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Get connected to ULI Minnesota’s Local Councils!

ULI Minnesota’s local councils are one of the best ways to connect and learn from your peers on significant trends facing our industry and region. Each Council is a small, intimate group of industry leaders (25-35 participants) who meet for two half-day sessions a year. Meetings consist of ULI members and guest speakers sharing best practices and lessons learned in case studies, round table discussions, and off-site private tours.

This year, we reimagined our Council program to create greater member experiences and take-home value. Key enhancements include:

• Creating two Council Days each year, with the Councils having the opportunity to participate in a joint plenary lunch session with a keynote speaker before breaking into their smaller groups for focused content. The larger group has an opportunity to reconvene at the end of the day for a social hour. Upcoming dates are  April 23, 2025 and November 19, 2025.
• Council Day is member-driven with discussions, presentations, panels, and case studies focused on Thought Leadership and Lessons Learned.
• The previous Local Product Councils (with the exception of the Community Development Council) were combined into the Leadership Exchange Council. This Council was divided into 5 flights of 20-30 participants each – Blue, Red, Silver, Purple and Gold. (The Purple and Gold flights have a capital markets focus.)

Our Councils are invitation-only and designed to bring together a leadership-level cohort representing a range of sectors, experience, and perspectives. These councils provide an avenue for members to experience the special value of a ULI Product Council, particularly those that are unable to regularly attend the national conferences or participate at the Full Membership level. Councils maintain confidentiality and expect a high level of participation from all members.

Please reach out to Executive Director Megan Flanagan, [email protected], with any questions.

• Two-year commitment to attend at least three of four sessions.
• Annual Council affiliation dues are $350 (Private sector) or $250 (Public sector/Non-profit).
• ULI membership is required, but non-members may join both the Council and ULI simultaneously; you can learn more about ULI membership here.

Leadership Exchange Council – Red, Blue, Silver, Gold and Purple Flights

This Council reflects the full range of roles involved in commercial real estate and land use: private and non-profit developers, designers, attorneys, builders, planners, and finance entities such as banks, transactional brokers, syndicators, and public funding agencies. Focuses include transactions and trends; drivers, challenges, and solutions; housing; environmental sustainability; monetary policy and market trends; and community resiliency. Participants are leaders in their sectors, and while they bring interest and expertise in specific issues, they share a genuine curiously and passion for sharing their experience and learning from each other.

“Being part of the Market Council has allowed me to connect with many influential people in the Twin Cities real estate community and form lasting relationships. I especially appreciate the opportunities to gain valuable insights about development transactions and get behind the scenes knowledge on many projects. The collegial spirit amongst group members is fantastic, and it supports a very transparent and supportive culture.”

-Gretchen Camp, Principal, ESG

“Being involved in the Capital Markets Council has broadened my knowledge base in an industry in which I thought I was already pretty adept.  The willingness of members to share their expertise and openly discuss their strategies and tactics has greatly enhanced my understanding of how market participants engage in the capital markets.” 

-Murray Kornberg, Colliers Mortgage

Community Development Council

The Community Development Council brings together public agency leaders to discuss innovative approaches to community planning and development, explore best practices throughout the region, and discuss the challenges of leadership in a confidential setting. Membership is restricted to public-sector Community Development Directors and their equivalents, with a limit of one Council seat per city or agency. Public sector leaders interested in ULI membership are also invited to explore discounted public agency membership.

“The Community Development Council is invaluable in connecting with other community development folks, tapping their expertise and advice, and sharing “the rest of the story” of various projects. The ability to be candid and confide in others is worth its weight in gold. We laugh a lot when sharing our professional woes and successes, a very good way to keep it all in perspective!” 

-Meg McMonigal, City of St. Louis Park