NAIOP Maryland Honors the Best in Commercial Real Estate at the 2024 Awards of Excellence

19 award categories presented for innovation and achievement by regional commercial real estate development firms, affiliated companies, and professionals

Owen Rouse of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services was honored with NAIOP Maryland’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” (Photo credit: Whitney Wasson Photography)

NAIOP Maryland honored 14 different companies and five commercial real estate professionals in 19 separate categories at its bi-annual Awards of Excellence held recently in front of a sold-out crowd at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. The program celebrates and recognizes the innovative achievements of regional commercial real estate developers, as well as the companies and professionals that service this industry throughout the Maryland region. Ryan Burrows, JLL, Morgan Gilligan, Stewart Title Guaranty Company, and Nicole Wilhelm Smith, Plano-Coudon Construction served as Co-Chairs of the program.

“NAIOP Maryland’s Award of Excellence recognizes the companies and individuals who demonstrated outstanding achievements in the commercial real estate industry, and positively impacted the landscape in the greater Baltimore region in a significant way,” said Kate Jordan, SIOR, President, NAIOP Maryland. “Commercial real estate is known for its cycles, but we can always count on many worthy nominations that make judging decisions extremely difficult. We wish to acknowledge both the nominees and the winners for their vision, determination, and precision in bringing these projects to fruition. The commercial real estate sector remains among the leading economic development drivers locally, and contributes significantly to the lifestyle of residents and the success of businesses.”

Owen Rouse, Senior Vice President, MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC, was named winner of the NAIOP Maryland Lifetime Achievement Award, based on his accomplishments in investment, acquisition and disposition, development, and capital markets for more than 40 years and his continued support of NAIOP Maryland and the CRE community.

“Reflecting on my career, and surviving several real estate downturns and recessions, I suspect my journey is not too dissimilar to my peers,” said Rouse. “I have learned that people will help when you ask them, and there will be others that can use your help. It is important to establish and nurture relationships, built slowly over time. It is important to establish integrity and a solid reputation, which is earned slowly over time. And you must demonstrate the importance of reliability, tested over time.”

Other individual award winners were:

Patrick Hughes Legislative Award

  • Manis Canning & Associates

Greg Masi Volunteer Award

  • Jannine Hayes, Knott Realty Group

Rising Star Award

  • Michael Tait, St. John Properties, Inc.

Broker Award

  • Dan Callihan, Newmark

Service Provider Award

  • Kelly Ennis, The Verve Partnership
  • The project and transaction award winners were:

Best Warehouse

  • City Logistics, MRP Industrial

Best Transaction

  • ACE Logistics Center, MCB Real Estate, LLC

Best Build-to-Suit Warehouse

  • GAF Distribution Center, Chesapeake Contracting Group

Best Adaptive Reuse – Warehouse/Office Redevelopment

  • Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center at Yorkridge Center North, St. John Properties, Inc.

Best Industrial Park

  • Bainbridge, MRP Industrial

Best Low to Mid-Rise Office

  • 40TEN, Chesapeake Contracting Group

Best High-Rise Office

  • 100 Light Street, COPT Defense Properties

Best Interior

  • Greenberg Gibbons Headquarters, JP2 Architects

Best Amenity Space

  • 10490 – Amenity Lounge, Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.

Best Build-to-Suit Office Building – Private Sector

  • Buch Construction Headquarters Building, Greenebaum Enterprises, Inc.

Best Build-to-Suit Office Building – Public Sector

  • Administrative Office of the Courts at Annapolis Corporate Park, St. John Properties, Inc.

Best Office Park

  • Columbia Corporate Park, Merritt Properties, LLC

Best Transit-Oriented Development

  • Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, David S. Brown Enterprises, Ltd.

Best Community Impact – New Development

  • United Way Family Center in Columbia, COPT Defense Properties

Best Community Impact – Redevelopment

  • Northwood Commons, SDG Real Estate Group, MCB Real Estate, MLR Partners and JP2 Architects

NAIOP Maryland has nearly 400 members and is comprised of individuals working for real estate development companies, brokerage firms and affiliated companies such as financial institutions, architectural firms, and engineers. NAIOP is the nation’s leading trade association for developers, owners, investors, and other professionals in industrial, office and mixed-use commercial real estate. Comprising 20,000 members in chapters throughout North America, the organization provides networking opportunities, educational programs, research on trends and innovations and strong legislative representation.