NAIOP 2025 Economic Update & Cross-Border Perspective

Join us for an engaging and informative afternoon as we explore the current economic conditions and long-term outlook both nationwide and globally with Duncan Shand, Senior Managing Director at AIMCo.

Following the economic update, we’ll dive into a dynamic fireside chat focused on Navigating Borders: A USA & Canada Outlook, featuring special guests Marc Selvitelli (President & CEO, NAIOP), Alex Thomson (North American Chapter Chair, NAIOP), and Eric Schmutz (Senior Director of Federal Affairs, NAIOP).

This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights, connect with industry leaders, and network with fellow professionals over lunch at The Westin Edmonton.

Economic Update Presentation:

Duncan Shand, Senior Managing Director Economics & Investment Research, AIMCo

Duncan Shand is the Senior Managing Director Economics and Investment Research at AIMCo. He has previously held fund management roles for multi-asset funds at Schroders and a global macro hedge fund at BlackRock.

Duncan has also been a Professor at Warwick Business School, where he contributed to academic and practitioner research in finance, publishing in journals such as the Journal of Portfolio Management and Financial Analysts Journal. His expertise spans research, portfolio construction, and systematic investment management, making him a key leader in the field of institutional asset management.

Navigating Borders: a USA and Canada Discussion

Marc Selvitelli, President and Chief Executive Officer, NAIOP

Marc Selvitelli is the President and Chief Executive Officer of NAIOP. He is responsible for leading the professional team in collaboration with the board of directors to fulfill the organization’s strategic goals. Selvitelli joined NAIOP’s staff in 2006 as vice president for membership and chapter relations and later served as chief operating officer.

Marc is passionate about fostering an organization of innovation and collaboration that will propel NAIOP, its chapters and members into the future. Under his leadership, 21,000+ members in 54 chapters across North America come together to strengthen the commercial real estate industry and the built environment.

He possesses more than 30 years of association management experience and has filled several roles with associations in the real estate, construction and financial services industries. His experience includes roles in government affairs, strategic planning, affiliate relations, and membership development.

Marc received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the Pennsylvania State University. He is active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is a certified association executive (CAE). Outside of NAIOP, you are likely to find Marc on an airplane or at a ballpark as he combines his love of travel with the goal of attending a game at every major and minor league stadium.

Alex Thomson, Chair, NAIOP

Alex Thomson is a passionate advocate for the commercial real estate industry. A long-standing contributor to the Edmonton chapter board, Alex also serves as the chapter's representative on the NAIOP North America board. He holds the distinction of being the first ever Canadian Chair-Elect of NAIOP North America and is serving as the association's Chair in 2025.

With two decades of experience in commercial real estate, Alex has gained expertise in every aspect of the business, spanning acquisitions, entitlements, development, financing and dispositions. His professional journey has seen him involved in over $2 billion worth of transformative commercial real estate projects.

Alex is the founder of Prevail Consultants, offering strategic guidance as a trusted advisor and fractional executive for companies and entrepreneurial owners alike. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Executive Board of the Centre for Cities and Communities at the University of Alberta.

Eric Schmutz, Senior Director of Federal Affairs, NAIOP

Eric Schmutz, NAIOP’s Senior Director of Federal Affairs, has nearly 30 years of experience working in Washington, D.C., in political campaigns as well as both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

His work encompasses various aspects, including federal tax policy, environmental regulations, and financial services issues.

Schmutz is a native Kansan, a graduate of Kansas State University, and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Betsy, daughter Eleanor, son Henry, and the family dog Otis.