Building Excellence in Leadership Award

Awarded for supporting and improving the commercial and industrial real estate economy.

2016 Award Recipient: Sen. Ann Rest

NAIOP Minnesota has announced the recipient of the inaugural Building Excellence in Leadership Award, Sen. Ann Rest. With a passion for supporting a moderate approach to commercial and industrial tax rates, it was fitting to honor Sen. Rest for her outstanding leadership and for her support of the industry for over 30 years.

Sen. Rest has devoted her life to public service, truly making it her life’s mission. From when she was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1984 to her present role as a leader in tax policy and reform, she has distinguished herself as a highly intelligent, balanced and committed leader.

Along the way, she has championed thoughtful and moderate reforms to the state’s tax policies. During the 1990s in particular, Sen. Rest supported a more moderate approach to commercial and industrial tax rates when such a stand was quite unpopular.

She also led the 2001 reform of education financing and property tax rate reductions. And, in 2015 and 2016, she authored legislation to eliminate automatic increases to the State General Levy.

NAIOP Minnesota shares a kinship of values with Sen. Rest – a desire for a balanced and fair-minded approach to the symbiotic relationship between business and government.