NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, honored Dr. Margaret McFarland, Director of the Colvin Institute for Real Estate Development, as Member of the Year earlier this month at the Maryland-Washington, D.C. chapter’s 15th Annual Awards of Excellence. The event honors individuals for outstanding achievement in commercial and industrial real estate. Margaret was named “best of the best,” one of six awards presented that night, along with such development power players as JBG Smith and Clark Construction Group.
Margaret was lauded for her longstanding support of the chapter and her tireless dedication to young professionals looking to pursue a career in commercial real estate. Specifically, Margaret helped develop NAIOP’s Capital Challenge, a Master of Real Estate case competition, in 2010, and was instrumental in establishing UMD as one of the first NAIOP University Members.
“She is a tireless advocate on behalf or her students and recognizes the role NAIOP can play in their development,” said Tim Zulick, NAIOP DC|MD Chapter President, Board of Directors.
Margaret has been an active member of the real estate community for nearly 40 years. In 2006 she established the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program at the University of Maryland, one of the first of its kind in the United States, and founded the Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development with Baltimore real estate pioneer John Colvin. She retired as director of the MRED program in July, but will remain as Colvin’s director until her full retirement in February.