believes he will broaden the services NAIOP provides it members by identifying key issues affecting the commercial real estate industry and positioning NAIOP to be a constructive participant in government deliberations about growth, environmental protection, tax and construction issues," he added.

Mr. Ballentine is a graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. He has managed projects recognized with numerous awards for excellence, most recently, a National Smart Growth Achievement Award for using land supply and demand analysis in land use planning. He and his family are residents of Roland Park.

NAIOP is the nation's leading professional trade association for industrial, office, commercial and mixed-use real estate. The NAIOP-Maryland Chapter has more than 300 members involved in land development, brokerage finance, law, architecture and engineering.