NEW YORK, October 11, 2016 – The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has announced Under Armour (NYSE: UA, UA.C) Founder and CEO Kevin Plank as the keynote speaker of the 2016 New York National Deal Making Conference, which will be held Dec. 5 and 6 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
Plank will detail his 20-year journey that started with an innovative t-shirt, and is now a nearly $5 billion global company with more than 14,000 employees. Headquartered in Baltimore, Under Armour has established an impeccable reputation for providing athletes of all abilities the tools they need to get better – from innovative performance apparel, footwear, and equipment to category-leading resources such as the Under Armour Connected Fitness platform, the world’s largest digital health and fitness community.
Plank’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond athletic wear through his privately-owned investment company, Plank Industries, including its real estate subsidiary, Sagamore Development Company. Sagamore is spearheading the massive redevelopment of Port Covington in Baltimore, one of the largest urban development projects currently under way in the United States. The keynote presentation is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. on the opening day of the conference.
“We are thrilled to confirm Under Armour’s Kevin Plank as the keynote speaker. An industry trailblazer, he has demonstrated what it takes to thrive in the age of omnichannel,” said ICSC President and CEO Tom McGee. “Kevin embodies what it means to bring together communities and empower people to give back.”
The New York National Deal Making Conference is ICSC’s second-largest global event and is an opportunity for the retail real estate industry to gather under one roof, share best practices, and most importantly, close deals. The two-day program has steadily grown since its 2014 debut at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, which resulted in a 25% spike in attendance. This year, ICSC anticipates another record year with 11,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors and over 170,000 square feet of exhibitor space.
“This conference is important not only for ICSC, but also for the industry as it is a harbinger of growth prospects over the year to come. Often, when the conference grows, so too does the retail real estate industry and, as a result, the U.S. economy as a whole–a correlation reinforced by the fact that shopping center sales represent about 15% of total U.S. GDP,” said McGee. “A deal in its very nature is an optimistic bet on the future. To see a record number of attendees come to a deal making conference speaks volumes about the health of our industry.”
In addition to deal making and networking opportunities, the New York National Deal Making Conference offers professional development workshops covering certifications and educational sessions about timely topics such as experiential retail, leasing financials and shopper engagement during the holiday season.
Retail real estate professionals can register online today. Advanced registration fees are $595 for members and $795 for non-members through November 30. Want to learn more? Join the conversation on Twitter @ICSC and use #NYnDM.
About ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 70,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, investors, retailers, brokers, academics, and public officials. The shopping center industry is essential to economic development and opportunity. The industry is a significant job creator, driver of GDP, and critical revenue source for the communities it serves through the generation of sales taxes and the payment of property taxes. These taxes fund important municipal services like firefighters, police officers, school services, and infrastructure like roadways and parks. Shopping centers aren’t only fiscal engines however; they are integral to the social fabric of their communities by providing a central place to congregate with friends and family, discuss community matters, and participate in and encourage philanthropic endeavors. For more information about ICSC visit www.icsc.com and for the latest news from ICSC and the industry go to www.thecenterofshopping.com