Martin “Hap” Stein to be inducted into Bergstrom Center Hall of Fame

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Martin “Hap” Stein, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regency Centers, will be inducted into the Kelley A. Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies Hall of Fame on Feb. 17 during the 2012 University of Florida Bergstrom Center Real Estate Trends & Strategies Conference at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort.

Martin "Hap" Stein, Jr.

Martin “Hap” Stein, Jr., became the ninth person to be inducted into the Bergstrom Center Hall of Fame.

One of the nation’s top real estate executives, Mr. Stein has guided Regency Centers, a real estate investment trust specializing in developing, owning and operating grocery-anchored and community shopping centers, for 35 years. As of Sept. 2011, Regency owned 367 shopping centers totaling 49.8 million square feet, located in some of the country’s top real estate markets.

Mr. Stein has served as Regency’s CEO since October 1993 when the company carried out its initial public offering (IPO) and has served as Chairman since January 1999. He previously served as President of Regency’s preceding real estate division and as Vice President.

Mr. Stein was formerly Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the global trade association for real estate investment trusts and publicly traded real estate companies. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Patriot Transportation Holding Inc., and Stein Mart Inc. Mr. Stein also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Urban Land Institute. Mr. Stein received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington & Lee University in 1974, where he served as a Trustee, and an MBA from Dartmouth College in 1976.

“I’m humbled to be honored by one of the country’s leading real estate programs and to be included amongst such recognized industry leaders,” stated Mr. Stein.  “My love for the University of Florida dates back to the 1960’s when my dad took me to football games and continues with participation in UF Real Estate Studies programming that develops future leaders.”

Mr. Stein, a valued participant in the Bergstrom Center’s Alfred A. Ring Distinguished Speaker Series, will be the Center’s ninth inductee, joining Kelley A. Bergstrom (President of Bergstrom Investment Management), Maury Carter (Founder, Maury L. Carter & Associates Inc.), Armando Codina (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Codina Partners), James H. Pugh, Jr., (Owner and Chairman of Epoch Properties Inc.), Mel Sembler (Founder and Chairman of The Sembler Company), James Seneff (Chairman of the Board and CEO of CNL Financial Group Inc.), Halbert Smith (Professor Emeritus University of Florida) and Terry Stiles (Chairman and CEO of Stiles Corporation). The Bergstrom Center Hall of Fame was established in 2008 to honor leaders whose lifetime of service has shaped the real estate industry for the better. Deserving nominees are considered each year by the Executive Committee of the Center’s Real Estate Advisory Board and inductees are honored at the Real Estate Trends & Strategies Conference, held each spring in Orlando. The 2012 conference will focus on The Future of Real Estate with interactive discussions led by industry experts. Conference details and online registration are available at the Bergstrom Real Estate Center website.