The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) – the world’s leading professional industrial and office real estate association – marks its 75th anniversary in 2016. Given its rich history, the outstanding contributions of so many of its individual members, and the Society’s continued strength, prestige and reputation in the marketplace, SIOR will understandably celebrate its accomplished history over the coming year. But with a relentless focus on the next 75 years to come, SIOR is looking forward, with no plans to rest on laurels.

Indeed, in the spirit of honoring its past, SIOR will be ambitiously eyeing the future. The organization has embarked on an aggressive, multipronged effort to refresh and re-introduce its brand and to invest in the growth, prestige, and profitability of its members and their respective businesses.

“SIORs have always had a unique ability to anticipate, and to be at the forefront of, the critical trends that have shaped the industry’s history,” said Allen Gump, SIOR’s Global President. “We take tremendous pride in what our members have achieved and we’re delighted with the programs we have in place moving forward – we see unbounded potential for our members to add a unique blend of value and professionalism.”

Certain core elements of the initiative have already been unveiled. SIOR has introduced an elegant new logo which, while paying homage to the Society’s classic, traditional roots connotes an unyielding commitment to innovative energy and to remaining at the vanguard of most crucial trends redefining and disrupting the industry. The new logo is emblematic of a new style and feel that the organization will roll out over the course of the year.

SIOR is moving with deliberate speed: in addition to its new logo, it has modernized the look of its website, introduced new digital tools that offer unprecedented support for members’ online business generation, begun planning for its first global conference to be sited outside of North America (London, June, 2016), announced plans for the dynamic redesign of its in-house publication, and activated a systematic, organization-wide public-facing thought leadership initiative. And that is only the tip of the iceberg. Members, sponsors, and end-users can look forward to a variety of new offerings and to an increased public presence.

“I can’t recall a more exciting time for SIOR and its members,” said SIOR Executive President Richard Hollander. “We plan to mark 75 wonderful years by charting an ambitious, substantive, innovative and professional course for the next 75 years to come.”
SIOR’s strategic connection of its past, present and future could not be more timely, taking place in the context of ever-increasing technology and globalization which only reinforces the need for all parties along the supply chain to coordinate with the most sophisticated, knowledgeable, cutting-edge commercial real estate advisors who are linked together through a network that reaches every port of call in the world.

With 48 chapters globally – equaling the highest total in organizational history -- its largest membership base since 2009, and a broader global network than ever before, SIOR intends to meet that need.

In an era in which networks, connectivity and specialized knowledge have profound implications, SIOR, as an organization has kept pace well: the aggregate annual dollar value of SIOR member-to member commercial real estate transactions has more than doubled over the last five years. And SIOR will be providing a variety of new high-level original research and partnerships specifically targeting the evolving, real-world needs of the real estate companies its members advise.

From its origins, which date to World War II, when founding members played key roles in preparing the nation’s infrastructure for a mobilization unlike any seen before, SIOR has grown into a global organization that while remaining indelibly consistent and spanning generations, is poised to play a larger role than ever within commercial real estate.

This article has been republished with permission from GlobeSt.com