“After joining the [ICSC Foundation] Retail Real Estate Institute Certificate program in the summer of 2020, I felt fortunate I could learn directly from experienced people with all the questions I had about the industry,” said Mac Meeter a student at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. “The program helped me expand my real estate skills, gain valuable advice and learn the basics of real estate. It was all bundled in a fun and easy package, which I appreciated during the difficult time period of COVID.”

Meeter was among the students whose attendance at ICSC 2022 Las Vegas was funded by the ICSC Foundation under its Talent Incubator Project, a series of leading-edge initiatives offering undergraduate and graduate students multiple entry points to the marketplaces industry, while providing ICSC members access to new, capable talent through scholarships, mentorships, internships and university partnerships. While at the May conference, Meeter and two other students were invited to speak on a panel discussion at the ICSC board of trustees meeting.

The trustees were incredibly impressed, according to Laurie Mahowald, vice president of real estate at Target and chair of the ICSC Foundation, who led the panel discussion. “It’s one thing to read about a mentorship or internship program; it’s a completely different experience to meet the students,” she said. “They are so articulate and talented!”

Meeter also received the ICSC Foundation’s 2021 Schurgin Family Foundation Scholarship and has participated in the Foundation’s mentorship program. He learned that mentors are invaluable in learning how the world outside the classroom works. “My first mentor, Areti Moustakis at Edens, was a few years out of school and was able to give me advice on the job search process and transitioning to post-grad life,” he said. “My mentor this year, Amy Cooper at Kimco, has given me great advice on my career. She and I have done mock interviews [and] résumé reviews, and before each interview, we conducted a prep call to highlight key points I should discuss for each company. Amy has also connected me with some amazing people across the country and helped me expand my network and knowledge of the industry.”

Bentley University student Chandler Perry found the access to industry leaders that ICSC provided to be invaluable. He interned with Robin Zeigler at Cedar Realty Trust in 2021 and with Macerich’s Michael Johnson the following summer, both via the ICSC Foundation’s Launch Academy. Zeigler is an ICSC trustee and sits on the ICSC Foundation board of directors. “The on-the-job exposure to the marketplaces industry that I have received during my various interactions with ICSC’s programs has been invaluable. The opportunities that the ICSC Foundation offers have helped me to learn and grow tremendously. I have conversed with many industry leaders and professionals who are delighted to share their knowledge and expertise with the next generation of talent,” said Perry.

He also participated in the ICSC Foundation mentorship program, paired during the 2021-22 school year with Joshua Bruff, who worked at the time at Raider Hill. “I particularly enjoyed the ICSC Foundation mentorship program, which partnered me with an industry leader in my career interest, property management. We met throughout the duration of my academic year to discuss current trends within commercial real estate. In addition to knowledge … ICSC has provided me with valuable resources and relationships that I could have never received through reading a textbook or taking exams.”

From students like these, ICSC trustees hope to learn how to attract more and better young talent to the marketplaces industry, Mahowald said. “Meeting the students and seeing the impact we can have for the next generation of leaders is one of the most exciting aspects of our careers. We have the opportunity to give back and really make a difference that will impact our industry for the next generation.”