WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 15, 2023) – Nareit presented its fifth annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recognition Awards during its REITworld: 2023 Annual Conference in Los Angeles. These awards honor Nareit members that have demonstrated their strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their companies and the REIT industry.
The 2023 Corporate Award winners are:
Gold: Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR)
Silver: Equinix, Inc. (NYSE: EQIX)
Bronze: Veris Residential, Inc. (NYSE: VRE)
The 2023 Individual Award winner is:
Thomas A. Bartlett, President & CEO, American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT)
Bartlett was recognized for his leadership in advancing critical conversations within his company and the industry about the specific actions his employees and industry colleagues can take to foster greater DEI throughout the industry. These conversations resulted in new offerings ranging from to high school career readiness programs and internships to commercial real estate training and supplier diversity initiatives. In addition, Bartlett led the effort to increase the REIT industry’s collective DEI philanthropic endeavors through the Nareit Foundation and was one of the lead founding donors.
“We are thrilled to recognize our members that are leading the way forward, and that are underscoring, through their actions, the fundamental role that all facets of DEI play in the success of our workplaces, businesses, and communities,” said Nareit President & CEO Steven A. Wechsler. “We look forward to seeing our industry continue to evolve and improve throughout the years to come.”
Each year, winners of Nareit’s DEI Recognition Awards are selected in an anonymized evaluation by a panel of expert judges who work outside the REIT industry. The 2023 judges reviewed applications from companies and nominations for individuals, and evaluated them based on their DEI programs, recent accomplishments, reporting metrics, and other factors. The panel of judges included:
- Iris Drayton-Spann, Managing Director, Stanton Chase
- Katy Moore, Interim Director of Development, Exponent Philanthropy
- Shumeca Pickett, Principal & Founder, Alfred Dewitt Ard
- Stacy Roberts, President, SMR Leadership Solutions
- Joseph Rodriguez, President, Burnt Mountain Investments LLC
- Dionna Sallis, Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Ferguson Partners
- Gary Smith, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Ivy Planning Group
"These awards mark our members’ notable strides towards progress, though our journey is far from complete,” said Nareit Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility & Global Affairs Ayris T. Scales. “Nareit is committed to giving members a wide range of resources to help them consistently prioritize DEI and devise innovative approaches to meet the ever-changing needs of their businesses and communities. These awards serve as a platform to commend the commitments already made and to galvanize our industry toward making ongoing progress and improvement in DEI."
Visit Nareit’s site to learn more about its DEI Recognition Awards and its Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative.