SOUTHFIELD — Urban Land Institute Michigan created the Larson Center for Leadership, a formal curriculum program designed to help train and mentor the next generation of real estate and land-use leaders in Michigan. The program is named for the late Robert C. Larson, a nationally recognized and respected Michigan real estate executive, founder of Larson Realty Group, and former chair of the ULI Foundation.
The mission of The Larson Center for Leadership is to cultivate leadership development by informing a select group of emerging industry leaders as to the transformative dynamics currently emerging statewide, and promote engagement in the process.
Similar programs have been implemented within other ULI District Councils in the past years, including Atlanta and Washington D.C. The ULI Seattle District Council will also be starting its own version of the program this year.
“The District Council leadership centers, such as ULI Michigan’s Larson Center for Leadership, are a key part of the program of work for the Larson Leadership Initiative. Bob’s goal was to empower ULI’s members with leadership skills to deliver the ULI Mission, to infuse leadership DNA in ULI’s members,” said Michael Horst, senior vice president of the Urban Land Institute’s Larson Leadership Initiative, “The goal is to develop tomorrow’s leaders who will implement ULI’s mission in the local region. With five District Councils now doing these nine-month programs, we have reached a critical mass in the District Council network and expect to see many more in the next three years.”
The inaugural class of the Larson Center for Leadership will be composed of 30 mid-career Michigan professionals, who work either directly or indirectly in the real estate or land-use sectors, and have a strong working knowledge and commitment to the ideas supported by ULI Michigan. These professionals will consist of individuals from both the private and public sectors, and will have diverse backgrounds in real estate related industries such as finance, law, planning, and other related fields.
This 9-month program will feature eight one-day programs covering such topics as finance, jobs and human capital, infrastructure, regionalism, and the role of government. Classes will be held at various locations around the state, and topics have been developed and managed by a committee of ULI Michigan members who have volunteered their time to create this program.
Presenters of the topics to the 30 students will include representatives from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Hines, The Taubman Company, The Kresge Foundation, and others from local, county and state governmental entities.
The tuition for the program is $2,000, and tuition assistance is available to those who qualify. Applications are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 class.
