Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship
About the Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship
Launched in early 2010 the Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship annually recognizes an outstanding professional under the age of 30 who demonstrates a commitment to retail real estate, and has the potential to make a lasting contribution to the industry. The fellowship was made possible by a gift from Regency Centers to the ICSC Foundation in honor of Mary Lou Fiala. Ms. Fiala served as president and COO of Regency Centers Corporation and is a renowned industry expert. At the heart of the program is an appreciation of Mary Lou’s qualities and values. The ICSC Foundation shares Mary Lou’s belief that active participation and mentorship can be invaluable in adding a unique perspective to the next generation of industry leaders.
Winners of the fellowship receive:
- A one-year mentorship with an industry leader
- All-expense-paid course of study at the John T. Riordan School of Professional Development
- Special invitation to attend RECon, the Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas, NV
- The honor of participating in a number of speaking engagements at industry events during the award year
- Be 30 years of age or younger at the application close date.
- Live at his or her own expense in the United States during the year as the Mary Lou Fiala Fellow
- Be a professional in the retail real estate industry for a minimum of 2 years and be committed to a career in retail real estate.
- Have a passion for learning and giving back.
- Conduct a year long project that will add to the body of knowledge for retail real estate, ICSC or the ICSC Foundation.
- Complete an online application with all required materials.
2011 Mary Lou Fiala Fellow, Devony Jackson
Devony Jackson of Cleveland, Ohio is the honored recipient of the Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship for 2011, awarded by the ICSC Foundation. Devony will devote significant efforts over her one-year fellowship to pursue a project designed to benefit and promote the retail real estate industry. The fellowship will provide her with a one-year mentorship with an industry leader, an all-expense-paid course of study at the John T. Riordan School of Professional Development, a special invitation to attend RECon, and the honor of participating in a number of speaking engagements at industry events during the award year.
Having a successful nine year track record in the retail real estate industry, Jackson, a retail re-leasing associate for Forest City Enterprises, is driven to leave a lasting impact on the retail real estate industry though hard work and motivation. In her current position with Forest City Enterprises she is responsible for all aspects of leasing retail and restaurant space. She is a dedicated advocate for regional retail chains, acknowledging the future of the industry depends on their success. During her fellowship Devony will initiate a more advanced extension of her current blog to establish an online networking community for regional retail chain store representatives to connect in one convenient location. Devony will use her passion to take her proposed plan from a concept to reality.
“My actions will speak louder than my words. Today, I merely say Thank you; however, over the course of the next year I will use my resources, my energy, and my creativity to demonstrate my sincere gratitude to the ICSC Foundation, Regency Centers, and Mary Lou Fiala for the honor that has been bestowed upon me as the 2011 Mary Lou Fiala fellow.” – Devony Jackson
| 2010 Mary Lou Fiala Fellowship Recipient | |
| Carren Ballenger |
Dallas, Texas |