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ICSC RELAUNCHES MASTER DEVELOPER SERIES

By Kerri Linden

In July Stirling Properties opened its doors to executives from a select group of development firms to offer them insight into how the Covington, La.-based company does business. The two-day event, which included management presentations and tours of several Stirling-owned shopping centers, was part of the ICSC Education Foundation’s Master Developer Series, a program from years past that the organization relaunched this year. James E. Maurin, SCSM, chairman of Stirling and an ICSC trustee and past chairman, was host. The ICSC members in attendance came from across the U.S. and from Canada, Mexico and Chile. Maurin, who calls the program a valuable learning experience for everyone involved, recalls attending a similar ICSC event himself at The Rouse Co. in 1985.

The memory of that event continues to inspire him, he says. “It’s a giving back thing,” Maurin said. “I had been in business nine years, and I got to spend a couple days with the [Rouse] management team. That was one of the most significant meetings I’ve ever attended.” At the Covington event Maurin shared his experiences from 32 years in the shopping center business, including getting the business back up and running after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which together damaged nearly every one of Stirling’s properties.

Any appearance of opening up to competitors notwithstanding, Maurin says he probably profited more from the experience than anyone else. “When you think of who benefited the most, [the members] got to see one company,” he said. “I got to hear the story of 15 or 16 other companies. This wasn’t a one-way deal.” Several of the students, such as Marcos Carvalho, president of Ancar I.C. and Gar Herring, president and COO of The MGHerring Group, were second-generation developers now managing companies formerly run by their fathers. Participation in the Master Developer program is by invitation only. ICSC’s divisional vice presidents nominate the attendees. The next meeting is set for this fall at Cadillac Fairview, in Toronto. The host will be Peter Sharpe, who is Cadillac Fairview president and CEO and ICSC’s vice president of the Canadian division.